USS Pavo (AK-139)
Encyclopedia
USS Pavo (AK-139) was an commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after the constellation Pavo
. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
Pavo (AK–139) was laid down as SS James S. Hogg under a Maritime Commission contract by Todd Houston Shipbuilding Corp., Houston, Texas
, 8 March 1943, launched 23 April 1943; sponsored by Miss Ima Hogg; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission under bareboat charter
29 November 1943; renamed Pavo 14 December 1943; converted for Navy use at the U.S. Naval Dry Docks, Terminal Island, California, and commissioned at San Pedro, California, 14 January 1944, Lt. Comdr. Roswell E. King in command.
, Pavo loaded cargo at San Diego, California
, and sailed for Hawaii. She reached Pearl Harbor
28 February; and, following a month's training, she sailed for the Central Pacific in convoy
21 March. She arrived Majuro
, Marshalls
, ten days later and began extensive cargo shuttle operations which, for the next nine months, sent her throughout the Central Pacific. After completing runs to Kwajalein
and Roi
, she transported men and supplies to Tarawa, Gilberts
, early in May. She returned damaged material to Pearl Harbor later that month; thence, she resumed supply operations out of the Marshalls.
. Arriving Saipan
the 28th, she discharged tons of cargo both there and at the recently captured island of Tinian
. She returned to Eniwetok in mid-August, but by 1 September she had resumed offloading cargo at Saipan. Less than a fortnight
later she transported cargo to Guam
before heading back to Eniwetok 13 September. During the next three months she continued her busy schedule with a run to the Gilberts, inter-island shuttles in the Marshalls, and a four-week deployment to American bases in the Marianas.
, she departed for the Western Pacific 24 February. Her deployment sent her via Pearl, the Marshalls, and the Carolines
to Kossol Roads
, where she arrived 8 May. Four days later she was ordered to the Philippines
and she reached San Pedro Bay
, Leyte
, 15 May. For more than two months she served as a station cargo ship in Leyte Gulf
. She completed discharging cargo 23 July, and on 2 August she sailed for the United States.
, she departed for the Atlantic Coast 13 October. Her voyage sent her through the Panama Canal
27 October, and on 3 November she entered Hampton Roads, Virginia.
21 November. She decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia
, 30 November 1945 and was returned to WSA at Lee Hall, Virginia
, 1 December. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register
19 December 1945. In 1970, she was in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
as SS James S. Hogg, based in the James River
, Virginia. Final Disposition: fate unknown.
Pavo (constellation)
Pavo is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for peacock. It is one of twelve constellations created by Petrus Plancius from the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman and it first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 in...
. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
Pavo (AK–139) was laid down as SS James S. Hogg under a Maritime Commission contract by Todd Houston Shipbuilding Corp., Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, 8 March 1943, launched 23 April 1943; sponsored by Miss Ima Hogg; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission under bareboat charter
Bareboat charter
A bareboat charter is an arrangement for the chartering or hiring of a ship or boat, whereby no crew or provisions are included as part of the agreement; instead, the people who rent the vessel from the owner are responsible for taking care of such things....
29 November 1943; renamed Pavo 14 December 1943; converted for Navy use at the U.S. Naval Dry Docks, Terminal Island, California, and commissioned at San Pedro, California, 14 January 1944, Lt. Comdr. Roswell E. King in command.
World War II Pacific Theatre operations
After shakedownSea trial
A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft . It is also referred to as a "shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and can last from a few hours to many days.Sea trials are conducted to measure a vessel’s...
, Pavo loaded cargo at San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, and sailed for Hawaii. She reached Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
28 February; and, following a month's training, she sailed for the Central Pacific in convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
21 March. She arrived Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
, Marshalls
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, ten days later and began extensive cargo shuttle operations which, for the next nine months, sent her throughout the Central Pacific. After completing runs to Kwajalein
Kwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
and Roi
Roi-Namur
Roi-Namur is an island in the northern part of the Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands.Occupied by Japanese forces prior to World War II, it was the target of the U.S. 4th Marine Division in the Battle of Kwajalein, in February 1944....
, she transported men and supplies to Tarawa, Gilberts
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
, early in May. She returned damaged material to Pearl Harbor later that month; thence, she resumed supply operations out of the Marshalls.
Delivering cargo at Saipan
On 23 July Pavo departed Eniwetok in convoy for the MarianasMariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
. Arriving Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
the 28th, she discharged tons of cargo both there and at the recently captured island of Tinian
Tinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
. She returned to Eniwetok in mid-August, but by 1 September she had resumed offloading cargo at Saipan. Less than a fortnight
Fortnight
The fortnight is a unit of time equal to fourteen days, or two weeks. The word derives from the Old English fēowertyne niht, meaning "fourteen nights"....
later she transported cargo to Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
before heading back to Eniwetok 13 September. During the next three months she continued her busy schedule with a run to the Gilberts, inter-island shuttles in the Marshalls, and a four-week deployment to American bases in the Marianas.
Supporting troops and ship in the Philippines
Departing Saipan 12 December, Pavo steamed via Eniwetok to Pearl Harbor where she underwent voyage repairs during much of January 1945. She returned to the U.S. West Coast 10 February, and, after loading supplies at Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, she departed for the Western Pacific 24 February. Her deployment sent her via Pearl, the Marshalls, and the Carolines
Caroline Islands
The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago of tiny islands in the western Pacific Ocean, to the north of New Guinea. Politically they are divided between the Federated States of Micronesia in the eastern part of the group, and Palau at the extreme western end...
to Kossol Roads
Kossol Roads
Kossol Roads, Palau is a large body of reef-enclosed water north of Babeldaob. During World War II, it was used by the United States Navy as the location of a floating resupply and repair base....
, where she arrived 8 May. Four days later she was ordered to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and she reached San Pedro Bay
San Pedro Bay (Philippines)
San Pedro Bay is a bay in the Philippines, at the northwest end of Leyte Gulf, about 15 km east-west and 20 km north-south. The bay is bounded on the north and east by Samar and on the east by Leyte Island. It is connected by San Juanico Strait to Carigara Bay of the Samar Sea. The...
, Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, 15 May. For more than two months she served as a station cargo ship in Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf is a body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, at . The Gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by...
. She completed discharging cargo 23 July, and on 2 August she sailed for the United States.
End-of-war activity
Pavo arrived San Pedro, California, 31 August; thence, following repairs at Terminal IslandTerminal Island
Terminal Island is an island located in Los Angeles County, California between Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach Harbor. Originally a mudflat known to the Spanish as Isla Raza de Buena Gente, and later called Rattlesnake Island, it has officially been Terminal Island since 1918...
, she departed for the Atlantic Coast 13 October. Her voyage sent her through the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
27 October, and on 3 November she entered Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Post-war decommissioning
Pavo began deactivation overhaul at Portsmouth Naval ShipyardPortsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
21 November. She decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, 30 November 1945 and was returned to WSA at Lee Hall, Virginia
Lee Hall, Virginia
Lee Hall is a former unincorporated town long located in the former Warwick County. Since 1958, Lee Hall has been a suburban community in the extreme western portion of the independent city of Newport News in the Commonwealth of Virginia....
, 1 December. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
19 December 1945. In 1970, she was in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
National Defense Reserve Fleet
The National Defense Reserve Fleet consists of "mothballed" ships, mostly merchant vessels, that can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping for the United States of America during national emergencies, either military or non-military, such as commercial shipping crises.The NDRF is...
as SS James S. Hogg, based in the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
, Virginia. Final Disposition: fate unknown.