The HISTORY
Summary of the Year 1941
Chronology of Events
During the year 1941, the
ALDEBARAN was purchased from the Grace Lines, placed in commission,
converted to a fleet provisioning ship, and made three trips over seas,
traveling a total of 21,363 miles.
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
|
12/26 |
The U.S.S. Aldebaran
formerly the S.S. Staghound was received from the Grace Lines and
placed in ordinary commission. |
|
01/10 |
Comdr. Royal Abbott
reported aboard as commanding officer. |
|
01/14 |
The ship was placed in
full commission. |
|
01/26 |
The ship left San
Francisco on her maiden voyage under Naval command with 13 officers,
86 enlisted men, loaded with general cargo including lumber and high
explosives. |
|
ARRIVED
27 January
5 February
11 March
16 March |
PORTS VISITED
San Diego
Pearl Harbor
Pago Pago Samoa
San Francisco |
DEPARTED
29 January
7 February
5 March
29 March |
|
03/16 |
The Aldebaran
returned to San Francisco, having been over seas a period of 40 days
and visited 3 ports of discharge. Traveling 9500 miles,
approximately 397 tons of cargo were transported to the Hawaiian
Islands. The main port of discharge was Pago Pago. The Marine
contingent there received over 4900 tons of cargo from the states
and 400 tons of cargo from Pearl Harbor. |
|
03/29 |
Departure was taken
from Pearl Harbor with 6258 tons of cargo on board, including 4119
tons of general cargo, 867 tons of lumber, 954 tons of explosives,
307 tons of refrigerated provisions and 1065 tons of miscellaneous
cargo. |
|
04/05 |
Arrived in Pearl
Harbor and discharged cargo until 12 April. Upon departing for San
Francisco the complement of officers had increased to 14 with men
standing at 119. |
|
04/18 |
Arrived in San
Francisco having completed a round trip discharge to Pearl harbor in
twenty days, travelling 5000 miles. Moored in Moores Dry Dock,
Oakland Calif., for conversion to a fleet provisioning ship. |
|
10/21 |
Left Moore's, the
conversion consisting mainly of the addition of installation of
refrigeration machinery modifying cargo holds to increase the fresh
provisioning capacity; addition of armament and conversion of living
quarters to allow an increased complement of men. |
|
11/19 |
After sailing from San
Francisco the 14th of Nov, the ship departed for the Hawaiian
Islands with a load of over 5000 tons of fresh, frozen and dry
cargo, and miscellaneous cargo. |
|
ARRIVED
16 November
25 November
30 November |
PORT
VISITED
San Diego
Pearl Harbor
Maui Bay (T.H.) |
DEPARTED
19 November
30 November
1 December |
| 12/06
|
Returned to San
Francisco for reloading having traveled 4916 miles in 18 days.
|
| 12/17 |
Departed for Pearl
Harbor with routine load of cargo. |
| 12/18 |
Convoy in which the
ship was traveling attacked by submarines. Escorts
developed sound contacts and one escort reported torpedos passing
under her stern. Another escort received credit for the sinking of
an enemy sub |
|
