USS Algorab (AKA-8)

USS "Algorab" (AKA-8) was laid down as Mormacwren, one of the earliest Maritime Commission type C2 ships (MC hull 20), on 10 August 1938 by the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania as hull 177 for Moore-McCormack. "Mormacwren" was acquired by the United States Navy 6 June 1941, commissioned 15 June 1941 as USS "Algorab" (AK-25) and was redesignated an attack transport on 1 February 1943 with the hull number chanted to AKA-8. "Algorab" decommissioned on 3 December 1945 and was delivered to the Maritime Commission on 30 June 1946 for disposal, purchased by Wallem & Co. on 4 April 1947 for commercial service.
"Algorab" served in the Atlantic with voyages to Iceland and the Caribbean until transporting Army troops to the Pacific in 1942 and remaining there with the exception of returning for the landings in North Africa.
Construction and design.
"Mormacwren" was one of six C2 type motor ships, the first being , built at Sun designed as cargo liners with capacity for twelve passengers in staterooms with bath and a design speed of . "Mormacwren" was launched on 15 June 1939 sponsored by Miss Barbara Ann Moore, the fourteen-year-old daughter of Moore-McCormack Lines' President.
The design specifications for the six ships were for length overall of , length between perpendiculars , molded beam of , depth to shelter deck of and loaded draft of . Cargo capacity was for with loaded displacement of and cargo deadweight of . With fuel capacity of cruising range was approximately at a normal speed of . The hull was a full shelter deck type with seven transverse water tight bulkheads, five holds, three forward and two aft of the engine spaces with by hatches except for #1 at in length and #3 which was in length. Holds were served by booms and 50 horsepower electric winches on six king posts. The four story deck house had quarters for officers and six staterooms with private baths on the bridge deck for twelve passengers. Crew spaces were on the shelter deck level of the deck house.
Propulsion was by a direct connected, four cylinder, double opposed piston Sun-Doxford diesel developing 6,000 shaft horsepower at 92 revolutions on the single diameter, pitch screw. Piston bore was and combined stroke of . At the time this was the most powerful marine diesel built in the United States and was capable of operating two hours under 25% overload for 7,500 horsepower. Exhaust heat, or oil for port or emergencies, drove a steam generator providing steam for cooking, heating and hot water services. Three 250 kilowatt diesel generators provided electrical service.
Navy acquisition.
On 4 June 1941 the Maritime Commission, Division of Emergency Shipping, announced negotiated acquisition of twenty-eight vessels of which twenty-one were to be turned over to the Navy, "Mormacwren" being one, and seven to be turned over to the Army. "Mormacwren" was delivered to the Navy on 6 June 1941 with conversions made at the Boston Navy Yard. On 15 June 1941 the ship was commissioned as USS "Algorab" (AK-25), named for a star in the constellation Corvus, at Boston, Massachusetts with Commander Thomas B. Inglis in command. On 1 February 1943 "Algorab" was reclassified as an attack cargo ship, hull number AKA-8. She served as a commissioned ship for 4 years and 5 months.
Service history.
1941.
Following her commissioning, the cargo ship held shakedown along the East Coast. On 4 October, she proceeded to Little Placentia Harbor, Newfoundland. There she joined an Iceland-bound convoy, sailed on 12 October, and reached Hvalfjörður on 9 November. After discharging her cargo, the ship returned to New York City, where she underwent repairs and alterations. She got underway again on 6 December and steamed to Norfolk.
1942.
On 5 February 1942, "Algorab" sailed to the Caribbean with general cargo on board. She stopped at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After loading raw sugar in Cuba, the ship carried it to Baltimore. She moved to New York City shortly thereafter and embarked Army troops for transportation to the South Pacific. She transited the Panama Canal; made port calls at San Diego and San Francisco, California; then continued on to Nukualofa, Tongatapu. "Algorab" reached Nukualofa on 27 June; then retraced her course to San Francisco; and, upon her return, began a period of repairs.
"Algorab" left San Francisco on 9 August bound via the Panama Canal for Norfolk. While conducting a tactical maneuver in convoy on 11 September, she collided with and suffered extensive damage in the forepart of the ship. Twenty-three feet of her bow was sheared off and one of her bulkheads buckled. One of her crewmen was killed. However, the ship was able to continue unassisted and reached Norfolk on 13 September.
Her repairs completed on 7 October, "Algorab" loaded and proceeded in company with Transport Division (TransDiv) 5 to Mehdia, French Morocco. She was scheduled to take part in the landings in North Africa. These began on 8 November, and "Algorab" provided landing boats for assault troops. Ten days later, after completing her role in the successful invasion, she left the area on 18 November bound for Norfolk, where she arrived on 30 November. She underwent a brief period of repairs, then sailed on 17 December for the South Pacific.
1943–1944.
"Algorab" reached Nouméa, New Caledonia, on 18 January 1943 and discharged her cargo. On 1 February, the ship was reclassified an attack cargo ship and redesignated AKA-8. She spent the period between January and June supporting consolidation operations in the southern Solomon Islands. "Algorab" made a total of five voyages between New Caledonia, Espiritu Santo, and Guadalcanal or Tulagi.
On 30 June, "Algorab" took part in the landings on Rendova Island. While retiring to Tulagi that afternoon, her convoy was attacked by Japanese torpedo bombers. Her gunners assisted in the destruction of five enemy planes, and the attack cargo ship proceeded to Tulagi. From 1 July to 17 August, she made more voyages carrying troops and equipment between Guadalcanal; Hollandia, New Guinea; New Caledonia; and Espiritu Santo.
"Algorab" sailed for Australia, on 22 August, arrived at Sydney on the 25th, and began repairs to her main engine. On 15 September, the attack cargo ship sailed to Newcastle, Australia, for amphibious warfare training exercises. After they were completed, she sailed to Moreton Bay, Australia, and remained at anchor there until 22 November. On that date, the ship entered drydock at Brisbane for a major overhaul.
"Algorab" got underway for the West Coast on 5 September 1944, under tow and operating on reduced power. She reached San Francisco on 30 September for major engine repairs and hull alterations at the Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California.
1945.
She left drydock on 30 January 1945 and, following engine trials, sailed on 5 February en route to Leyte, Philippines. The ship paused at Eniwetok to join a convoy; put in at Leyte on 4 March; and, upon her arrival, began onloading ammunition, vehicles, and provisions earmarked for the Ryukyus campaign.
"Algorab" sailed with TransDiv 37 on 27 March, arrived off Okinawa on 1 April, and sent off her boats at 0600. Her cargo was completely unloaded by 9 April, and "Algorab" sailed that day for Hawaii. She made a brief stop in Saipan, reached Pearl Harbor on 24 April, and underwent another period of engine repairs before the vessel sailed on 10 May for San Francisco.
Upon her arrival, on 18 May, "Algorab" received repairs at the General Engineering & Drydock Co. which continued through October. On 14 October, preparations were begun for deactivation. "Algorab" was decommissioned on 3 December, and her name was struck from the Navy List on 19 December.
"Algorab" won four battle stars for her World War II service.
Return to commercial service.
"Algorab" was declared surplus and returned to the Maritime Commission on 30 June 1946 for layup at Suisun Bay awaiting sale. The ship was sold to Wallem & Co. on 4 April 1947 for merchant service and later renamed "Kamran", "Mongala", and "Hellenic Sailor". She was scrapped in 1973.