USS Corvus (AKA-26)

Artemis-class AKA, similar to USS Corvus
History
Laid down:	Unknown
Launched:	24 September 1944
Commissioned:	20 November 1944
Decommissioned:	29 March 1946
Struck:	Unknown
Fate:	Unknown
General Characteristics
Builder:	Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc.
Hull type:	S4-SE2-BE1
Displacement:	4,087 tons light, 7,080 tons loaded
Length:	426 ft (129.8 m)
Beam:	58 ft (17.7 m)
Draft:	16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion:	Steam turbo-electric drive; two boilers, two propellers, 6,000 shp (4.5 MW)
Speed:	16.9 knots (31.3 km/h)
Complement:	321 (20 officers, 301 men), plus 255 embarked troops
Armament:	1 × 5"/38 caliber DP gun, 4 × twin 40 mm AA guns, 16 × 20 mm AA guns
Boats:	14 LCVP, 8 LCM

USS Corvus (AKA-26) was an Artemis class attack cargo ship named after the southern constellation Corvus. She served as a commissioned ship for 16 months, receiving one battle star for her service in World War II.

History

Corvus (AKA-26) was launched 24 September 1944 by Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc., Providence, R.I., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. 0. Parks; acquired by the Navy 20 November 1944; and commissioned the same day, Lieutenant Commander C. M. Gregson, USNR, in command.

Corvus departed Providence 2 December 1944 for San Francisco, California, where she loaded cargo for Leyte. Arriving in the Philippines 21 February 1945, Corvus discharged cargo at Guiuan for the establishment of an air base there, and transferred cargo at Dulag. On 13 March she began rehearsals for the Okinawa operation, and sailed from Leyte Gulf 27 March for the landings 1 April. She remained off Okinawa undergoing the first of the kamikaze attacks, until 10 April when she sailed with Army casualties for Guam, arriving 14 April. Corvus returned to the West Coast for overhaul, and loaded Army men and supplies at Seattle sailing 15 June for Tinian, where she arrived 3 July.

Corvus sailed from Tinian 7 July 1945 carrying cargo for Guadalcanal, the Russell Islands, Samar, and Manus, and reported to Manila 30 August. She loaded cargo and occupation troops, and sailed 18 September for Honshū. Returning to Manila 14 October, she sailed a week later to embark homeward-bound servicemen at Yokohama returning to San Pedro, Calif., with them 26 November. Between 26 December and 10 February, she made a similar voyage from the west coast to Guam, then sailed 16 February for Mobile, Alabama, and Orange, Texas. Corvus was decommissioned 29 March 1946, and transferred to the Maritime Commission 31 October 1946 for disposal.

References

• Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (Primary source for this article)

External links

• Naval Historical Center: USS Corvus
• NavSource Online: AKA-26 Corvus
• 51 Years of AKAs