USS Poinsett (AK-205)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Poinsett.

300px USS Poinsett (AK-205) probably running builder's trials in the Great Lakes circa September, 1944
History
United States
Name:	Poinsett
Namesake:	Poinsett County, Arkansas
Ordered:	MC hull 2159
Builder:	Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Laid down:	6 November 1943
Launched:	22 May 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Robert L. Rote
Acquired:	22 January 1945
Commissioned:	7 February 1945
Decommissioned:	25 January 1946
Struck:	12 March 1946
Identification:	Hull symbol:AK-205
Honors and awards:	one battle star for World War II service
Fate:	sold 25 February 1947, to Bergenske Dampakibaselskab (Bergen Line) for $693,862.00, at Baltimore, MD. renamed SS Carina reflagged Norway Resold to the Government of South Korea, renamed SS Masan, reflagged South Korea
Status:	scrapped in South Korean in 1979
General characteristics
Class & type:	Alamosa-class cargo ship
Type:	C1-M-AV1
Displacement:	2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard) 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load)
Length:	388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam:	50 ft (15 m)
Draft:	21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power:	1,750 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion:	1 × Nordberg Diesel diesel TSM 6 engine 1 × shaft
Speed:	11.5 kn (13.2 mph; 21.3 km/h)
Capacity:	3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT
Complement:	15 Officers 70 Enlisted
Armament:	1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber dual purpose gun 6 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons anti-aircraft gun mounts

USS Poinsett (AK-205) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy just prior to the end of World War II. She carried supplies and ammunition to the Pacific Ocean battle areas and was awarded one battle star for her operations in the Borneo area.

Constructed Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Poinsett (AK–205) was laid down as MC hull 2159 by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. 6 November 1943; launched 22 May 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Robert L. Rote; acquired by the Navy 22 January 1945; and commissioned at Houston, Texas, 7 February 1945, Lt. Comdr. Robert M. Baughman, USNR, in command.

World War II service

After shakedown off Galveston, Texas, Poinsett loaded ammunition at Theodore, Alabama, and departed for the Panama Canal 21 March. She steamed to Ulithi thence to Zamboanga, Philippine Islands, arriving 11 May.

After issuing ammunition there, she proceeded to Tawi Tawi, Sulu Archipelago, and joined the main forces for the invasion of Balikpapan (1 July). On 10 July she departed Borneo for Morotai and the Philippines, whence she sailed southeast to Manus. There, while loading fleet issue clothing and small stores, she received word of the war’s end. Poinsett then proceeded to Manila and Guiuan, Samar, to discharge her cargo. She departed 19 November for the Panama Canal and Norfolk, Virginia, for inactivation. Decommissioned 25 January 1946, she was returned to the U.S. Maritime Commission, 29 January 1946, and her name was struck from the Navy List, 12 March 1946.

Honors and awards

Poinsett received one battle star for World War II service:

• Borneo operations Balikpapan operation, 1 to 10 July 1945

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive – USS Poinsett (AK-205)