USS Pontotoc (AVS-7)

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History
United States
Name:	Pontotoc
Namesake:	Pontotoc County, Mississippi or Pontotoc County, Oklahoma
Ordered:	=MC hull 2160
Builder:	Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Laid down:	15 January 1944, as USS Pontotoc (AK-206)
Launched:	2 July 1944
Commissioned:	22 March 1945 as USS Pontotoc (AG-94)
Decommissioned:	26 April 1946
Reclassified:	prior to launch, USS Pontotoc (AG-94) 25 May 1945, USS Pontotoc (AVS-7)
Refit:	converted to Gwinnett-class Aviation Stores Issue Ship
Struck:	8 May 1946
Identification:	Hull symbol:AK-206 Hull symbol:AG-94 Hull symbol:AVS-7
Fate:	sold in 1947 to the French company, Messageries Maritimes, renamed MV Taurus Resold in 1960 to Morocco, renamed MV Tadjera
Status:	fate unknown
General characteristics
Class & type:	Alamosa-class cargo ship Gwinnett-class aviation stores issue 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 Pontotoc (AK-206/AG-94/AVS-7) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was configured to carry aviation parts and spares, and to issue them to the U.S. Pacific Fleet and activities as needed.

Constructed at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Pontotoc (AVS–7), an aviation supply ship, was laid down as M. C. Hull 2160 by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. 15 January 1944; classified AK-206 on 25 February 1944; launched 2 July 1944; acquired from the U.S. Maritime Commission on a loan-charter basis 28 February 1945; reclassified AG–94 on 12 March 1945; and commissioned 22 March 1945, Lt. Comdr. C. W. Lockard in command.

World War II-related service

After shakedown, Pontotoc transited the Panama Canal and arrived Pearl Harbor 18 April 1945. Reclassified as Gwinnett-class Aviation Stores Issue Ship USS Pontotoc (AVS-7) effective 25 May, Pontotoc steamed for the Philippine Islands, reporting for duty 8 July at Guiuan, Samar, Philippine Islands. She provided aviation stores on station in the Philippines through the end of hostilities.

Post-war inactivation

Pontotoc then proceeded to the 12th Naval District. She decommissioned and was delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) 26 April at San Francisco, California. Struck from the Navy List 8 May 1946, she was sold in 1947 to the French firm Messageries Maritimes, and renamed MV Taurus. In 1960 she was sold again and renamed MV Tadjera. Her ultimate fate is unknown.

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 – AK-206 / AG-94 / AVS-7 Pontotoc