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N7KTP > NAVNET 29.06.04 21:47l 89 Lines 5297 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 64616_N7WE
Read: GUEST
Subj: USS POCOMOKE (AV-9)
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Sent: 040628/1851Z @:N7WE.#WWA.WA.USA.NA #:64616 [Bremerton] $:64616_N7WE
From: N7KTP@N7WE.#WWA.WA.USA.NA
To : NAVNET@USA
Sea Plane tender Pocomoke was a lift specialist in the Pacific
By FRED MILES WATSON - Managing Editor - Northwest Navigator
Pocomoke (AV-9), a seaplane tender, was laid down as S.S.
Enchenouer at Ingalls Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, PascagouIa,
Miss., for the Maritime Commission. Acquired by the Navy and converted
she was commissioned July 18, 1941, with Cmdr. L. T. Hundt in command.
The lead ship of its class, Pocomoke displaced 8,950-tons and was
492-feet in length. She had a draft of 21 feet and a crew of 689
Sailors. All head full put the ship at 17 knots and at the time of
commissioning she was outfitted with one, 5-inch and four, 3-inch gun-
mounts.
When the United States entered World War II in December 1941,
Pocomoke was attached to Task Group 4.3 of the Support Force, Atlantic
Fleet, stationed at Argentia, Newfoundland. She tended two patrol
planes which scouted waters approaching the harbor searching for U-
boats which threatened convoys carrying desperately needed war material
to England. On Jan. 9, 1942 she departed Argentia enroute to Norfolk,
Va., where she entered the yard for alterations.
Following training and exercises she departed Boston May 21 for
Argentia to act as flagship for Commander, Task Force 24, and tender
for Commander, Patrol Wing 7. Returning to Boston Aug. 15, she later
proceeded via Norfolk to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She discharged cargo
there and at Trinidad, and steamed back to Norfolk on Oct. 8. On Oct.
30 Pocomoke got underway, transited the Panama Canal, and proceeded via
Seymour Bay, Galapagos Islands, to San Diego, then steamed to San
Francisco.
She sailed Dec. 2 for Pearl Harbor where she discharged spare
parts and supplies.
After returning to the West Coast for additional supplies,
Pocomoke sailed to Pearl Harbor Jan. 4, 1943, then, escorted by Breese
(DM-18), proceeded to the Fiji Islands where she unloaded cargo.
Following her return to the United States via Christmas Island and
Pearl Harbor, she carried supplies and spare parts to Oahu and returned
to Oakland, Ca1iœ, for repairs until May 6.
The next day she sailed for Hawaii where she took on supplies and
equipment at Pearl Harbor, and pushed on to Noumea, New Caledonia. On
June 6, she embarked men of Patrol Bombing Squadrons 15 and 23 at
Espiritu Santo and provided vital tender services in the area until
sailing for Pearl Harbor. There she loaded cargo for Fleet Air
Photograph Squadron 3 and sailed Oct. 1, for Canton Island. She
returned to San Diego Oct. 21 and one week later she steamed with cargo
and passengers for Pearl Harbor and continued on to Palmyra Island,
Tutuila, Efate Island, and Espiritu Santo, off-loading much needed
parts and supplies at these points before returning to Alameda, Ca1iœ,
by mid-December.
Pocomoke continued her vital services, taking on Marine Night
Fighter Squadron 532 with planes, rolling stock and equipment and
sailed via Pearl Harbor to Funafuti Atoll anchoring there Jan. 11,
1944. In the company of USS Tisdale (DE-33), she steamed for Tarawa and
returned to Hawaii on Jan. 25. Another brief return to the West
Coast was followed by a stopover at Pearl Harbor to take on troops and
ammunition destined for Espiritu Santo. Shuttling cargo and fighting
men between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal consumed Pocomoke's efforts
until she sailed April 4, among the Solomons Islands, dispensing needed
services, and back to Espiritu Santo. She tended sea planes at
Kwajalein and Eniwetok before anchoring off Saipan to begin operations
for Patrol Squadron 16 which were continued until Sept. 12. She
departed for Kossol Passage, Palau Islands where she continued her
repair and supply functions until Nov. 23. She finally sailed via
Ulithi, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor for San Francisco, arriving Dec. 15.
In late January of 1945, Pocomoke was at sea heading for Pearl Harbor
and Manus Island to report for duty with Commander, Air Force, 7th
Fleet. She returned to the task of ferrying supplies and passengers,
getting underway for San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, and Samar Island. She
then tended sea planes at Palawan Island and Tawitawi Island, for the
duration of the active fighting war in the Pacific.
On Aug. 28, 1945 administrative command changed to Commander
Philippine Sea Frontier, and on Sept. 9, Pocomoke set course for
Sangley Point, Manila Bay. From Sept 11, 1945 through Feb. 1, 1946, she
steamed among the various islands in the Philippine group, dispensing
her services, providing supplies, ferrying troops, and operating search
patrols wherever needed.
Pocomoke returned to San Diego on February 28, 1946 and then
transited the Panama Canal to report for duty to Commander, Air Force
Atlantic. She was ordered to Norfolk, unloaded her ammunition and
steamed into Philadelphia where she was placed in the reserve group of
the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Pocomoke was decommissioned July 10, 1946,
her name was struck from the Navy List on June I, 1961. She was ordered
disposed of and was so in December 1961 to the Union Minerals and
Alloys Corp. for scrap.
USS Pocomoke was awarded two battle stars for its World War II
Service.
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