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USS Etamin (AK-93) was the Liberty ship (EC2) Isaac Babbitt constructed for the US Maritime Commission (MARCOM) in 1943, for World War II service at a cost of $959,509. After acquisition by the US Navy, the ship was named Etamin, after the brightest star in the constellation Draco and manned by a US Coast Guard crew. As a Crater-class cargo ship, she served the military in the Pacific Ocean by providing food and material until she was torpedoed and put out of service. After repairs, she served as a non-self-propelled floating warehouse for the rest of the war. The ship ended the war in the Philippines and was among fifteen hulls sold for scrap for a lump sum of $271,000.

Construction

Etamin was launched 25 April 1943, as Isaac Babbitt, MCE hull 1106, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2, Richmond, California, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract; acquired by the Navy 8 May 1943; and commissioned 25 May 1943.[6][4]

Service history

She was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS), 12th Naval District with operational control given to Commander, 7th Fleet Service Force.[6]

The ship was one of five Navy manned Liberties assigned 8 December 1943 to the Southwest Pacific Area for service to meet Army requirements.[7] She was active in the southwest Pacific Ocean issuing stores to the fleet and making minor repairs.[6]

On 27 April 1944,Etamin was disabled by a torpedo hit in Milne Bay and towed to Cairns, Australia, where she decommissioned on 26 June 1944. The ship, no longer self-propelled because of the torpedo damage, was designated as an unclassified miscellaneous auxiliary (IX) and placed in service as Etamin (IX-173) on 12 August 1944 continuing to issue stores to the fleet while under tow. She was placed out of service on 9 July 1946 and stricken from the Navy List on 31 July.[6]

Sale and scrapping

Returned to the MARCOM for disposal, the ship was laid up at Subic Bay, Philippines, 9 July 1946. She was one of fifteen vessels sold for scrap to Asia Development Corporation, Shanghai, for a total of $271,000. [8] She was sold 29 January 1948,[1] and delivered 3 March 1948.[8]

Awards

Etamin received two battle stars for World War II service.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e MARAD Etamin.
  2. ^ a b c Kaiser No. 2 2010.
  3. ^ MARCOM.
  4. ^ a b Navsource 2014.
  5. ^ Lloyd's.
  6. ^ a b c d e DANFS.
  7. ^ Masterson 1949, pp. 359, 390 (fn 61).
  8. ^ a b MARAD Isaac Babbitt.

Bibliography

External links

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