Capella AK-13

Capella

A first magnitude star in the constellation Auriga.
(AK-13: dp. 4,037; 1. 401'; b. 54'1"; dr. 24'5"; s. 11 k.;
cpl. 271; a. 2 5", 4 3")

Capella (AK-13) was built in 1920 as Comerant by American International Shipbuilding Corp., Hog Island, Pa., under a Shipping Board contract, acquired by the Navy 20 November 1921- and commissioned 8 December 1921, Lieutenant Commander S. W. Hickey, USNRF, in command.

Capella arrived at San Diego, Calif., 19 March 1922 to carry cargo along the west coast until July, when she returned to the east coast for similar duty in the next 4 months. Back in California waters in November Capella sailed to Japan in October 1923 to bring food and medical supplies, donated by American citizens, as well as water for the relief of earthquake-desolated Yokohama.

The cargo ship resumed west coast operations until February 1924 when she returned to Norfolk, VA. Capella was decommissioned and placed in reserve there 1 September 1924. She was recommissioned 10 November 1938, and resumed supply runs along the east and west coast in alternate periods, on occasion penetrating Alaskan waters.


As war threatened and the United States began the buildup of Western Hemisphere bases acquired from the British, Capella was recalled to the east coast late in September 1940. The veteran cargo ship furrowed east coast waters, supporting bases from the Canal Zone to Newfoundland with cargoes brought from Atlantic ports until 1944. In June she cleared on the first of four transatlantic convoy crossings to Scotland, and North and West Africa, all so safely guarded as to be made without incident. Capella returned to Caribbean cargo duty in June 1945, and on 30 November 1946 was decommissioned at Norfolk, VA. She was transferred to the War Shipping Administration in July 1946.