Charlevoix AK 168

Charlevoix

A county in Michigan.

(AK-168: dp. 2,382; 1. 338'6"; b. 60'; dr. 21'1"; s. 12 k.;
cpl. 85; a. 1 3"; cl. Alamosa)

Charlevoix (AK-168) was launched 20 April 1944 by Froemming Brothers, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. E. Buchanan; and commissioned 1 February 1945, Lieutenant G. F. Victor, USNR, in command.

Charlevoix, cargo laden, cleared Gulfport, Miss., 24 February 1945 for Manus, arriving 5 April. Here she was assigned to a convoy bound for the Philippines, and after a passage marked by one possible submarine contact depth charged by the convoy's escorts, reached Subic Bay 24 April to discharge her cargo. Returning to Manus l June, she quickly reloaded, and took departure 7 June for Samar, P.I., where she unloaded on 28 June, returning to Manus 5 July.

Next underway 11 July 1945, Charlevoix loaded aviation gas at Lae for the New Zealand Air Force based on New Britain. She delivered her flammable cargo safely 20 July, supporting our Allies in their twice-daily raids on the Japanese at by-passed Rabaul. She made one more voyage from Manus, to deliver cargo to Hollandia, returning with rolling stock for repair at Manus, in August, then sailed north to Samar and Subic Bay where she was briefly overhauled in October. She then proceeded to Norfolk, VA., which she reached 23 December, decommissioned there 18 January 1946, and was returned to the Maritime Commission 25 January 1946.