USS Chiron

USS Chiron (AGP-18) was a Portunus-class motor torpedo boat tender which saw brief service with the United States Navy during World War II. Laid down as the tank landing ship LST-1133 by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company on 16 December 1944, she was launched on 10 March 1945 and placed into reduced commission on 23 March 1945. On 17 April 1945, she was decommissioned for her conversion into a motor torpedo boat tender. With the conversion taking place in Baltimore, Maryland, it was complete by 18 September 1945, and she was recommissioned into active service as Chiron and given the hull number AGP-18. The ship had a brief naval career, spending only 5 months and 27 days in naval service. She was decommissioned on 20 February 1946, and on 28 March 1946 she was struck from the Naval Register.

History
United States
NameChiron
BuilderChicago Bridge & Iron Co.
Laid down16 December 1944
Launched10 March 1945
Commissioned23 March 1945
Decommissioned20 February 1946
In service1945
Out of service1946
Stricken28 March 1946
Identification
  • Hull number: AGP-18
  • Ship International Radio Callsign: NJZF
FateLost, 30 March 1960
General characteristics
Displacement4,100 tons
Length328 ft (100 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Propulsion2 × General Motors 12-568A diesel engines
Speed11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph)
Complement41 officers, 265 enlisted
Armament
  • 2 × quad 40 mm AA gun mounts
  • 8 × single 20 mm AA gun mounts

Transfer to merchant service

On 19 May 1947, she was sold to Argentina and placed into Merchant Service by 1948 under the name MV Altamar, reflagged as Argentinian. 22 years later, on 30 March 1960, she was lost at sea by unknown cause while carrying grain from Cabedello to Belem. The ship's wreck was found on Manoel Luis Reef, at 0°46′S 44°20′W.

Ship awards

References
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.