USS Uranus

For other ships named Maria, see SS Maria.
History
United States
Name
  • Helga (1933–1938)
  • Caravelle (1938–1940)
  • Maria (1940–1941)
  • Uranus (1941–1946)
  • Maria Dan (1946–1959)
  • Michael (1959–1968)
Owner
  • J. Lauritzen A/S (1933–1941)
  • U.S. Maritime Commission (1941–1946)
  • J. Lauritzen A/S (1946–1959)
  • Chrisot M. Sarlis (1959–1968)
Operator
  • J. Lauritzen A/S (1933–1941)
  • U.S. Navy (bareboat charter from War Shipping Administration) (1941–1946)
  • J. Lauritzen A/S (1946–1959)
  • Chrisot M. Sarlis (1959–1968)
BuilderHelsingør Jernskibs og Maskinbyggeri
Launched21 December 1932
Acquiredby Navy 11 August 1941
CommissionedUranus (AF-14) 27 October 1941
Decommissionedby navy 8 May 1946, returned to owner 16 May 1946
Strickenby Navy 21 May 1946
IdentificationIMO number: 5233834
FateScrapped 1968, Sveti Kajo, Croatia
NotesShip in commercial and naval service 1933–1968.
General characteristics
Tonnage1,507 GRT, 2,255 DWT
Displacement3,348 t.(fl)
Length269 ft 6 in (82.14 m)
Beam39 ft 6 in (12.04 m)
Draft16 ft (4.9 m)
PropulsionReciprocating steam engine, single propeller
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Capacity119,500 cubic feet (3,384 m3) (Bale)
Complement(Navy) 93
Armament

USS Uranus (AF-14) was a Uranus-class stores ship bareboat chartered to the U.S. Navy by the War Shipping Administration for use in World War II. The ship was one of the Danish vessels idled in U.S. ports seized by the United States after the occupation of Denmark by German forces. The ship was the Danish J. Lauritzen A/S line vessel Maria, ex Caravelle, ex Helga until chartered to the Navy and commissioned on 11 August 1941 under the name Uranus.[note 1]

Uranus served in both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, delivering food, including refrigerated items, to ships operating in the battle areas.

The ship was returned to Denmark and later, under new Danish naming rules, named Maria Dan until sold to Greece to be renamed Michael in 1959. The ship was scrapped in 1968.
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