USS Pontiac (AF-20)

Pontiac underway 21 August 1944
History
Name	Australian Reefer (1937-1941) Pontiac (1941-1945)
Owner	Lauritzen, Esbjerg, Denmark (1937-1941)  United States Maritime Administration (1941-1945)
Operator	Lauritzen, Esbjerg, Denmark (1937-1941) War Shipping Administration agent: United States Lines (1941-1942) U.S. Navy (1942—1945)
Port of registry	Esbjerg, Denmark (Australian Reefer)
Builder	Nakskov Skibsværft A/C, Nakskov, Denmark
Yard number	79
Launched	6 February 1937
Identification	Australian Reefer signal: OZKH
Fate	Sunk: 30 January 1945 Raised: 17 February 1945 Delivered to be scrapped: 22 May 1946
General characteristics
Type	Refrigerated cargo
Tonnage	2,321 GRT, 1,289 NRT[1]
Displacement	5,410 tons[2]
Length	447 ft 10 in (136.5 m) LOA[2] 332.6 ft (101.4 m) Registry[1]
Beam	47.8 ft (14.6 m)[1]
Draft	18 ft 11 in (5.8 m)[2]
Depth	17.2 ft (5.2 m)[1]
Decks	1
Propulsion	10 cy. Burmeister & Wain diesel
Crew	Commercial: unknown Navy: 166 officers and enlisted
Notes	Ammonia based refrigeration with granulated cork insulation.[3] Navy, armament:[2] 2 × single 3"/50 caliber guns 2 × twin 20 mm gun mounts

USS Pontiac (AF-20) was the Danish refrigerated cargo ship Australian Reefer that sought refuge in the neutral United States when Germany occupied Denmark in April 1940. In 1941 the United States seized 40 Danish ships idle in its ports with Australian Reefer being among those ships.

The ship was turned over to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 12 July 1941 and put into operation with United States Lines as its agent. Australian Reefer operated under a United States Army Transportation Corps agreement until 11 May 1942 when the ship was transferred to the Navy under bareboat charter. After conversion and being renamed Pontiac the ship served as a refrigerator ship or reefer ship, and provided food to Allied forces in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Pontiac was heavily damaged on 30 January 1945 by being holed by a paravane off Halifax, Nova Scotia causing the ship to sink. After being raised the ship was towed to Norfolk, Virginia and declared a total constructive loss on 13 April 1945. The actual title to the ship was requisitioned and the Danish owner paid compensation on 12 July 1945.