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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Poinsett (AK-205)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - November - Kilo
NXNK

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal

Alamosa Class Cargo Ship

Laid down, 6 November 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2159), at Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI.

Launched, 22 May 1944

Acquired by the US Navy, 22 January 1945

Commissioned, USS Poinsett (AK-205), 7 February 1945, at Houston, TX., LCDR. Robert M. Baughman, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Poinsett was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Borneo operations Balikpapan operation, 28 June to 7 July 1945

Decommissioned, 25 January 1946, at Norfolk, VA.

Returned to the War Shipping Administration at Lee Hall, VA., 29 January 1946, for disposal

Struck from the Naval Register, 12 March 1946

USS Poinsett earned one battle star for World War II service

Merchant Service

Sold by the Maritime Commission, 25 February 1947, to Bergenske Dampakibaselskab (Bergen Line) for $693,862.00, at Baltimore, MD. renamed SS Carina reflagged Norway

Resold to the Government of South Korea, renamed SS Masan, reflagged South Korea

Final Disposition, scrapped in South Korean in 1979

Specifications:
Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
Length 338' 6"
Beam 50'
Draft 21' 1"
Speed 11.5 kts.

Complement

Officers 15

Enlisted 70

Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.

Cargo Capacity 3,945 DWT

non refrigerated 177,515 Cu ft.

Armament

one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount

six single 20mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacity Diesel 6,300 Bbls

Propulsion

one Nordberg TSM6 Diesel engine

two Diesel-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller, 1,700shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Poinsett (AK-205)
	92k	Poinsett (AK-205) probably running builder's trials in the Great Lakes circa September, 1944. Her armament has not yet been installed, although she has her wartime life rafts. US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. Unknown courtesy Shipscribe.com and US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 86707, courtesy of Alfred Cellier, 1978	Mike Green US Naval History and Heritage Command
NH 86706	151k		Mike Green US Naval History and Heritage Command
	233k	Poinsett (AK-205) probably running builder's trials in the Great Lakes circa September, 1944. Her armament has not yet been installed, although she has her wartime life rafts.	Julia Crosgrovve, courtesy Door County Maritime Museum.
Merchant Service
	65k	Ex-Poinsett (AK-205) in merchant service as the South Korean flagged SS Masan in the Malacca Strait, date unknown. Photo ©Airfoto Malacca	Gerhard Mueller-Debus

USS Poinsett (AK-205)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Baughman, Robert Martin, USNR	7 February 1945 - 25 January 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Poinsett (AK-205) War Diary, July 1945 to December 1945 and History

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 26 April 2019