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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USAV FS-168

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberatin Medal

USAV FS-168 was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II

Freight-Supply Vessel

Laid down, circa 1944, as Design 330 Freight-Supply Vessel FS-168, at Higgins Industries, New Orleans, LA.

Launched in 1944

Delivered to the US Army Quartermaster Corps between July and October 1944

Assigned to the US Army Transportation Corps

Commission USAV FS-168, 27 September 1944, at New Orleans, LTjg. Richard W. Jones, USCG in command

LTjg. Jones was relieved, by LTJG Joseph A. Kean, USCGR, 27 September 1944

USAV FS-168 was assigned to the Southwest Pacific area and operated at Mindoro, Tacloban, Zamboanga, etc.

Decommissioned 2 October 1944

Sold 1964 to Ocean Science & Engineering (South Africa) to be used for marine prospecting. 1964-1972, named MV Rockeater, reflagged South Africa

Donated in 1972 to the False Bay Conservation Society

Rockeater was towed to Smitswinkel Bay on 15th December 1972 and scuttled.

Final Disposition, sunk, 15 December 1972, in Smitswinkel Bay, Cape Peninsula, South Africa

Specifications:
Displacement 557 gross tons
Length 177'
Beam 33'
Draft 10'
Speed 12 kts
Freight Capacity unknown
Complement unknown
Armament unknown

Propulsion two 500hp GM Cleveland Division 6-278A 6-cyl V6 diesel engines, twin screws

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
300716802	53k	The sinking of the MV Rockeater (Ex-USAV FS-168) in Smitswinkel Bay, Cape Peninsula, South Africa, 15 December 1972. Photographer unknown. WRECKSITE - ROCKEATER 1944">	Robert Hurst
300716801	29k	The wreck of the diamond prospecting ship MV Rockeater in Smitswinkel Bay, Cape Peninsula, South Africa, May 2011. Courtesy Jean Tresfon. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license - Wikimedia Commons	Robert Hurst
300716803	54k	General arrangement sketch of the wreck of the MV Rockeater, False Bay, Cape Peninsula. May 2011. Courtesy Peater Wouthwood. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license - Wikimedia Commons	Robert Hurst

There is no history record available for USAV FS-168 at NavSource

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 21 July 2023