The USS Alcona (AK-157) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that served the United States Navy during World War II, contributing primarily to logistical support in the Pacific theater. Below is a summary of its key operations during the war:
The Alcona was commissioned on 15 September 1944 and spent the majority of its service transporting vital supplies, equipment, and troops across the Pacific. After its shakedown training off the coast of California, it was assigned to various crucial operations across the Pacific islands.
Initial Deployment: The ship’s first major operational area was in the New Guinea and South Pacific regions. After a brief stop at Pearl Harbor in November 1944, Alcona proceeded to New Guinea and Manus, unloading cargo at Finschhafen and Hollandia before heading to Australia in early January 1945(USS Alcona - Wikipedia)(USS Alcona (AK-157)).
Australia and Philippines: By early 1945, the Alcona was heavily involved in transporting supplies between Australia and the Philippines, including critical material for the liberation of the Philippines and other islands in the Pacific. It made several runs between Brisbane, Australia, and Philippine ports like Leyte and Manila Bay. For instance, in February 1945, the ship delivered cargo to San Pedro Bay, Leyte, and later participated in unloading operations at Subic Bay and Guiuan, Samar(USS Alcona (AK-157)).
Typhoon and Philippine Campaigns: During this period, Alcona faced challenges, such as navigating through a typhoon, but continued its vital cargo duties. As the war progressed, it provided logistical support to various islands, including the unloading of heavy equipment and the transport of military personnel(USS Alcona (AK-157)).
By mid-1945, the Alcona continued its essential support missions, transporting supplies in the Philippine Islands. Notably, the ship was anchored off Samar on 15 August 1945, the day Japan surrendered, marking the end of the Pacific War. The ship continued operations, ferrying cargo in support of post-war rebuilding efforts in the Philippines(USS Alcona - Wikipedia)(USS Alcona (AK-157)).
After Japan's surrender, Alcona was involved in several post-war missions, which included transporting goods and personnel to various regions like Samar and the Panama Canal Zone. This period marked a shift from combat operations to logistical support during the post-war occupation and recovery(USS Alcona (AK-157)).
In a post-WWII assignment, the Alcona participated in Operation Nanook in 1946. Originally intended to decommission the ship, the U.S. Navy extended its service by assigning it to this Arctic exercise. The mission aimed to establish weather stations in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, and the Alcona played a crucial role in transporting supplies to these remote regions, including to Thule in Greenland(USS Alcona - Wikipedia)(USS Alcona (AK-157)).
Following its involvement in Operation Nanook, Alcona was decommissioned on 5 May 1955. It was subsequently returned to the War Shipping Administration and laid up in reserve(USS Alcona (AK-157)).
Throughout its service, the USS Alcona was instrumental in maintaining the flow of supplies crucial for the Allied forces' success in the Pacific and later in the post-war recovery efforts. Its operations spanned major battles and logistics challenges, contributing to both combat and humanitarian missions.