History
United States
NameUSS Medea
NamesakeThe asteroid Medea
BuilderWalsh-Kaiser Company, Providence, Rhode Island
Laid down9 August 1944
Launched30 November 1944
Commissioned10 January 1945
Decommissioned24 April 1946
Stricken15 October 1946
Honours and
awards		1 battle star (WWII)
FateSold for scrapping, 1964
General characteristics
Class and typeArtemis-class attack cargo ship
TypeS4–SE2–BE1
Displacement
  • 4,087 long tons (4,153 t) light
  • 7,080 long tons (7,194 t) full
Length426 ft (130 m)
Beam58 ft (18 m)
Draft16 ft (4.9 m)
Speed16.9 knots (31.3 km/h; 19.4 mph)
Complement303 officers and enlisted
Armament

USS Medea (AKA-31) was an Artemis-class attack cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1964-1965.

History

Medea (AKA-31) was named after the minor planet 212 Medea, which in turn was named for a mythical enchantress who helped Jason win the Golden Fleece. She was laid down under Maritime Commission contract 5 August 1944, by Walsh–Kaiser Co., Inc., Providence, RI; launched 30 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. A. C. Clarke; and commissioned 10 January 1945.

Following shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Medea loaded cargo at Hampton Roads, and steamed to Hawaii, arriving Pearl Harbor 3 March 1945. Departing Honolulu 6 April, she operated in the Marianas for the next two months, before embarking troops for Okinawa. She arrived off the Hagushi beaches, Okinawa 10 June, and spent the next nine days discharging troops and cargo. After the cessation of hostilities on 15 August, she carried occupation troops from the Philippines to Japan until November, when she reported for duty with the "Magic Carpet" fleet.

Medea decommissioned in the 8th Naval District, headquartered at New Orleans, 24 April 1946. She was struck from the Naval Register 15 October, and transferred to the War Shipping Administration 29 October. She was finally scrapped in 1964-1965.

Awards

Medea received one battle star for World War II service.

References

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