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==1943-1944==
==1943-1944==
''Artemis'' (AKA-21) was laid down under a [[Maritime Commission]] contract (MC hull 1882) on [[23 November]] [[1943]] at [[Providence, R.I.]], by the [[Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc.]]; launched on [[20 May]] [[1944]]; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas J. Walsh; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on [[28 August]] [[1944]]; and placed in [[Ship commissioning|commission]] that same day, LCDR Thomas J. Rattray in command.
''Artemis'' (AKA-21) was laid down under a [[Maritime Commission]] contract (MC hull 1882) on November 23, 1943,   by the Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc.; launched on May 20, 1944 and commissioned that same day, LCDR Thomas J. Rattray in command.


After fitting out at [[Boston]], Mass., the attack cargo ship proceeded to the [[Chesapeake Bay]] for shakedown training. She then sailed to the naval supply depot at [[Bayonne, N.J.]], to embark naval passengers and supplies for transportation to the [[Pacific]]. The ship got underway on [[12 October]] and transited the [[Panama Canal]] on the 17th. On that same date, she reported to Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, and continued on toward the [[West Coast of the United States|west coast]]. She reached [[San Diego]], Calif., on the 26th and remained in port for one day. The vessel then shaped a course for [[Hawaiian Islands|Hawaii]].
After fitting out at Boston, Mass., the attack cargo ship proceeded to the [[Chesapeake Bay]] for shakedown training. She then sailed to the naval supply depot at Bayonne, N.J., to embark naval passengers and supplies for transportation to the [[United States Pacific Command]]. The ship got underway on October 12, and transited the [[Panama Canal]] on the 17th. On that same date, she reported to Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, and continued on to [[San Diego]], Calif., on the 26th and remained in port for one day. The vessel then shaped a course for [[Hawaiian Islands|Hawaii]].


''Artemis'' reached [[Pearl Harbor]] on [[3 November]] and unloaded her passengers. One day later, she left Hawaiian waters to return to California. On [[13 November]], the ship arrived at [[Port Hueneme]] to take on pontoon equipment and carried this cargo to Pearl Harbor. While in Hawaii, she participated in a series of training exercises held off Pearl Harbor. On [[5 December]], ''Artemis'' left Hawaiian waters to return to the west coast. Once again, cargo was taken on at Port Hueneme, and the ship proceeded back to Hawaii.
''Artemis'' reached [[Pearl Harbor]] on [[3 November]] and unloaded her passengers. One day later, she left Hawaiian waters to return to California. While in Hawaii, she participated in a series of training exercises held off Pearl Harbor.  
 
''Artemis'' spent the Christmas holidays in port at Pearl Harbor.  


==1945==
==1945==
On [[4 January]] [[1945]], she proceeded to Kahalui, [[Maui]], to embark marines. The vessel got underway on [[12 January]] with units of Task Force (TF) 51 for amphibious training exercises off Maui and arrived back at Pearl Harbor on the 18th. Nine days later, she sailed for [[Eniwetok]] with Task Group 53.2.
On January 4, 1945, she proceeded to Kahalui, [[Maui]], to embark marines. The vessel got underway on January 12 with units of Task Force (TF) 51 for amphibious training exercises off Maui and arrived back at Pearl Harbor on the 18th.  


After spending two days at that atoll, ''Artemis'' got underway to participate in the [[Battle of Iwo Jima|invasion of the Volcano Islands]]. Steaming via [[Saipan]], the ship anchored in Transport Area "Baker" off the southeast coast of [[Iwo Jima]] on [[19 February]]. She then sent her boats to assist the transports during the initial assault. The attack cargo ship remained in the area through the 27th discharging troops and cargo and taking casualties on board during the day and retiring out to sea each night.
After spending two days at Eniwetok Atoll, ''Artemis'' got underway to participate in the [[Battle of Iwo Jimas]]. Steaming via [[Saipan]], the ship anchored in Transport Area "Baker" off the southeast coast of [[Iwo Jima]] on February 19. She then sent her boats to assist the transports during the initial assault. The attack cargo ship remained in the area through the 27th discharging troops and cargo and taking casualties on board during the day and retiring out to sea each night.


''Artemis'' touched back at Saipan on [[3 March]]. Three days later, she got underway for [[Ulithi]] and remained in port there during the next three weeks to resupply and undergo minor repairs. On [[29 March]], the vessel paused at [[Manus Island|Manus]] before getting underway for [[New Caledonia]]. She arrived at [[Noumea]] on [[4 April]] where she took on passengers and cargo before sailing on [[3 May]] for [[Leyte (island)|Leyte]], [[Philippine Islands]].
Returning to Saipan, she then went to the flet base at [[Ulithi]]. and then left for the Phillipines, in general support of Pacific logistics. Drydocked at Pearl Harbor at the time of the Japanese surrender, she participated in moving occupation troops to Japan.  
 
The vessel reached Leyte on [[16 May]] and began unloading operations the next day. ''Artemis'' headed for ''New Guinea'' on the 30th and touched at [[Hollandia]] on [[3 June]]. Two days later, she moved to [[Oro Bay]] to take on cargo and troops. The ship sailed for the Philippines on [[9 June]], discharged her cargo at [[Manila]], and then sailed to the [[Admiralty Islands]]. After pausing at Manus to refuel, [[Artemis]] proceeded to [[Lae]], New Guinea, to pick up more troops and cargo. The loading was completed on [[3 July]], and the vessel got underway to return to the Philippines. She unloaded at Manila in mid-July before proceeding to [[Tacloban]], Philippine Islands, to pick up troops and equipment for transportation to Hawaii.
 
''Artemis'' sailed eastward on [[31 July]] and reached Pearl Harbor two weeks later. She was discharging her cargo there when word of the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese capitulation]] was announced on [[15 August]]. The vessel entered [[drydock]] at the [[Pearl Harbor Navy Yard]] on the 24th for overhaul. This work was completed in mid-September, and she embarked occupation troops for transportation to the Japanese home islands. On [[3 October]], [[Artemis]] moored at [[U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka|Yokosuka]], Japan, and began discharging her passengers. She operated in Japanese waters until [[24 November]], when she set a course for the west coast of the United States.
 
The vessel reached [[San Francisco]], Calif., on [[10 December]] and, 10 days later, set out for the Philippines. Upon her arrival at Samar, ''Artemis'' embarked military personnel for transport back to the United States.  


==1946 onward==
==1946 onward==
She got underway on [[21 January]] [[1946]] and made San Francisco on [[9 February]]. The ship remained in port there until [[20 March]], when she headed for Hawaii. Upon her arrival at Pearl Harbor, the ship conducted logistic support operations for nearby naval activities until [[15 May]], when she was assigned to Joint Task Force 1 to support Operation "Crossroads," tests conductd at [[Bikini Atoll]] to learn of the effects of atomic bomb explosions upon warships. This assignment occupied the cargo ship through mid-August when she returned to Pearl Harbor and resumed local operations.
Upon her arrival at Pearl Harbor, she supported operations there until, when she was assigned to Joint Task Force 1 to support Operation "Crossroads," tests conductd at [[Bikini Atoll]] to learn of the effects of atomic bomb explosions upon warships. This assignment occupied the cargo ship through mid-August when she returned to Pearl Harbor and resumed local operations.


On [[6 November]], ''Artemis'' departed Hawaiian waters and shaped a course for the west coast. She reached San Francisco one week later, but left that port on the 23d and proceeded to the [[Panama Canal Zone]]. After retransiting the canal, the ship continued on to [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk, Va.]], where she was decommissioned on [[10 January]] [[1947]]. Her name was struck from the Navy list on [[25 February]] [[1947]]. The ship was transferred to the Maritime Administration on [[1 April]] [[1948]] and was laid up in the [[National Defense Reserve Fleet]] in the James River. She was later sold during the 1960's to the Union Minerals & Alloys Corp., of New York City, and was subsequently scrapped.
After retransiting the canal, the ship continued on to [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk, Va.]], where she was decommissioned on [[10 January]] [[1947]]. Her name was struck from the Navy list on [[25 February]] [[1947]]. The ship was transferred to the Maritime Administration on [[1 April]] [[1948]] and was laid up in the [[National Defense Reserve Fleet]] in the James River. She was later sold during the 1960's to the Union Minerals & Alloys Corp., of New York City, and was subsequently scrapped.


==References==
==References==
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/index.html Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships] (Primary source for this article)  
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/index.html Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships] (Primary source for this article)
 
==External links==
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a12/artemis-iii.htm Naval Historical Center: USS ''Artemis'' III]
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/02/02021.htm NavSource Online: AKA-21 ''Artemis'']
*[http://ussrankin.org/id352.htm 51 Years of AKAs]

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USSArtemis.jpg USS Artemis (AKA-21)
History
Laid down: 23 November 1943
Launched: 20 May 1944
Commissioned: 28 August 1944
Decommissioned: 10 January 1947
Struck: 25 February 1947
Fate: Sold for scrap in the 1960's
General Characteristics
Builder: Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc.
Hull type: S4-SE2-BE1
Displacement: 4,087 tons light, 7,080 tons loaded
Length: 426 ft (129.8 m)
Beam: 58 ft (17.7 m)
Draft: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion: Steam turbo-electric drive; two boilers, two propellers,
6,000 shp (4.5 MW)
Speed: 16.9 knots (31.3 km/h)
Complement: 321 (20 officers, 301 men), plus 255 embarked troops
Armament: 1 × 5"/38 caliber DP gun,
4 × twin 40 mm AA guns,
16 × 20 mm AA guns
Boats: 14 LCVP,
8 LCM

USS Artemis (AKA-21) was an Artemis class attack cargo ship named after the asteroid 105 Artemis, which in turn was named after the Greek goddess Artemis. She served as a commissioned ship for 2 years and 4 months, earning two battle stars for her World War II service.

1943-1944

Artemis (AKA-21) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1882) on November 23, 1943, by the Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc.; launched on May 20, 1944 and commissioned that same day, LCDR Thomas J. Rattray in command.

After fitting out at Boston, Mass., the attack cargo ship proceeded to the Chesapeake Bay for shakedown training. She then sailed to the naval supply depot at Bayonne, N.J., to embark naval passengers and supplies for transportation to the United States Pacific Command. The ship got underway on October 12, and transited the Panama Canal on the 17th. On that same date, she reported to Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, and continued on to San Diego, Calif., on the 26th and remained in port for one day. The vessel then shaped a course for Hawaii.

Artemis reached Pearl Harbor on 3 November and unloaded her passengers. One day later, she left Hawaiian waters to return to California. While in Hawaii, she participated in a series of training exercises held off Pearl Harbor.

1945

On January 4, 1945, she proceeded to Kahalui, Maui, to embark marines. The vessel got underway on January 12 with units of Task Force (TF) 51 for amphibious training exercises off Maui and arrived back at Pearl Harbor on the 18th.

After spending two days at Eniwetok Atoll, Artemis got underway to participate in the Battle of Iwo Jimas. Steaming via Saipan, the ship anchored in Transport Area "Baker" off the southeast coast of Iwo Jima on February 19. She then sent her boats to assist the transports during the initial assault. The attack cargo ship remained in the area through the 27th discharging troops and cargo and taking casualties on board during the day and retiring out to sea each night.

Returning to Saipan, she then went to the flet base at Ulithi. and then left for the Phillipines, in general support of Pacific logistics. Drydocked at Pearl Harbor at the time of the Japanese surrender, she participated in moving occupation troops to Japan.

1946 onward

Upon her arrival at Pearl Harbor, she supported operations there until, when she was assigned to Joint Task Force 1 to support Operation "Crossroads," tests conductd at Bikini Atoll to learn of the effects of atomic bomb explosions upon warships. This assignment occupied the cargo ship through mid-August when she returned to Pearl Harbor and resumed local operations.

After retransiting the canal, the ship continued on to Norfolk, Va., where she was decommissioned on 10 January 1947. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 25 February 1947. The ship was transferred to the Maritime Administration on 1 April 1948 and was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in the James River. She was later sold during the 1960's to the Union Minerals & Alloys Corp., of New York City, and was subsequently scrapped.

References