Name Chief Ouray
Deimos Way number 5 Construction started 27 November 1942 | Yard number 513 Laid down 27 November 1942 Launched 28 December 1942 | |
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Namesake Chief Ouray
The moon Deimos Ordered as a Type EC2-S-C1 hull, MCE hull 513 Builders Permanente Metals, Richmond | ||
USS Deimos (AK-78) was a Crater-class cargo ship in the service of US Navy in World War II. It was the first ship of the Navy to have borne the name Deimos, after one of the moons of Mars.
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Construction
Deimos was laid down 27 November 1942 as liberty ship SS Chief Ouray, MCE hull 513, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract. Deimos was launched on 28 December 1942 and sponsored by Mrs. M. Moyer. Deimos was transferred to the Navy on 7 January 1943 and commissioned 23 January 1943, with Lieutenant Commander Walter L. Sorenson, USNR, in command.
Service history
Deimos sailed from San Francisco 27 January 1943 with cargo for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and Townsville, Australia. She arrived at Nouméa, New Caledonia, 23 May to load cargo which she delivered to Guadalcanal in June. Returning to her base, she was torpedoed on 23 June on the port side, aft. Efforts to save her failed. She was finally abandoned and sunk by gunfire from O'Bannon (DD-450) at 11°26′S 162°01′E.
Awards
Deimos received one battle star for World War II service.