Puneet Varma (Editor)

USS Pitkin (AK 204)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Yard number
  
125

Laid down
  
date unknown

Name
  
Coastal Observer (1944–1945, 1945–) Pitkin (1945)

Namesake
  
Pitkin County, Colorado

Ordered
  
as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2158

Builder
  
Globe Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wisconsin

USS Pitkin (AK-204) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship that was constructed for the US Navy during the closing period of World War II. By the time she was scheduled for commissioning, the war’s end caused her to be declared “excess to needs” and she was returned to the US Government and struck by the Navy.

Contents

Construction

Pitkin was laid down under US Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2158, by Globe Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wisconsin. She was transferred to the Navy in May 1945. Pitkin was scheduled for commissioning. However, because of the Allied victory in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations, her commissioning was cancelled. Pitkin was ordered returned to MARCOM for disposal. Her name subsequently reverted to Coastal Observer.

Merchant service

Coastal Competitor was used by several shipping companies from 1945–1948, when she was placed in the reserve fleet.

On 13 July 1956, she was sold to Companhia Nacional de Navegacao Costerira, Patrimonio Nacional, of Brazil, for $693,682, under the condition that she be used for coastal shipping. She was delivered on 2 February 1957. Her final disposition is unknown.

References

USS Pitkin (AK-204) Wikipedia