Name Pontotoc Laid down 15 January 1944 Launched 2 July 1944 | Yard number 326 Construction started 15 January 1944 | |
 | ||
Namesake Pontotoc County, Mississippi, or
Pontotoc County, Oklahoma Ordered as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2160 Builder Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin | ||
USS Pontotoc (AK-206/AG-94/AVS-7) was an Alamosa-class cargo ship acquired by the US Navy shortly before the end of World War II. She was converted into a Gwinnett-class aviation stores issue ship to carry aviation parts and spares, and to issue them to the US Pacific Fleet and activities as needed.
Contents
Construction
Pontotoc was laid down for the US Maritime Commission (MARCOM), MC hull 2160, by Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, 15 January 1944; classified AK-206 on 25 February 1944; launched 2 July 1944; acquired from MARCOM on a loan-charter basis 28 February 1945; reclassified AG–94 on 12 March 1945; and commissioned 22 March 1945, Lieutenant Commander Charles W. Lockard in command.
World War II-related service
After shakedown, Pontotoc transited the Panama Canal and arrived Pearl Harbor 18 April 1945. Reclassified as Gwinnett-class aviation stores issue ship AVS-7 effective 25 May, Pontotoc steamed for the Philippine Islands, reporting for duty 8 July at Guiuan, Samar, Philippine Islands. She provided aviation stores on station in the Philippines through the end of hostilities.
Post-war inactivation
Pontotoc then proceeded to the 12th Naval District. She decommissioned and was delivered to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) 26 April 1946, at San Francisco, California. She was struck from the Navy List 8 May 1946.
Merchant service
She was sold 14 August 1947, to the French firm Messageries Maritimes, and renamed Taurus. In 1960 she was sold to Morocco and renamed Tadjera.