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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS T-AKL-24
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USAV FS-309 (1945 - 1950)

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal

Camano Class Light Cargo Ship:

Laid down, date unknown, for the US Army as the Small Freighter FS-309 (design 381) at John H. Mathis, Camden, N.J.

Delivered to the US Army in April 1944

Commissioned. USAV FS-309, 10 April 1944 at New York, LTjg Richard H. Greenless, USCGR in Command

LTjg. Greenless was succeeded in command by LT. Oliver Rahle USCG.

USAV FS-309 deeparted New York early in May 1944, proceeding to Los Angeles, via Panama Canal.

En route to Honolulu from Los Angeles FS-309 was in a collision with a Navy destroyer 150 miles off the coast. With her starboard side caved in and number two hold full of water, but with no one injured, the crew shifted the cargo to the port side and rigged a collision mat, taking her to Los Angeles under her own power.

The damage was repaired, the skipper exonerated by a Navy Board and the FS-309 proceeded to New Guinea, via Honolulu and Ellice Islands.

At Milne Bay, New Guinea she unloaded and reloaded for Hollandia and joined a convoy for the Philippines. As she approached Leyte the crew was notified that "enemy air attack can be expected at any time," but they sailed up Leyte Bay without firing a shot. A few days later, however, on Christmas Eve, 1944, the airfield at Tacloban was attacked and she began shooting at enemy planes along with shore batteries.

Sailing shortly afterward for Mindoro, FS-309 was subject to concentrated attacks from enemy kamikazes while steaming through the Surigao Straits, the Mindanao Sea, the Sulu Sea and the Mindoro Straits on 28 December 1944. The convoy shot down some 26 enemy planes. The FS-309's guns fired into one Zero, putting her ablaze shortly before she banked into the ammunition-laden USS Porcupine (IX-126) 200 yards ahead. A terrific explosion followed, the concussion picking everybody several feet off the deck of the FS-309 and tearing the flying bridge to pieces with all shatter proof windows which were not down being completely pulverized. As the smoke rose from Porcupine, the remnants of the ill-fated ship were seen falling from the sky into the sea as shrapnel littered the deck, with booms, life rafts, hatches, etc. of the ill-starred ship dropping not 20 feet ahead of FS-309. Out of the smoky area, three huge, mountainous waves were seen approaching and two men were seen frantically waving and shouting in the water. FS-309 maneuvered closer and Francis L. Owens, USCGR, of the FS-309's crew jumped overboard. He carried lines to them and they were rescued. The two men turned out not to be from the Porcupine, but from a Navy vessel in the column to the left of FS-309. They had been blown overboard in the Porcupine explosion. The enemy had scored three hits. Porcupine had entirely disappeared except for a floating body and two others were seen abandoned and burning in the distance. Attacks continued while anchored off Mindoro Island and FS-309 went to the aid of a burning gasoline tanker hit by suicide divers and rescued her crew.

31 January 1945, FS-309 pulled into the partially wrecked Wawa River Wharf at Nasugbu Bay where the last 300 defenders of Bataan and Corregidor had been landed and held prisoner for many days, many of them dying for want of medical care. Here enemy "Q" small fast speedboats carrying two depth charges aft were attacking shipping at anchor with suicidal intent were known to be operating. FS-309 was the first United States vessel to remain overnight. A raft extending out from the ship was accordingly built to provide additional protection. Five days later, the expected "Q" boat attack came. Shortly after 1 AM, a watch sighted three helmeted Japanese in a motorboat. He gave the alarm and the searchlight was turned on them. Not 50 yards away they became confused and ran into the raft near the fantail. The explosion that followed blew the Japanese and the "Q" boat into the air and lifted the stern of the FS-309 out of the water. So great was the explosion that a lifeboat on FS-309's boat deck was completely filled with sand and water. Crewmembers just starting for their battle stations were thrown violently on deck while water poured into their quarters through weather doors and passageways. The men thought an enemy aerial bomb had hit the ship. No one was hurt and the ship was comparatively undamaged thanks to the protective raft. The bodies of a Japanese captain and lieutenant were found, indicating the importance of the mission. If they had succeeded the dock would have been rendered useless for some time.

On 19 August 1945, FS-309 was at Manila when the Japanese delegation arrived by air to receive General MacArthur's peace terms. Later she proceeded to Japan as part of the occupation force. Then on return to the United States she was decommissioned.

Transferred from the US Army Transportation Command (USAT) to the US Navy Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 1 July 1950, designated USNS T-AKL-24

Struck from the Naval Register in 1959

Final Disposition, fate unknown