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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USAV FP/FS-151


Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USAV FP/FS-151 was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II
Freight-Supply Vessel
  • Laid down, circa 1944, as Design 330 Freight-Personnel Coastal Cargo Vessel FP-151, at Higgins Industries, New Orleans, LA.
  • Launched in 1944
  • Delivered to the US Army Quartermaster Corps in 1944
  • Assigned to the US Army Transportation Corps
  • Commissioned USAV FP-151, 17 April 1944, in the South Pacific
  • Redesignated Freight-Supply FS-151, date unknown
  • By 26 June 1944, FS-151 was operating in the Southwest Pacific area
  • On 23 July 1945 at 0648, in position 02 59' N, 133 20' E, while en route from Biak to the Philippines the Coast Guard manned Army vessel USAV FS-142 intercepted an SOS distress message from an unknown vessel on 500 kilocycles. After obtaining D/F bearings to verify position given in distress message, the course was changed to close that position some 80 miles away. The distressed vessel could not decode a message stating the ETA. All subsequent radio communication was in plain language. The distressed vessel was sighted at 1640 and FS-142 arrived on scene at 1730.
    Present was the cargp ship (Maritime Commisison type N-3 vessel) William F. Howard which had arrived about 30 minutes earlier and was lying one mile off the reef. The distressed vessel was the USAV FS-151 stranded on the east side of Helen Reef, 6 miles from Helen Island in position 02 52' N, 131 40' E, heading in a northeasterly direction, drawing 4.5 feet of water forward and normal draft aft. Breakers were about her port side resulting from a moderate SW wind and the sea was sweeping the reef. The starboard side of the FS-151 was in deeper water. Her booms were swung out to port. Two warps were out astern leading to deeper water. The FS-142 closed the distressed vessel and following blinker conversation regarding the general situation it was decided at 1800 to try pulling her off on the chance that she was not badly stranded. After the third attempt, a cable was passed and made fast to FS-151 at 1826. The cable broke loose from the bit of the FS-151, but the distressed vessel did not budge. Further attempts were abandoned because of darkness, strong currents and inadaptability of the FS-142 to such work. It was obvious that it would take a powerful tug to get the FS-151 off. At 1910 the William Howard departed and at 1950 the FS-142 advised the FS-151 that they would be standing by at some distance off the reef because of possible enemy submarine attack following the plain language communications. The FS-151's personnel were in no immediate danger. At 0830 on 27 July 1945, present at the scene were USS French (DE-367) (SOPA), USS Gilmer (APD-11), an Australian J-boat and a commercial tanker. After blinker conversation with SOPA regarding previous day's experience and stating the opinion that FS-151 was higher on reef than previous evenings SOPA decided to try and requested FS-142 to stand by. At 0942 SOPA advised that an ocean going tug was approaching and that FS-142 could proceed. After confirming, by blinker, that no further help was needed, FS-142 proceeded back to course and to destination. The FS-151 was apparently successfully floated.
  • Decommissioned, 12 October 1945, er Coast Guard crew removed on 13 October 1945.
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 557 gross tons
    Length 170'
    Beam 33'
    Draft 10'
    Speed 12 kts
    Freight Capacity unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion four 200hp GM Cleveland Division 6-278A 6-cyl V6 diesel engines, twin screws
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    Last Updated 23 January 2026