>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1976) Vol. 6, p.109.





RIGEL





	A star of the first magnitude in the constellation 

Orion.





AF-58

Displacement:  15,150 t. (fully loaded)

Length:  502’

Beam:  72’

Draft:  29’

Speed:  21 k.

Complement:  350

Armament:  8 3”

Class:  RIGEL

Maritime Commission Standard Type:  R3-S-4A





	The second RIGEL (AF-58) was laid down under Maritime 

Administration contract 15 March 1954 by the Ingalls 

Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, Miss.; launched 15 March 

1955; sponsored by Mrs. Austin K. Doyle; and commissioned 

2 September 1955, Capt. W. T. Griffin in command.



	The first of a new class of high-speed, large-capacity, 

fully refrigerated stores issue ships, RIGEL completed 

shakedown out of Newport and her homeport of Norfolk.  In 

February 1956, she sailed south for the first time; 

underwent further training in Cuban and Puerto Rican waters; 

and into the fall provided logistic support along the 

mid-Atlantic seaboard and in the Caribbean.  In late fall 

(14 November-9 December), she completed her first 6th Fleet 

deployment which included her initiation in her primary 

mission--replenishment at sea.



	During the winter of 1957, she spent 2 months in the 

Caribbean, then sailed east, in May, for 4 months in the 

Mediterranean.  January 1958 brought a return to the 

Caribbean, followed in March by the initiation of a regular 

schedule of 6-week replenishment deployments to the 

Mediterranean with intervening periods spent in loading 

upkeep, training, and shipyard overhauls.  On her second and 

third deployments of that year, she directly supported units 

of the 6th Fleet sent to Lebanon at the request of that 

country's president.



	RIGEL maintained her regular Mediterranean logistic 

deployment schedule through the 1960's.  Interruptions came 

with the replenishment of units engaged in good will visits 

to West Africa (January 1961); exercises off Iceland and 

Canada (June 1962, June 1965); and crises in the 

Caribbean--the Cuban Quarantine (November 1962) and the 

Dominican Republic Crisis (May 1965).



	RIGEL was fitted out with an amidship helicopter 

platform in 1961, thus providing her with a vertical 

replenishment capability.  Two years later, that platform 

was replaced with one on her fantail to simplify the pilots' 

problems when landing aboard or conducting replenishments.  

RIGEL continues to serve into 1974, replenishing ships of 

the 2d and 6th Fleets.



	[Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 16 May 

1994, RIGEL was “disposed of by Navy title transfer to the 

Maritime Administration” on 1 April 1998.  As of September 

1999, she was a part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet.]



Internet Web Site:

	Naval Vessel Register

		www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AF58.htm





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com