From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Belle Isle

Belle Isle is an island in Michigan.


(AG-73: dp. 5766; l. 441'6"; b. 56'11"; dr. 24'9"; s. 12.5 k.; cpl. 891; a. 1 5"; cl. Belle Isle)

Belle Isle (AG-73) was launched 3 November 1944 by New England Shipbuilding Corp., South Portland. Maine, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Miss Sally Goding; transferred to the Navy 15 November 1944, commissioned the same day, Lieutenant Commander J. H. Graves, USNR, in command; ferried to Bethlehem Steel Co., Hobaken, N. J.; decommissioned 18 November; converted into an electronics repair vessel; and recommissioned 13 July 1945.

Belle Isle joined Service Division 104, Service Squadron 10, Pacific Fleet, and arrived off Okinawa 7 October 1945. She serviced fleet units there and then proceeded to Wakayama, Japan, arriving 15 December. Remaining in Japanese waters until 31 March 1946, Belle Isle returned to San Francisco and then transferred to San Diego where she was placed out of commission in reserve 30 August 1946. She was reclassified AKS-21, 18 August 1951.