>From the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," 

(1976) Vol. 6, pp.519-520.





SIRIUS





	A star.





AK-15

Displacement:  4,070 t.

Length:  401'

Beam:  54'2"

Draft:  9'8"

Speed:  11.5 k.

Complement:  189

Armament:  2 5"; 4 3"

Class:  SIRIUS





	The first SIRIUS (AK-15), ex-SS SALUDA, was built in 

1918 and 1919 by the American International Shipbuilding 

Corp., Hog Island, Pa.  She was acquired from the War 

Shipping Board on 10 December 1921 and commissioned on 

20 January 1922.



	SIRIUS was assigned to the Naval Transportation Service 

carrying cargo and passengers in support of fleet units and 

bases.  For many years, SIRIUS operated along the coasts of 

the United States.  She operated on the East Coast as far 

north as Boston, Mass., and reached many ports in the 

Caribbean.  Upon moving to the West Coast she operated from 

San Diego, Calif., to Bremerton, Wash.  During 1929, 1930, 

and 1932, SIRIUS made numerous trips to and from Alaska with 

seal skins as her principal cargo.  In 1934, she was 

attached to the Aleutian Island Survey Expedition and made 

cruises to many of the islands of Alaska, charting their 

waters as she went.



	SIRIUS continued her resupply operations to various 

United States naval bases and fleets until 1937 when she 

began making runs to Midway.  Her scope of operations was 

increased in 1941 to include voyages to Wake Island.  She 

was in San Francisco when war with Japan was begun, and she 

was fitted out with guns.



	In early 1942, SIRIUS was attached to the Pacific Fleet 

and left San Pedro, Calif., on 1 March, with a convoy for 

Pearl Harbor.  From 1942 until 1944, she maintained a 

schedule of operating from Pearl Harbor to Johnston Island, 

Midway, San Francisco, Christmas Island, Canton Island, and 

Baker Island.  The most noteworthy event of this period was 

when she transported 30 Japanese Imperial Navy prisoners 

from Guam to Pearl Harbor in June 1942.  In July 1944, the 

Marshall Islands were added to her list of resupply ports as 

well as Guam and Saipan.



	SIRIUS returned to San Francisco on 20 November 1944 

for an overhaul and departed that port again on 12 February 

1945 for Pearl Harbor.  She continued her previous port 

calls until September when she was routed to Seeadler 

Harbor, Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, for the first time.  

She departed from there for San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, P.I.  

The cargo ship operated in the Philippine Islands from 

29 September until 2 December when she sailed for San 

Francisco, arriving there on 26 December 1945.



	On 5 January 1946, SIRIUS began preparing for 

decommissioning by removing her cargo, guns, etc.; and, on 

27 March, she moved to the Pacific Bridge Company Dock in 

Oakland.



	SIRIUS decommissioned on 26 April 1946; was struck from 

the Navy list on 5 June; transferred to the Maritime 

Commission on 1 July 1946; and sold to the Kaiser Co., on 

29 September 1947, for scrap.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com