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

(1976) Vol. 6, pp.61-62.





REGULUS





	A star of the first magnitude in the constellation Leo.





AF-57

Displacement:  11,900 t. (fully loaded)

Length:  455’3”

Beam:  62’

Draft:  23’2”

Speed:  16 k.

Complement:  250

Armament:  8 3”

Class:  DENEBOLA





	The second REGULUS, built under Maritime Commission 

contract, was laid down as ESCANABA VICTORY (MCV hull 112) 

by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oreg., 29 April 

1944; launched 7 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Aubrey D. Day; 

and delivered to the Maritime Commission 29 June 1944.  

Initially operated for the Maritime Commission by 

American-South African Lines, ESCANABA VICTORY was acquired 

by the Navy from the Commission's successor, the Maritime 

Administration, 5 May 1952; converted by the Todd Shipyard, 

Brooklyn, N.Y.; and commissioned as REGULUS (AF-57) 

3 February 1954, Comdr. John D. Lautaret in command.



	Completing initial training and outfitting on the west 

coast, REGULUS, homeported at Alameda, loaded at San 

Francisco and on 8 May 1954 got underway for the Far East.  

A unit of ServRon 3, she operated out of Sasebo and 

replenished units of the 7th Fleet at sea and in ports from 

Japan to the Philippines until November when she steamed for 

the United States.  Returning to San Francisco 2 December, 

she deployed again 26 February-26 August 1955, extending her 

range on that tour to ports in Indochina.  For the remainder 

of that decade and through the next, she continued to rotate 

regularly to the western Pacific, transporting in 1957 art 

treasures from Korea to the United States for exhibition.  

During the early sixties, her deployed time in WestPac was 

increased and from 1964 her primary mission was shifted to 

replenishment of 7th Fleet units operating off the coast of 

Vietnam.  Her triennual overhaul periods excepted, REGULUS 

equipped in 1965 with a helicopter deck for vertical 

replenishment, continued to carry provisions to the units of 

the Pacific Fleet until the night of 16-17 August 1971.  

While riding out typhoon Rose at Hong Kong, REGULUS grounded 

on Kau I Chau Island, ripping open her hull.  After three 

weeks of attempting to refloat REGULUS, it was finally 

decided that the damage she had incurred was too severe to 

warrant salvage.  REGULUS was decommissioned 10 September 

and subsequently struck from the Navy list.



	[REGULUS was stricken the same day she was 

decommissioned.]



Internet Web Site:

	Naval Vessel Register

		www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AF57.htm





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com