>From the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," (1970) Vol. 5, p.238 PAVO A constellation, “the peacock,” in the polar skies of the Southern Hemisphere. AK-139 Displacement: 14,250 t. (full load) Length: 441’6” Beam: 56’11” Draft: 28’4” Speed: 12 k. Complement: 256 Armament: 1 5”; 1 3”; 8 20mm Class: CRATER Maritime Commission Standard Type: EC2-S-C1 PAVO (AK-139) was laid down as JAMES S. HOGG under a Maritime Commission contract by Todd Houston Shipbuilding Corp., Houston, Tex., 8 March 1943; launched 23 April 1943; sponsored by Miss Ima Hogg; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission under bare-boat charter 29 November 1943; renamed PAVO 14 December 1943; converted for Navy use at the U.S. Naval Dry Docks, Terminal Island, Calif., and commissioned at San Pedro, Calif., 14 January 1944, Lt. Comdr. Roswell E. King in command. After shakedown, PAVO loaded cargo at San Diego and sailed for Hawaii. She reached Pearl 28 February; and, following a month's training, she sailed for the Central Pacific in convoy 21 March. She arrived Majuro, Marshalls, ten days later and began extensive cargo shuttle operations which, for the next nine months, sent her throughout the Central Pacific. After completing runs to Kwajalein and Roi, she transported men and supplies to Tarawa, Gilberts early in May. She returned damaged material to Pearl Harbor later that month; thence, she resumed supply operations out of the Marshalls. On 23 July, PAVO departed Eniwetok in convoy for the Marianas. Arriving Saipan the 28th, she discharged tons of cargo both there and at the recently captured island of Tinian. She returned to Eniwetok in mid-August, but by 1 September she had resumed offloading cargo at Saipan. Less than a fortnight later, she transported cargo to Guam before heading back to Eniwetok 13 September. During the next three months, she continued her busy schedule with a run to the Gilberts, inter-island shuttles in the Marshalls, and a four-week deployment to American bases in the Marianas. Departing Saipan 12 December, PAVO steamed via Eniwetok to Pearl Harbor where she underwent voyage repairs during much of January 1945. She returned to the West Coast 10 February; and, after loading supplies at Seattle, Wash., she departed for the Western Pacific 24 February. Her deployment sent her via Pearl, the Marshalls, and the Carolines to Kossol Roads, where she arrived 8 May. Four days later, she was ordered to the Philippines and she reached San Pedro Bay, Leyte, 15 May. For more than two months she served as a station cargo ship in Leyte Gulf. She completed discharging cargo 23 July, and on 2 August she sailed for the United States. PAVO arrived San Pedro Calif., 31 August; thence, following repairs at Terminal Island, she departed for the Atlantic Coast 13 October. Her voyage sent her through the Panama Canal 27 October, and on 3 November she entered Hampton Roads, Va. PAVO began deactivation overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard 21 November. She decommissioned at Norfolk 30 November 1945 and was returned to the War Shipping Administration at Lee Hall, Va., 1 December. Her name was struck from the Naval Register 19 December 1945. In 1970, she was in the National Defense Reserve Fleet as JAMES S. HOGG, based in the James River, Va. Transcribed by Michael Hansen mhansen2@home.com