US Navy Auxiliary Ships: Gwinnett (AVS-5) Class

USS Pontotoc (AVS-7) circa early 1946
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        GWINNETT (AVS-5)
Design:        MC C1-M-AV1
Displacement (tons):        2,411 light, 7,450 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        338.7' oa, 320.0' wl/pp x 50.3' e x 21.1' lim
Original Armament:        1-3"/50 6-20mm
Later armaments:        --
Complement:        --
Speed (kts.):        11
Propulsion (HP):        1,700
Machinery:        Nordberg Diesel, 1 screw

Construction:

AVS	Name	Acq.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
5	GWINNETT	13 Mar 45	Walter Butler SB, Superior	21 Dec 43	14 May 44	10 Apr 45
6	NICOLLET	4 Apr 45	Globe SB, Superior	9 Feb 44	31 Jul 44	27 Apr 45
7	PONTOTOC	28 Feb 45	Leathem D. Smith SB	15 Jan 44	2 Jul 44	22 Mar 45

Disposition:

AVS	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
5	GWINNETT	11 Feb 46	26 Feb 46	11 Feb 46	MC/D	--
6	NICOLLET	17 Jun 46	3 Jul 46	17 Jun 46	MC/D	--
7	PONTOTOC	26 Apr 46	8 May 46	26 Apr 46	MC/D	--

Class Notes:
FY 1944. On 8 May 1943 the Joint Chiefs of Staff requested that the Maritime Commission build 100 small freighters for use by both the Army and Navy. The diesel-propelled C1-M-AV1 design was developed to meet this requirement, and the services eventually decided that the Navy would man 75 of the ships (including 10 to be completed as refrigerated cargo ships) and the Army would operate 25. On 10 January 1944 the Auxiliary Vessels Board recommended acquisition of the 75 Navy ships (AK 156-220 and AF 30-39).

On 27 Feb 45 CNO decided that AK-185, AK-199, and probably AK-206 would be used as Aviation Supply Ships. These ships were among the many of this type built on the Great Lakes and transferred by the MC for reassembly at shipyards in the Gulf area--they were nearly ready for delivery to the Navy when selected. On 9 Mar 45 CNO recommended the three ships be reclassified AG 92-94, and on 12 Mar 45 SecNav approved the recommendation. (Both dates are used in Navy records for the reclassification.) The ships became AVS 5-7 when the new AVS designation became effective on 25 May 45.

Following their return by the Navy at San Francisco in 1946, all three ships were sold by the MC to the French government in October 1946 and delivered on 24 Jul 47 (AVS-6) and 14 Aug 47 (other two).

Ship Notes:

AVS	Name	MC#	Notes
5	GWINNETT	2116	Delivered to MC in Great Lakes 6 Nov 44 and arrived at New Orleans 23 Dec 44. Reassembled by Port Houston Iron Works, Houston, Texas, and delivered to MC and Navy 13 Mar 45. Ex AG-92 25 May 45, ex AK-185 12 Mar 45. Merc. STE. HELENE 1947. Scrapped 1970 as PRINCE K.L.
6	NICOLLET	2153	Delivered to MC in Great Lakes 21 Nov 44 and arrived at New Orleans 12 Jan 45. Reassembled by Samuelson SY, Beaumont, Texas, for reassembly, and delivered to MC and Navy 4 Apr 45. Fitted out by Brown SB Co., Houston, Texas (in service for ferrying 4-5 Apr 45). Ex AG-93 25 May 45, ex AK-199 12 Mar 45. Merc. DJERADA 1947. Damaged in collision 1969, scrapped 1970.
7	PONTOTOC	2160	Delivered to MC in Great Lakes 21 Oct 44 and arrived at New Orleans 11 Dec 44. Reassembled by Pendleton SY, New Orleans, La., and delivered to MC and Navy 28 Feb 45. Ex AG-94 25 May 45, ex AK-206 12 Mar 45. Merc. TAURUS 1947. Scrapped 1968 as MYRIAM.