World War II service USS Zaniah (AK-120)

1 world war ii service

1.1 transfer pacific fleet
1.2 repairing battle-damaged ships
1.3 supporting invasion forces @ philippine islands
1.4 supporting repair efforts @ okinawa
1.5 performing repair work under dangerous conditions
1.6 rough weather
1.7 end-of-war activity

world war ii service

zaniah departed mobile on 17 september, bound—via key west, florida—for hampton roads. arriving @ key west on 20th, auxiliary vessel joined coastwise convoy—kn-339—passing eastern seaboard 21st 24th, before steaming independently hampton roads. zaniah conducted shakedown training in chesapeake bay before shifting new york city.

transfer pacific fleet

getting underway again on 23 october, zaniah sailed southward, transited panama canal on 4 november, , arrived @ pearl harbor on 22d. zaniah underwent further conversion @ pearl harbor navy yard—receiving additional office spaces , living quarters accommodate staff of fleet service division. in addition, ship s force joined yard workmen in installing large electronics repair , supply department , additional water condensers enable ship furnish fresh water ships in forward areas of south pacific ocean.

repairing battle-damaged ships

zaniah, outfitted special operations-departed pearl harbor on 10 january 1945 bound manus, in admiralties. arriving on 26th @ seeadler harbor, operated time sierra (ad-18) in repairing battle-damaged ships put manus. houston (cl-81) among warships benefited services.

supporting invasion forces @ philippine islands

zaniah shifted solomons, providing water , repair services @ purvis bay, florida island, day of arrival, washington s birthday 1945. returned manus on 19 march before sailing hollandia, new guinea, join philippine-bound convoy, gi-18, on 29th. zaniah arrived @ san pedro bay, off leyte, on 4 april , discharged much-needed electronics , machinery parts before sailing carolines.

supporting repair efforts @ okinawa

the auxiliary ship operated @ ulithi 13 24 april, providing repair services ships damaged .during conquest of ryukyus. zaniah, herself, sailed okinawa on 24th , arrived on 1 may—one month after first landings on embattled island. first ship of type in area, arrived @ critical time, commanding officer wrote: when damage @ height , repair facilities , personnel scarce.

performing repair work under dangerous conditions

zaniah s boats began 24-hour schedule of transporting repairmen, in shifts, damaged vessels. initially, many men found working 18-hour stints; and, despite daily air attacks , alerts, repair work progressed well. salvage units zaniah cleared debris , made damaged hulls seaworthy until more permanent repairs made; others restored electrical plants , propulsion machinery; still others performed repairs on vital , delicate radars , electronics installations on ships. zaniah bore charmed life—she never attacked japanese planes during sojourn off okinawa. on 22 june, 2 ships struck nearby lst-534 , ellyson (dms-10) -- closest vital auxiliary came being attacked.

rough weather

zaniah shifted buckner bay on 10 july , performed services repair , water-distilling ship through end of war japan in mid-august. suffered damage in typhoon struck fleet s anchorage on 16 september, when ocelot (ix-110) dragged anchor in tempest , brushed heavily against zaniah, smashing motor whaleboat , demolishing bulwarks , stanchions on board repair vessel.

end-of-war activity

that autumn, zaniah later operated out of tokyo bay until sailing on 1 december united states. arriving @ seattle, washington, on christmas day, 1945, zaniah shifted hawaii, arriving @ pearl harbor on 11 march 1946. records unclear @ point suggest ship may have participated in explosive tests in 14th naval district.