Australian Reefer

Name: USS Pontiac Builder: Nakskov Skibs A/C, Nakskov, Denmark Launched: 1937 Acquired: 11 May 1942 Commissioned: 12 May 1942 Fate: Sunk, 30 January 1945 Raised, 17 February 1945 Decommissioned: 20 May 1945 Struck: 2 June 1945 Fate: Returned to the Maritime Commission, 20 May 1945

Type: Stores ship Displacement: 5,410 long tons (5,497 t) full load Length: 447 ft 10 in (136.50 m) Beam: 60 ft (18 m) Draft: 18 ft 11 in (5.77 m) Speed: 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph) Complement: 166 officers and enlisted Armament: • 2 × single 3"/50 caliber guns • 2 × twin 20 mm gun mounts

Pontiac, a refrigerator ship built by Nakskov Skibs. A/C, Nakskov, Denmark in 1937, was operated as SS Australian Reefer by J. Lauretzen, Esbjerg, Denmark, between New York and South America until after the occupation of Denmark by German forces. Taken over by the U.S. Maritime Commission in the summer of 1941 under the authority of Public Law 101, 77th Congress and Executive Order 8771, 6 June 1941, she was renamed Pontiac and operated by United States Lines between New York and Australia and New Zealand until 5 February 1942. After voyage repairs she was transferred to the Navy on an indefinite time charter basis, 11 May 1942, and commissioned as Pontiac (AF-20), 12 May 1942.

Following conversion and shakedown, Pontiac, assigned to Service Force, Atlantic, departed Norfolk, Virginia, 15 June 1942 on her first Argentia run. On 15 July she completed that run at Boston, Massachusetts, whence she continued to carry supplies to the Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland through 1943. Between late January and May 1944 she conducted sugar runs between Norfolk and Trinidad, Guantánamo Bay and San Juan, then returned to Boston to resume runs to Argentia and, in June, to Iceland.

She completed a quick run to Bermuda in early August, then returned to the Boston-Argentia route before undertaking her last Caribbean run from New York 7 September. On 25 September she arrived at Norfolk from San Juan, made a trip to Bermuda and on 16 November returned to Boston to resume carrying stores to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. For the next two months she alternated voyages to Argentia with runs to Bermuda and on 29 January 1945 departed Boston for her last run to Canada. On the 30th, while in heavy seas off Halifax, her hull was damaged by a loose paravane. She began taking water in her forward compartments and sank in 40 feet of water off McNabs Island at coordinates 44°36'40?N 63°32'2?W? / ?44.61111°N 63.53389°W? / 44.61111; -63.53389. Raised on 17 February, she was towed to Halifax for temporary repairs.

On 14 March she arrived at Norfolk, where she decommissioned 20 May 1945. She was returned to the Maritime Commission on the 21st and was struck from the Navy List 2 June 1945. Her ultimate fate is not recorded.

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M/S Australien Reefer af København, 2321 Reg. T. Br. Bygget 1937 af Staal. Sunket i Januar 45 i Atlanterhavet. Forlisanmeldelse dat. København d. 21/12 45. Søforhør i København d.7/3 og d. 8/8 46. A. R., der var beslaglagt af de amerikanske Myndigheder og førte amerikansk Flag under Navnet »Pontiac«, befandt sig med amerikansk Marinebesætning om Bord i Januar 1945 under en Storm ud for New Foundland, da en Paravaneudrigger rev sig løs, hvorved flere Plader i Forstavnen blev revet ud, og Skibet sank. A. R. er senere blevet hævet og indbragt til St. James River, hvor Skibet blev kondemneret.

Pontiac Class Stores Ship: Built in 1937 at Nakskov Skibs. A/C, Nakskov, Denmark Operated as SS Australian Reefer by J. Lauretzen, Esbjerg, Denmark Taken over by the US Maritime Commission, during the summer of 1941 Renamed SS Pontiac and operated by US Lines Acquired by the Navy, 11 May 1942 Commissioned USS Pontiac (AF-20), 12 May 1942 Lost due to sinking off MacNab Island, 30 January 1945 Raised, 17 February 1945 Decommissioned, 20 May 1945, at Norfolk, VA. Returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 20 May 1945 Struck from the Naval Register, 2 June 1945 Final Disposition, fate unknown -

Specifications: Displacement 5,410 t.(fl) Length 447' 10" Beam 60' Draft 18 11" Speed 15.5 kts. Complement 166 Armament two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts two twin 20mm AA gun mounts Propulsion system unknown