Photos from the collection of Chris Dengler

"Over the next six years [(1952–1958)], Tripoli [, assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), Atlantic Area,] conducted 44 transport voyages, mostly to European and Mediterranean ports but with one visit to Hawaii and two to the Far East. Following the ship's third voyage to Europe, Tripoli was berthed at the Port Newark Terminal on 5 August 1952 where she loaded 45 Republic F-84 Thunderjet aircraft, 90 wingtip fuel tanks, and related gear for transport to the Far East. After going to sea on 7 August, bound for Japan, Tripoli steamed via the Panama Canal and San Diego and made port at Yokosuka with her vital cargo on 5 September, where cranes lifted the reinforcements ashore—soon to be in action in their ground-attack role in Korea. After onloading battle-damaged aircraft for repairs in the United States, the carrier embarked 245 Navy and Marine Corps personnel for rotation back to Alameda Naval Air Station, Calif. Making port on the west coast on 22 September, she then put to sea for the Far East a second time, once again carrying jet aircraft to Yokosuka, as well as transporting men of the Sea Echelon of Boat Unit 1. Loading a cargo of helicopters and military passengers, Tripoli returned to the west coast and arrived at Alameda on Armistice Day 1952. Subsequently making her sole Hawaiian voyage under MSTS, Tripoli then headed east to finish out her career with transport voyages to European and Mediterranean ports."

Quoted from DANFS (Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships).

This page was created and is maintained by Fabio Peña

Last update: 25 April 2011