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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Fred C. Ainsworth (T-AP-181)
ex
USAT Fred C. Ainsworth (1943 - 1950)

International Radio Call Signs
USNS Fred C. Ainsworth (T-AP-181) 1950 International Radio Call Sign Nan - How - William - Sugar NHWS

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (3) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Laid down in 1943, as SS Pass Christian, a Maritime Commission type (C3-1N-P&C) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 166) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.

Launched, date unknown

Delivered, 4 June 1943 to the War Shipping Administration (WSA) and simultaneously purchased from WSA by the War Department

Commissioned by the US Army Transportation Service as USAT Fred C. Ainsworth, date unknown

Title transferred to the US Navy, 1 March 1950

Placed in service with the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 1 March 1950, as USNS Fred C. Ainsworth (T-AP-181)

During the Korean War USNS Fred C. Ainsworth participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
North Korean Aggression 22 to 25 July 1950 18 to 19 September 50	Inchon Landing 16 to 17 September 1950
Communist China Aggression 27 to 29 November 1950 7 to 27 December 1950

Placed out of service and transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 2 November 1959, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Permanent transfer to MARAD, 1 November 1960

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1961

USNS Fred C. Ainsworth earned three battle stars during the Korean War

Sold for scrapping, 1 March 1973, to David L Hewitt (canceled due to default of buyer}

Resold, for non-operational use, 26 June 1973, to Inter-Ocean Grain Storage Ltd. for $112.800.00 (PD-X-960). Withdrawn for the Reserve Fleet and delivered to Inter-Ocean Grain Storage Ltd., 23 August 1973

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 12,093 gt.
Length 489'
Beam 69'6"
Draft 27'4"
Speed 16.5 kts.
Troop Accommodations 1,976

Armament

USAT - one 5" gun, four 3" guns plus 20mm gun mounts

USNS - none

Propulsion

steam turbine

single propeller

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USAT Fred C. Ainsworth
	31k	*Namesake* Frederick Crayton Ainsworth (1852-1934) was a surgeon in the United States Army who eventually rose to the position of Adjutant General. A gifted administrator, Ainsworth revolutionized government record-keeping methods following his initial appointment in 1886 to the Record and Pensions Division of the War Department, making them vastly more efficient. Ainsworth's talents were quickly recognized, and he was given administrative responsibility over more and more government departments, thus accumulating considerable power and eventually becoming the dominant figure in the Department of War. In the later stages of his career, Ainsworth, once a great innovator, became resistant to further reform proposed by the civilian leadership and was eventually forced from office in 1912 with the threat of court-martial for insubordination. Even after retirement however, he continued to exercise considerable influence through his political connections in Washington. Text: Wikipedia Photo: U.S. Army Medical Department	Bill Gonyo
092218110	59k	Aerial port side view of USAT Fred C. Ainsworth at anchor in Australian waters, 21 August 1943. Australian War Memorial	John Spivey
092218109	103k	1 Personnel Staging Camp troops loading engineers stores aboard USAT Fred C. Ainsworth at Mercantile Wharf, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 29 March 1945. Australian War Memorial	John Spivey
	109k	USAT Fred C. Ainsworth underway, 20 April 1949, place unknown. US Navy photo NH 97211. Photo by Sgt. W.H. Innes, Fort Lawton, WA. Official US Army Photograph, from the MSC collection at the Naval Historical Center.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	83k	USAT Fred C. Ainsworth arriving at Pier #2, Yokohama, Japan, with approximately 300 wives and families of members of the U.S. Occupation Forces, 2 August 1946. US Navy photo # NH 97216, an official US Army photo, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
USNS Fred C. Ainsworth (T-AP-181)
	79k	*USNS Fred C. Ainsworth* (T-AP-181)** off San Francisco, CA., 11 August 1955. US Navy photo NH 97208 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	106k	*USNS Fred C. Ainsworth* (T-AP-181)** underway, circa 1950s, location unknown. 1955.. US Navy photo NH 97209, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	96k	*USNS Fred C. Ainsworth* (T-AP-181)** off San Francisco, CA., with tugs alongside, 19 February 1959. US Navy photo NH 97210, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	130k	*USNS Fred C. Ainsworth* (T-AP-181)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	191k	*USNS Fred C. Ainsworth* (T-AP-181)** Passenger Dinner Menu for Monday 21 August 1950.	Carl R Friberg

USNS Fred C Ainsworth (T-AP-181)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
MARAD Vessel History Database
USAT Fred C. Ainsworth at Yokohama
(A 2 min 25 sec B&W film [no audio] by Capt. R. Pruette Watson, US Army. Submitted by his niece Denise Tapp. (The film was made by Capt. Watson, who stationed at Camp Drake in Tokyo. Apparently, he and his wife were there to say goodbye to friends who were returning to the states, circa fall 1948.)

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 15 November 2024

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Fred C. Ainsworth (T-AP-181)ex USAT Fred C. Ainsworth (1943 - 1950)

USNS Fred C. Ainsworth (T-AP-181)
ex
USAT Fred C. Ainsworth (1943 - 1950)