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SS Chiriqui

USS Tarazed (AF-13).jpg
History
Name:
  • SS Chiriqui (1932–41, 1946–58)
  • USS Tarazed (1941–46)
  • D/S Blexen (1958–71)
Namesake: Tarazed, a star in the constellation Aquila
Owner:
Operator:
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co
Laid down: 18 March 1932
Launched: 1932
Acquired: by bareboat charter, 4 June 1941
Commissioned: 14 June 1941
Decommissioned: 4 January 1946
Struck: 21 January 1946
Fate: scrapped 1971
General characteristics
Class and type: Navy: Mizar-class stores ship
Type: civilian: passenger & cargo liner
Displacement: 6,983 t.(lt) 11,880 t.(fl)
Length: 447 ft 10 in (136.50 m)
Beam: 60 ft (18 m)
Draft: 26 ft (7.9 m)
Installed power: 11,000 shp (8,200 kW)
Propulsion: turbo-electric transmission, twin screws
Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) (max)
Capacity: 2,615 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Complement: 238
Armament: one single 5 in (130 mm)/38 dual purpose gun mount, four 3 in (76 mm) guns

USS Tarazed (AF-13) was a United Fruit Company cargo and passenger liner that served as a United States Navy Mizar-class stores ship in World War II. In peacetime before and after the war she carried fruit and passengers; in war she supplied troops and ships in the field. In 1958 she was sold to a German shipping line, and in 1971 she was scrapped after 39 years' service.

The Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Newport News, Virginia built the ship as SS Chiriqui for United Fruit Company in 1932. She was one of six UFC sister ships driven by turbo-electric transmission. Chiriqui's peacetime service was in carrying fruit, passengers and mail on regular liner services between Central America and the USA.

The US Navy bareboat chartered her through the Maritime Commission on 4 June 1941. Brewer's Drydock Co. of Staten Island, New York converted her for Navy use and she was commissioned on 14 June 1941, commanded by Cmdr J.M. Connally.

Tarazed loaded supplies sailed to North Carolina to supply ships of the Neutrality Patrol. After returning to New York City, she left late in August for a voyage to Iceland to resupply US and Royal Navy ships.

When the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II, Tarazed was at Halifax, Nova Scotia preparing to join another convoy to Iceland. Upon completion of the voyage she went to Baltimore, Maryland, for an extensive overhaul before making resupply runs to Newfoundland, Iceland and Bermuda.


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