USS Rigel (AD-13)

USS Rigel (AD-13) was a Destroyer tender of the United States Navy that served with distinction during World War II. Originally laid down as a Design 1029 cargo ship, she was converted during construction to support the Pacific Fleet's destroyer squadrons. Her career spanned two decades, providing critical maintenance and repair services across the Pacific Ocean and earning multiple battle stars for her wartime actions.

Construction and commissioning

The vessel was laid down on 26 September 1918 at the Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Newport News, Virginia. She was originally intended as the freighter Edgecombe for the United States Shipping Board. During construction, the United States Navy acquired the hull for conversion into a destroyer tender. Launched on 17 May 1919, she was commissioned as USS Rigel on 11 December 1919 at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, under the command of Captain John H. Newton.

Service history

Following shakedown exercises, Rigel was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, departing Hampton Roads for the West Coast of the United States. Her home port became San Diego, California, where she serviced Destroyer Squadron 11 of the Battle Force. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, she operated extensively along the coasts of California and Mexico, and made port visits to Hawaii and the Panama Canal Zone. She participated in major fleet exercises and provided crucial support during the Nicaraguan Campaign, tending ships of the Special Service Squadron.

World War II service

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Rigel was undergoing overhaul at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. She quickly completed repairs and sailed for Pearl Harbor in January 1942, arriving to a scene of devastation. She immediately began vital repair work on damaged vessels like USS ''Shaw'' and USS ''Downes''. Throughout the war, she operated as a mobile advance base, supporting operations across the South Pacific. She serviced ships engaged in the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Solomon Islands campaign, and the Marshall Islands campaign. Her itinerary included extended stays at Espiritu Santo, Nouméa, Guadalcanal, Eniwetok, and Ulithi, repairing battle damage and performing routine maintenance under often hazardous conditions.

Post-war service and fate

After Victory over Japan Day, Rigel remained in the Far East, supporting occupation forces. She operated out of ports like Sasebo and Yokosuka in Japan, and Tsingtao in China. Returning to the United States in 1946, she was assigned to the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was decommissioned on 11 June 1946 at San Diego. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 19 July 1946, and she was sold on 29 April 1947 to the Hugo Neu Steel Products Corporation of New York City for scrapping.

Awards

For her service during World War II, USS Rigel was awarded three battle stars. These recognized her support of combat operations during the Guadalcanal Campaign, the consolidation of the southern Solomon Islands, and the Marshall Islands campaign.

Category:World War II auxiliaries of the United States Category:Destroyer tenders of the United States Navy Category:Ships built in Newport News, Virginia Category:1919 ships