USS Rabaul

Rabaul was laid down 2 January 1945 by Todd Pacific Shipyards[?], Tacoma, Washington, launched 14 June 1945, sponsored by Alice Schade[?] (wife of naval architect Henry A. Schade), completed by the Commercial Iron Works[?], Portland, Oregon, and delivered to the Navy 30 August 1946.

Accepted by Commander, 19th Fleet (Pacific Reserve Fleet[?]), Rabaul was berthed at Tacoma. Reclassified CVHE-121 in June 1955, she was transferred to the San Diego Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet in June 1958 and reclassified AKV-21 in May of the following year. She remained in reserve at San Diego until 1 September 1971 when she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register. Rabaul was sold to the Nicolai Joffe Corporation[?] of Beverly Hills, California, for scrapping.

General Characteristics

• Displacement: 11,373 tons
• Length: 557.1 ft ( m)
• Beam: 75 ft ( m)
• Draft: 32 ft ( m)
• Speed: 19 knots
• Complement: 1,066 officers and men
• Armament: 2 x 5-inch (127mm) guns, 36 x 40mm guns