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46-683: USS Alchiba (AKA-6) was an Arcturus -class attack cargo ship of the United States Navy , named after Alchiba , a star in the constellation Corvus . She served as a commissioned ship for 4 years and 7 months. Laid down as Mormacdove under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 21) on 15 August 1938 at Chester, Pennsylvania , by the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. , Hull 178; launched on 6 July 1939; sponsored by Miss Alice W. Clement; delivered 21 September 1939 to owner/operator Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc. ; acquired by

92-483: A city, Nova Jerusalem, and appointed municipal officers. In early June, with provisions running low, they left the bay to explore the neighbouring coastline. Queirós' lead ship became separated, and, whether through adverse weather or mutiny, was unable to make anchor in the bay. The almirante (second-in-command, and captain of the second ship), Luis Váez de Torres , searched the coast for signs of shipwreck but found none. He remained until late June, then sailed to

138-431: A large part in their lives, regardless of their religion. The chief system continues strongly in most areas. The people of Santo face some health problems, especially malaria and tuberculosis . Although there is a hospital, most local people consult either their own witch doctor or medical clinics set up by western missionaries. Kava is the popular drug of the island, although alcohol is becoming more prevalent. With

184-832: A period of repairs and alterations. She resumed duty late in May and sailed for Hampton Roads to take on cargo and personnel destined for service in the South Pacific. The ship then got underway on 10 June, transited the Panama Canal on the 17th, and reached Wellington, New Zealand , on 11 July. The vessel was assigned to Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, and became a member of Transport Division C. For Operation Watchtower, Alchiba's Division served under Task Force 62 (South Pacific Amphibious Force), Task Group 62.1, Transport Group X-Ray. On 22 July, she sailed for Korp Island, Fiji Islands , to participate in amphibious landing exercises –

230-659: A ship's complement. [REDACTED]   This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . Espiritu Santo The island belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia . It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu. The town of Luganville , on Espiritu Santo's southeast coast, is Vanuatu's second-largest settlement and

276-464: A subgroup of the North Vanuatu languages . Espiritu Santo, with many wrecks and reefs to be explored, is a very popular tourist destination for divers. Champagne Beach draws tourists with its white sand and clear waters. The "Western Side" of the island contains many caves which can be explored, and cruise ships often stop in at Luganville . The local people make their living by supporting

322-467: Is about five km east of the center of Luganville . Numerous rivers run to the coastline from the mountains of the island. The Sarakata River is the largest one, and it runs through Luganville . Many people on Espiritu Santo still rely on subsistence farming for their food. The villages on the island are mostly self-sufficient with their own vegetable gardens, chickens, and pigs. Taros and yams are commonly grown in these gardens, and these are mainstays of

368-653: Is home to all of Vanuatu's endemic birds , including the Santo mountain starling , a species restricted entirely to Espiritu Santo. Two protected areas have been established to safeguard the island's biodiversity; the Loru Conservation Area on the east coast and the Vatthe Conservation area near Big Bay in the north. The Loru Rainforest Protected Area is situated in the lowland rainforests of Espiritu Santo. Established in 1993 by Chief Caleb Ser,

414-503: Is the 1,879 metre (6,165 foot) Mount Tabwemasana in west-central Espiritu Santo. A Spanish expedition of three ships, led by Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós , landed in 1606 at Big Bay on the north side of the island. Queirós named the land La Austrialia [ sic ] del Espíritu Santo in acknowledgment of the Spanish king's descent from the royal House of Austria , and believing he had arrived in

460-661: The Hunters Point Navy Yard on the 22d and sailed once again for Espiritu Santo. While en route, the ship experienced more engine problems, but she reached her destination on 9 October and commenced repair work. This process continued until early November, when the vessel shaped a course back to San Francisco. She arrived at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard , Vallejo, California, on the 29th and underwent extensive repairs to her main engine. On 24 February 1945, Alchiba commenced sea trials but

506-523: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , the island was used by American naval and air forces as a large military supply and support base, naval harbor, and airfield. Luganville Airfield , also called Bomber Field #3, was a large airfield built by the Seabees of the 40th Naval Construction Battalion in 1943. Also built on the island was Bomber Field No.2 which became Santo-Pekoa International Airport after

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552-732: The Seventh-day Adventist Church , and others. However, in many villages, particularly in Big Bay and South Santo, the people are " heathen ", a term that in Vanuatu has no pejorative connotation — it simply denotes someone who has not embraced Christianity. Customary beliefs of a more modern sort are found among followers of the Nagriamel movement based in Fanafo . For almost all of Espiritu Santo's people, custom plays

598-580: The Society Islands . Alchiba reached Bora Bora on the 17th and began discharging her cargo. She departed that port on 14 March and shaped a course for Chile . She reached Antofagasta , Chile, on 29 March and took on a load of ingot and electrolytic copper. After transiting the Panama Canal on 8 April, the cargo ship arrived back in New York City on 19 April and unloaded her cargo. One week later, Alchiba moved to Charleston and underwent

644-761: The USS Astoria , sunk after the Battle of Savo Island. She left the Solomons on 9 August, bound for New Caledonia . After her arrival at Nouméa on the 13th, the ship loaded on more cargo and, nine days later, commenced a voyage which took her to Pago Pago , American Samoa; Tongatapu , Tonga Islands; and Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides. Alchiba returned to Guadalcanal on 18 September. After unloading cargo to support Marines struggling for that island, she sailed back to New Caledonia (7–10 October) for more supplies and returned to Guadalcanal on 1 November. During November

690-498: The 40 mm was seen as the best antiaircraft gun. The older 20 mm and .50 caliber guns had been recognized to be of limited value, and were being phased out, though they appeared on some of these ships. The 20 mm guns were later removed from all of them, but it is not clear just when this happened. The complement varied as well, but the DANFS figures sometimes seem to confuse ship's company with embarked troops in determining

736-482: The Americans contributed later to the island's tourism in scuba diving , as the Americans dumped most of their used military and naval equipment, and their refuse, at what is now known as "Million Dollar Point". In highly fictionalized form, this was the locale of James Michener 's Tales of the South Pacific , and of the following Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific . Between May and August 1980

782-642: The Espiritu Santo was not visited again by Europeans until 160 years later, by Louis de Bougainville in 1768 and James Cook in 1774. During the time of the British–French Condominium , Hog Harbour , on the northeast coast, was the site of the British district administration, while Segond, near Luganville, was the French district administration. During World War II , particularly after

828-621: The Great Southern Continent, Terra Australis . They entered the bay on the 1st and 2 May: the latter being the day of Saints Philip and James, Queirós named it Bahía de San Felipe y Santiago . The local chief tried to chase the Spanish explorers back to their ships, which led to an exchange of arrows and musket-fire, in which the chief was killed. The ships remained for a month at their anchorage " Puerto de la Vera Cruz ", with armed sailors making incursions inland for provisions. Queirós announced his intention to found

874-994: The Navy on 2 June 1941; renamed Alchiba the next day and simultaneously designated AK-23; converted by the Boston Navy Yard for naval service as a cargo ship; and placed in commission at Boston on 15 June 1941. Alchiba was assigned to the Naval Transportation Service and sailed to Charleston, South Carolina , for shakedown training. She then carried out training exercises along the East Coast through early October and sailed – via Quonset Point, Rhode Island – for Halifax, Nova Scotia , to take on cargo and personnel for transportation to Iceland . She departed Halifax on 22 October in convoy HX 156 and reached Reykjavík , Iceland, on 30 November. The vessel discharged cargo there before sailing back to

920-482: The Solomon Islands and New Caledonia through late March 1944. In April, Alchiba was assigned to carry elements of the 25th RCT (Regimental Combat Team), 4th Marines, for the invasion of Saipan as part of Transport Division 20. However, during the rehearsal in mid-May she had to return to Pearl Harbor for major repairs, and her place was taken by AKA 19 ( USS Thuban ). On 25 May, the ship left Pearl Harbor for

966-409: The South Pacific to continue her service providing logistics support for Allied fighting men. Alchiba left Espiritu Santo on 12 September. She made runs to New Caledonia and Guadalcanal and in mid-November, participated in the landings on Bougainville , as part of Transport Division C, III Amphibious Force. Alchiba returned to Espiritu Santo on 13 December. Alchiba continued her supply duties in

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1012-653: The United States. She reached New York City on 26 December, and was briefly drydocked there for repairs. The ship got underway on 11 January 1942, arrived at Charleston – via Norfolk, Virginia – on the 19th, took on supplies and equipment destined for the Pacific theater , and set sail on 27 January. She transited the Panama Canal on 2 February; joined the Base Force, Pacific Fleet ; and continued on to

1058-665: The West Coast of the United States. On 30 May, Alchiba entered the Moore Dry Dock Company , Oakland, California , to undergo extensive alterations and repairs. The work was completed late in August, and the cargo ship got underway for sea trials in San Francisco Bay . Engine trouble developed during these tests, and the ship returned to the yard on 1 September for further repairs. She took on cargo at

1104-666: The air. The commanding officer, James Shepherd Freeman , ordered the ship to weigh anchor and run upon the beach. This action undoubtedly saved the ship. Hungry flames raged in the ship for over five days before weary fire fighting parties finally brought them under control. Captain Freeman was awarded the Navy Cross and executive officer Commander Howard R. Shaw the Silver Star for their leadership in saving this vessel. Salvage operations began soon thereafter. Most of her cargo

1150-414: The blast killed three men, including Everett M. Stuermer, MM2 wounded six others, and caused considerable structural damage. Once the fires and flooding were controlled, salvage operations resumed and enabled the ship to get underway for Tulagi on 27 December 1942. Alchiba remained at Tulagi through 18 January 1943. On that day, she was moved to Espiritu Santo for further repair work. While at that island,

1196-510: The island was the site of a rebellion during the transfer of power over the colonial New Hebrides from the condominium to the independent Vanuatu. Jimmy Stevens ' Nagriamel movement, in alliance with private French interests and backed by the Phoenix Foundation and American libertarians hoping to establish a tax-free haven, declared the island of Espiritu Santo to be independent of the new government. The " Republic of Vemerana "

1242-416: The latter to land weapons, supplies, and troops on enemy shores during amphibious operations . All these ships were built on the same standard hull design, but there were some differences from ship to ship: The armament varied, as did that of the other ships of the day. During 1944–1945, the 5"/38-caliber gun was recognized as the best gun for the dual role of antiaircraft and naval gunfire support , and

1288-535: The local diet. Espiritu Santo is home to a number of cattle farms (including the famous Belmol Cattle Project, originally established by French settlers), and the island exports much of its beef to Japan, Australia, and other Pacific countries. Besides beef, tinned fish, and rice bought in town, Espiritu Santo has many foods that locals take for granted, and that tourists enjoy as delicacies. Among these are sweet pineapples, mangoes, island cabbage, flying foxes, and coconut crab , as well as local nuts such as natapoa and

1334-413: The provincial capital. Roads run north and west from Luganville, but most of the island is far from the limited road network. Around Espiritu Santo lie a number of small islands and islets; among them are: Dany Island , Araki , Elephant Island , Sakao , Lataroa , Lataro , Thion , Malohu, Malwepe , Malvapevu , Malparavu , Maltinerava , Oyster Island, Tangoa , and Bokissa . Vanuatu's highest peak

1380-477: The rehearsal for the first American assault landing in the Pacific theater. Upon completing this training, she embarked marines and filled her holds with ammunition, amphibious tractors, gasoline, and general supplies and got underway for operations in the Solomon Islands . The vessel arrived off Guadalcanal on 7 August, where she disembarked her troops, unloaded her cargo, and helped rescue survivors from

1426-517: The rising number of adults using alcohol, there is a rising crime rate, especially involving violence toward women, and tribal warfare. In September 1998, Espiritu Santo hosted the Melanesia Cup soccer tournament. Luganville is the only true town on the island; the rest of the island is dotted with small villages. From Luganville , three "main roads" emerge. Main Street leaves the town to

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1472-428: The ship shuttled supplies and personnel between Guadalcanal and Tulagi . She was anchored off Lunga Point at 0616 on 28 November, when two torpedoes from Japanese Ko-hyoteki class midget submarine Ha-10 (launched from submarine I-16 ) exploded on the vessel's port side. At that time, her No. 2 hold was loaded with drums of aviation gasoline and ammunition, and the resulting explosion shot flames 150 feet in

1518-481: The ship was redesignated AKA-6 on 1 February. She left Espiritu Santo on 6 May, bound for the West Coast of the United States, and entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard , Vallejo, California, on 2 June. Her refurbishing there lasted until early August when she conducted sea trials off the California coast before sailing on 13 August for Port Hueneme , California, to take on cargo. Six days later, she headed for

1564-653: The shipyard on 3 June; sailed to the Naval Supply Depot, Oakland , California; took on cargo there; and put to sea on the 15th, bound for Ulithi . While she was en route there, her destination was changed to Pearl Harbor because of still more engine trouble. Upon her arrival at Hawaii on the 24th, repair work was resumed. The ship sailed again on 8 July for Eniwetok , Marshall Islands; Ulithi, Caroline Islands; Guam , Mariana Islands; and Manila , Philippines. The end of World War II in mid-August found Alchiba in port at Ulithi unloading cargo. She remained on duty in

1610-467: The soon-to-be government had hoped. The troops were recalled shortly before independence. Following independence on 31 July 1980, Vanuatu, now governed by the Vanuaku Party with Father Walter Lini as Prime Minister, requested assistance from Papua New Guinea , whose army suppressed the rebellion, keeping Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. Over 30 different local languages are spoken on Espiritu Santo ,

1656-614: The sweet fleshy-fruit called naos in Bislama, or great hog plum in English (a type of Spondias dulcis ). There is a market in Luganville where local food such as yams, sweet potatoes, manioc, taro, cabbage, and other freshly grown island staples are sold. Some local handicrafts are also sold there. Several small supermarkets such as LCM, Unity Shell, and Au bon Marche sell groceries and many packaged goods. The island of Espiritu Santo

1702-675: The tourist trade, by cash-crop farming, mostly copra , but also some cocoa beans and kava , as well as peanuts , or by subsistence farming and fishing. Most of the people are Christians. The largest church groups on the island are the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu , the Roman Catholic Church , and the Church of Melanesia ( Anglican ). Also active are the Apostolic Church , the Church of Christ ,

1748-436: The war. Palikulo Bay Airfield , also called Bomber Field #1, became part of the main road after the war. Luganville Seaplane Base served the seaplane and Turtle Bay Airfield also called Fighter Field #1 served the fighter planes. The SS President Coolidge was a converted luxury liner that hit a sea mine during the war and was sunk. The shipwreck off Espiritu Santo later became a popular diving spot. The presence of

1794-447: The west and winds along the south coast of the island for about 40 km ending at the village of Tasiriki on the southwest coast. Canal Road runs along the southern and eastern coasts of the island, north through Hog Harbor and Golden Beach, ending at Port Olry . Big Bay Highway splits off from Canal Road near Turtle Bay on the east coast, runs generally west to the mountains, and then it leads north to Big Bay. The international airport

1840-423: The west coast with the intention of circumnavigating what he considered to be an island, not a continent. The wind and current were against this aim, so he left the island sailing west, eventually encountering the previously unexplored southern coast of New Guinea . Torres then discovered the strait that bears his name between northern Australia and southern New Guinea. After the departure of Queirós and Torres,

1886-490: The western Pacific through 26 October, when she was ordered back to the United States. Alchiba arrived at San Francisco on 19 November. Eight days later, she began a voyage to the East Coast, transited the Panama Canal on 10 December, and sailed for Norfolk where she arrived on the 18th. Preparations for her deactivation then began. The ship was decommissioned at Portsmouth, Virginia , on 14 January 1946; and her name

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1932-1092: Was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for her service at Guadalcanal from August through December 1942. She is the only cargo ship in the history of the U.S. Navy to receive the Presidential Unit Citation. As a citation awardee, she was entitled to fly the Presidential Unit Citation pennant beneath her ensign , and to be saluted by other warships whenever entering a military port. Arcturus-class attack cargo ship The Arcturus -class attack cargo ships were converted from other ship types by Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Chester, Pennsylvania , Tampa Shipbuilding Co. in Tampa, Florida , and Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Kearny, New Jersey , during World War II . Like all attack cargo ships (AKAs), they were designed to carry combat loaded military cargo and landing craft , and to use

1978-472: Was forced to return to Mare Island two days later for still more work. Two weeks later, the ship sailed to Morehaven(?), California, to load cargo and got underway on 20 March for Pearl Harbor. During the run to Hawaii , the engines continued to give trouble, and Alchiba returned to San Francisco for further repairs, this time by the General Engineering & Drydock Corp. The cargo ship left

2024-717: Was proclaimed on May 28. France recognized the independence on June 3. On June 5, the tribal chiefs of Santo named the French Ambassador Philippe Allonneau the "King of Vemerana", and Jimmy Stevens became the Prime Minister. Luganville was renamed Allonneaupolis. Next, negotiations with Port-Vila failed, and from July 27 to August 18, British Royal Marines and a unit of the French Garde Mobile were deployed to Vanuatu's capital island, but they did not enter Espiritu Santo as

2070-449: Was saved, and temporary repairs were in progress when Alchiba was torpedoed again on 7 December, this time by midget submarine Ha-38 (launched from I-24 ). An enemy submarine 's conning tower had been spotted shortly before two torpedoes were fired. One passed close under the cargo ship's stern, but the other struck her No. 4 hold on the port side near the engine room. Although the hold cargo (500-pound bombs) had been unloaded earlier,

2116-709: Was struck from the Navy List on 25 February 1946. She was transferred on 19 July 1946 to the Maritime Commission for disposal. She was sold in 1948 and refitted for merchant service in the Netherlands as Tjipanas , later renamed Tong Jit , and scrapped in 1973. Alchiba earned three battle stars for her World War II service, and received two awards of the Combat Action Ribbon , for actions on 8 November 1942 and 7 December 1942. Alchiba

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