USS Rotanin
USS Rotanin (AK-108) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the United States Navy for service in World War II. Rotanin, which is a misspelling of the name "Rotanen", was named after the star Beta Delphini, a star located in the constellation Delphinus. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.
Construction[edit]
Rotanin was laid down 24 July 1943, under United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull No. 1872, as the Liberty ship SS William Kelly, by California Shipbuilding Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California; launched 18 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Andrew R. Bone; and commissioned 23 November 1943.[3]
Post-war inactivation and decommissioning[edit]
On 2 February 1946, Rotanin arrived at San Francisco and reported to the Commander, 12th Naval District for inactivation. She was decommissioned on 5 April 1946, and returned to MARCOM. Her name was stricken from the Navy List on 17 April 1946.[3]
Fate[edit]
She was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Group, until purchased by Nicolai Joffe Corporation, 29 April 1966, for $50,165.[4] She was removed from the fleet on 5 May 1966, and her scrapping was completed 30 August 1966, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO).[2]
Rotanin earned one battle star during World War II.[3] Her crew was eligible for the following medals:[2]
Media[edit]
The novel Mr. Roberts and its stage and cinematic adaptations, may have been inspired in part by Rotanin and Virgo, the two Navy cargo vessels on which Thomas Heggen, author of the novel, served during World War II.