World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseAncon was built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States in 1938. Her initial role was that of a civilian cargo and passenger ship operated by the Panama Railroad Company.

ww2dbaseAncon was acquired by the US Army Transport Service in Jan 1942. USAT Ancon made two voyages to Australia, ferrying Army Air Corps units and elements of the 32nd Infantry Division.

ww2dbaseIn Aug 1942, USAT Ancon was acquire by the US Navy. USS Ancon transported cargo and passengers from Norfolk, Virginia, United States, to Baltimore, Maryland, United States, then conducted trials and exercises in the nearby Chesapeake Bay. After taking on troops and equipment at Norfolk, she departed in Oct 1942 for North Africa as a member of Transport Division 9 of the Amphibious Force of the Atlantic Fleet for the Operation Torch invasion of North Africa. On 8 Nov 1942, during the Fedala invasion, she dispatched boats to rescue survivors of transports sunken near her; these transports were victims of French coastal guns. She received repairs at New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York, United States, and then transported cargo and troops to French Algeria in Jan 1943. Between Feb and Apr 1943, she was at Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia for conversion work, changing her role from a cargo and passenger ship to a combined headquarters and communications ship. Her post-conversion trials and exercises were held in the Chesapeake Bay in May and early Jun 1943.

ww2dbaseAs the flagship of the commanding officer of the Atlantic Fleet Amphibious Forces, USS Ancon set sail for Oran, French Algeria as a member of Task Force 85 for preparations for Operation Husky against Sicily, Italy. During that invasion, she had Task Force 85 commander Admiral Alan Kirk on board. She disembarked troops off Scoglitti, Sicily on 10 Jul, and remained in place as a communications ship until 12 Jul. Her next action was the invasion of the Italian mainland, Operation Avalanche, as the flagship of the commanding officer of the Amphibious Forces of the 8th Fleet, which took place on 6 Sep 1943. Like Operation Torch, she would remain for some time to serve as a communication ship; off Salerno, Italy she was attacked by German aircraft a number of times while serving in this role.

ww2dbaseIn Nov 1943, USS Ancon arrived in the United Kingdom. As the flagship of the 11th Amphibious Force, she prepared for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandie, France. During that invasion in Jun 1944, she served as the flagship for the assault forces at Omaha Beach until US Army headquarters was transferred ashore.

ww2dbaseUSS Ancon arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, United States in Oct 1944 and was assigned to the Amphibious Training Command. In Dec 1944, she received repairs at Charleston Navy Yard before departed her the Pacific Ocean, arriving in San Diego, California, United States in Jan 1945 before moving on to Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii. As a member of Amphibious Group 5 of the Pacific Fleet, she conducted exercises in Hawaiian waters in early Feb 1945 before sailing to Saipan, Mariana Islands, arriving there late that month.

ww2dbaseOn 1 Apr 1945, USS Ancon, a part of Task Group 51.2, operated in waters southeast of Okinawa, Japan in support of the invasion. Later in that month, after a trip to Saipan, she operated in waters west of Okinawa. She would remain there in support of the invasion until Jun 1945. Between Jun and Aug 1945, she served as the flagship of the commanding officer of 7th Amphibious Force in preparation of the invasion of the Japanese home islands, which would not take place. When she would sailed to Japan, her mission would be to serve as a press release ship for the surrender ceremony, instead.

ww2dbaseUSS Ancon served in Japan, Guam, and Saipan before sailing to New York Navy Yard for deactivation work. She was decommissioned in Feb 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Administration, a US government entity, which then returned her to her original owner. Some years later, the Maritime Administration again gained control of the ship. In 1962, she was transferred to the Maine Maritime Academy, which operated her under the name TS State of Maine. In 1973, she was returned to the Maritime Administration once again. She was scrapped later in the same year.

Ancon (AGC-4) Interactive Map

Photographs

Ancon Operational Timeline