AGP-4 Portunus
The Portunus-class Motor Torpedo Boat Tender was represented by ten examples (AGP-4-5, 10, 11, 14-18, 20) converted in 1943-45. The first Portunus (AGP-4) [a protunus is a swimming crab] was laid down as LST-330 by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, 12 November 1942; launched 11 February 1943 as Portunus (AGP-4); and commissioned at Baltimore, Md., 12 June 1943.
(AGP-5: dp. 3,960; 1. 328'; b. 50'; dr. 13'6"; s. 12 k.; cpl. 283; a. 1 3", 8 40mm., 8 20mm.; cl. Portunus) LST-H was laid down on 23 August 1942 at Neville Island, Pa., by the Dravo Shipbuilding Yard; launched on 9 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. R. J. Mitchell; renamed Varuna and designated AGP-5 on 13 January 1943; completed as an LST by Dravo on 26 March 1943 and placed in reduced commission on that date; towed to Tampa, Fla., where she was converted to a motor torpedo boat tender (AGP); and commissioned on 31 August 1943,
Orestes (AGP-10) was laid down as LST-135 at Chicago, Bridge & Iron Co., Seneca, Ill., 8 July 1943; launched 16 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Bernard Sharp; converted at Maryland Drydock Co., Baltimore, Md.; and commissioned as Orestes (AGP-10) 25 April 1944, Lt. Kenneth N. Mueller in command. Successfully concluding shakedown out of Hampton Roads, Va., 23 May 1944, the motor torpedo boat tender Orestes prepared for duty in the Pacific.
LST-604 was laid down on 28 October 1943 by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Seneca, 111.; launched on 20 March 1944; sponsored by Miss Bernice Moore; placed in reduced commission on 3 April 1944; and placed in full commission on 8 April 1944. The ship was originally designated LST-519 but was redesignated as LST-604 on 18 December 1943 and made her shakedown as such from 12 to 18 April 1944. She was decommissioned on 29 April at Baltimore where she entered the Maryland Drydock Co. Yard for conversion. She was again commissioned on 9 August, classified as AGP-11 and named Silenus. USS Silenus completed her shakedown in the Chesapeake Bay as a motor torpedo boat tender on 9 September.
Originally projected as LST-977, this vessel was reclassified a motor torpedo boat tender on 12 June 1944; simultaneously named Alecto and redesignated AGP-14; laid down on 12 December 1944 at Hingham, Mass., by the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 15 January 1945; acquired by the Navy and placed in commission on 8 February 1945 for movement to Baltimore; decommissioned there on 23 February 1945 for conversion by the Maryland Drydock Co. to a motor torpedo boat tender; and recommissioned on 28 July 1945. The tender got underway on 6 August for shakedown training in the Chesapeake Bay and, on 2 September, was assigned to Service Forces, Atlantic Fleet. Following a period of training and upkeep at Norfolk, Va., she sailed for Albany, N.Y., on 14 October and arrived there two days later.
Alecto moored at the Army Supply Depot at Albany and began servicing motor torpedo boats. On 10 November, the ship moved to Melville, R.I., and engaged in repair work for Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron (MTBRon) 4. In January 1946, she made two voyages from Melville to Solomons Island, Md., transporting equipment for MTBRon 4 and, from March through May, she was stationed there. She sailed to Charleston, S.C., in early June and was placed out of commission there on 28 June 1946. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 28 June 1947. The vessel was transferred to the government of Turkey on 10 May 1948 and was later renamed Onaran.
Originally projected as LST-773, the second Antigone was re-classified a motor torpedo boat tender and redesignated AGP-16 on 14 August 1944; laid down on 15 August 1944 at Seneca, 111., by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.; launched on 27 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Mary Ellen Needham Fisher; commissioned in reduced status on 17 November 1944 at Algiers, La., for the voyage to Baltimore, Md.; decommissioned on 5 December 1944 for conversion by the Maryland Drydock Co., to a motor torpedo boat tender; and placed in full commission on 14 May 1945.
AGP-20 Pontus was laid down as LST-201 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca, Ill., 13 July 1942, launched 2 March 1943, placed in reduced commission 24 March 1943 and ferried down the Mississippi River to Algiers, La., and commissioned in full 2 April 1943. Following shakedown off the Florida coast, LST-201, with LCT-254 on her deck got underway for the Pacific 22 May 1943. On 11 August she arrived at Brisbane, thence shifting northward to Mackay for partial conversion to a motor torpedo boat tender. After installation of water distillers, machine and carpentry shops, extra generators and a ten- ton crane and the embarkation of a Navy repair crew, the LST moved up the Australian coast toward New Guinea. On 18 October she arrived at Milne Bay, completed conversion, and on 18 November continued on to Buna, Morobe, and, finally, Dreger Harbor. There, until after the fall of Saidor, she tended PT boats operating along the coast of New Guinea to cut the Japanese barge supply line to their troops on that island and on New Britain.
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