Adhara- AK-71

Aquila

A northern constellation in the Milky Way.

I

(AK-47: dp. 4,075; 1. 288'1"; b. 40'6"; dr. 18'4"; s. 12.5 k.; cpl. 156; a. 2 3", 4 20mm.)

Tunis was built in 1936 at Copenhagen, Denmark, by the Helsinger Shipbuilding Co.; acquired by th e Navy from the Mari time Commission on 11 August 1941; renamed Aquila (AK-47) on 3 September 1941; converted for naval service by the Sullivan Drydock & Repair Co.; and commissioned on 24 October 1941, Lt. Comdr. Samuel S. Fried in command.

Aquila almost immediately began a series of convoy runs from New York and Boston to Reykjavik, Iceland. Between I December 1941 and 10 October 1942, the cargo ship made five round-trip voyages. On 7 November 1942, she arrived at Norfolk, Va., to begin operations with the Naval Transportation Service.

The ship's new assignment involved shuttling supplies and personnel between ports in the Eastern, Panama, Gul f, and Car ibbean Sea Frontiers. Aquila followed this routine until she was placed out of commission at Norfolk on 9 October 1945. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 24 October 1945, and the ship was returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal.