Deimos- AK-78

Deimos

A satellite of Mars.

(AK-78: dp. 4,023; 1. 441'6"; b. 56'11'; dr. 28'4"; s.
12 k.; cpl. 198; a. 1 5", 1 3"; cl. Crater)

The first Deimos (AK-78) was launched 28 December 1942 by Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, Calif., as Chief Ouray under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. M. Moyer; transferred to the Navy 7 January 1943, and commissioned 23 January 1943, Lieutenant Commander W. L. Sorenson, USNR, in command.

Deimos sailed from San Francisco 27 January 1943 with cargo for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and Cleveland Bay, Australia. She arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia, 23 May to load cargo which she delivered to Guadalcanal in June. Returning to her base, she was torpedoed on 23 June on the port side, aft. Efforts to save her failed. She was finally abandoned and sunk by gunfire from O'Bannon (DD-460) in 11°26' S., 162°01'E.

Deimos received one battle star for World War II service.

II
The second Deimos (AKL-40), the former Army FS-300, was acquired by the Navy 12 December 1951, and loaned to the Republic of Korea under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program the same day.