Gold Star, U.S. Cargo Ship


Photograph of USS Gold Star

Navy History and Heritage Center #NH 631. Via NavSource.org


Specifications:


Tonnage 4860 tons
Dimensions 391'9" by 52'2" by 11'10"
119.41m by 15.90m by 3.61m
Maximum speed       12 knots
Complement 52
Armament
 2 5"/51 guns
4 3"/50 dual-purpose guns
Machinery
 1-shaft triple-expansion reciprocating (2500 shp)
3 Scotch coal-burning boilers
Bunkerage
 1570 tons
Modifications
 Eventually added 8 20mm Oerlikon AA guns


The Gold Star was built for the Navy in 1922 as a cargo ship and reclassified as a general auxiliary in 1922. She spent most of the prewar years as flagship at Guam, with frequent voyagers to Japan, China, and the Philippines. Much of her prewar crew was made up of Chamorros (natives of Guam.) Following the loss of the Philippines, she operated out of Australian ports as a coastal steamer.

References

DANFS (accessed 2008-3-1)

NavSource.org (accessed 2009-12-25)

The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007, 2009 by Kent G. Budge. Index

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