From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

A large, handsome species of straight-horned African antelope.

(IX - 117: dp. 14,500; l. 441'6"; b. 56'11"; dr. 28'4"; s. 11.8 k.; cpl. 110; a. 1 5")

The second Gemsbok (IX-117) was launched as Carl R. Gray 9 November 1943 by the California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif.; sponsored by Miss E. Jeffers; acquired and simultaneously commissioned 3 December 1943, Commander A. H. Kooistra, USNR, in command. The ship was renamed Gemsbok upon acqusition [sic; acquisition].

Gemsbok sailed 12 January 1944 for the Marshall Islands and until May 1945 delivered fuel oil, aviation gasoline, and lube oil to warships in that archipelago and in the Marianas. Her principal base of operations was Eniwetok but in addition Gemsbok supplied fuel at Majuro and Kwajalein, and from 5 July to 16 September 1944 was at Saipan servicing ships engaged in the capture and occupation of bases in the Marianas.

She sailed from Eniwetok 11 May 1945 with fuel oil for Leyte, arriving 25 May via Ulithi. After Ulithi, she sailed from Leyte 29 September for Okinawa and Hiro Wan, Japan, where she put in 16 October. Gemsbok continued her fueling duties at Nagoya and subsequently sailed for the United States 20 December, reaching Norfolk 28 February 1946 via San Diego and Mobile, Ala. Decommissioned there 30 April 1946, Gemsbok was stricken from the Navy List 8 May 1946 and subsequently sold to Maris Transportation System Inc. and in 1948 renamed Alpha.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)