USS Propus (AK-132)
# USS Propus (AK-132)

USS Propus (AK-132) was a Crater-class cargo ship, converted from a Liberty Ship, commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. She was first named after Frederick Tresca, a French-born lighthouse keeper, sea captain, pioneer shipping man, and Union blockade runner in Florida. She was renamed and commissioned after Propus, a star in the constellation Gemini. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.

## Construction

Frederick Tresca was laid down 31 January 1944, under Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2471, by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, Jacksonville, Florida; she was sponsored by Lieutenant Virginia P. Tresca, the great-granddaughter of the namesake, and launched 29 March 1944; chartered by the US Navy, 10 April 1944; she was converted by Merrill-Stevens Drydock & Repair Co., Jacksonville; and commissioned 22 June 1944.

## Service history

Following shakedown in Chesapeake Bay, Propus proceeded via the Panama Canal, to the Pacific Ocean. In 1944, she operated at San Francisco, California, in September; Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, in October; and San Pedro, in December. In 1945, her cargo duties took her to Noumea and Espiritu Santo, in January; Pearl Harbor, San Francisco, and back to sea in February and March; Eniwetok, Saipan, and Tinian in April; San Francisco in May; Manus in June; Emirau and Manus in July; Pearl Harbor in August; San Francisco in September; and Norfolk, Virginia, in October 1945.

## Decommissioning

Decommissioned 20 November 1945, she was redelivered to the War Shipping Administration 21 November, and struck from the Naval Vessel Register 5 December. Her name reverted to Frederick Tresca, and she entered the James River Reserve Fleet, in Lee Hall, Virginia. She was struck from the Navy List 5 December 1945. She was sold for commercial use to Nicolas G. Nicolaou, 17 March 1947, for $544,506. She was withdrawn from the fleet on 20 March 1947.

## Merchant service

Frederick Tresca was renamed Nicolaou Georgios and reflagged in Greece. She was abandoned in the Red Sea, on 24 May 1951, because of a fire. She was towed to Suez by SS Montebello Hills and declared a total loss. Achille Lauro bought her in 1951, and had her towed to Italy, for repair and to be re-engined at Trieste. She was refitted with a 3,000 bhp (2,200 kW) Babcock & Wilcox diesel engine that had been built by Harland and Wolff in 1940. Nicolaou Gerogios was renamed Gabbiano and reflagged in Italy. She was scrapped in 1970.

## Military awards and honors

No battle stars are indicated for Propus in current Navy accounts. However, her crew was eligible for the following medals:

* American Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
* World War II Victory Medal
