Alhena (AKL-38) was a steel-hulled, diesel-powered supply vessel of the Design 381 class, measuring approximately 177 feet in length. Originally built as FS-257, the ship was constructed in 1944 by Wheeler Shipbuilding in Whitestone, New York, with yard number 71. Commissioned on June 24, 1944, the vessel was manned by a United States Coast Guard crew and served during World War II in the Southwest Pacific theater. During its wartime service, FS-257 operated in the Pacific, including participation in the landings at Leyte. An incident in July 1945 saw the vessel run aground near Maripipi Island, from which it was assisted off the beach by another ship, FS-406. The vessel's service record highlights its role as a supply ship supporting U.S. military operations in the Pacific theater. On December 12, 1951, amidst the Korean War, the ship was acquired by the U.S. Navy, renamed Alhena—after the third-largest object in the Gemini constellation—and loaned to the Republic of Korea Navy on the same day. Despite being designated a Navy ship, Alhena did not serve in U.S. Navy waters under this name. Instead, it served with the Republic of Korea until January 1960, when it was returned to U.S. custody. The vessel was struck from the Naval Register on February 1, 1960, and subsequently sold for scrap in June 1960 to Hong Kong Rolling Mills, Ltd. Notably, the ship's construction contained asbestos, a common material at the time but one now recognized for its health hazards. The vessel's service history underscores its role as a logistical support asset during pivotal conflicts and its transfer among allied navies during the Cold War period.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.