The USS Alchiba (AKA-6) was an Arcturus-class attack cargo ship built for the United States Navy, distinguished by its vital role in World War II operations. Originally laid down as the Mormacdove under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 21) on August 15, 1938, by the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Chester, Pennsylvania, she was launched on July 6, 1939. The vessel was delivered on September 21, 1939, to Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., and later acquired by the Navy on June 2, 1941, where she was renamed Alchiba and designated AK-23. She was converted for naval service at the Boston Navy Yard and commissioned on June 15, 1941. Constructed with a standard cargo ship design of her class, Alchiba's service history includes extensive transport and logistical support across the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. She initially operated along the East Coast, participating in cargo and personnel transport to Iceland. In early 1942, she sailed through the Panama Canal to the Pacific, supporting operations in the Society Islands and Chile, before returning to New York for repairs. Alchiba played a prominent role in the Guadalcanal campaign, arriving off the island in August 1942, disembarking troops, and providing critical cargo support. Notably, she participated in amphibious rehearsals at Fiji and was involved in the first American assault landings in the Pacific. Her service was marked by resilience during combat; on November 28, 1942, she was torpedoed by a Japanese midget submarine, resulting in a massive explosion on her port side and a fire that raged for days. Her commanding officer, James Shepherd Freeman, led efforts to save the vessel, earning the Navy Cross for his heroism. She was struck again by a torpedo in December 1942 but was saved from sinking. Throughout her service, Alchiba supported multiple amphibious operations, including landings at Bougainville and Saipan, although she encountered ongoing engine troubles that required extensive repairs. Decommissioned on January 14, 1946, she was transferred to the Maritime Commission and sold for merchant service, eventually being refitted in the Netherlands as Tjipanas and later Tong Jit before being scrapped in 1973. Alchiba earned three battle stars, two Combat Action Ribbons, and a Presidential Unit Citation—the only cargo ship in U.S. Navy history to receive this high honor—highlighting her distinguished contribution to Allied victories in the Pacific.

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