USCGC Kukui (WAK-186)

	USCGC Kukui (WAK-186), ex-USS Colquitt (AK-174), underway off the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay, Maryland, 16 March 1946.
History
United States
Name	Colquitt
Namesake	Colquitt County, Georgia
Operator
Ordered	as type (C1-M-AV1) hull, MC hull 2147
Builder	Froemming Brothers, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Yard number	19
Laid down	1944
Launched	21 January 1945
Sponsored by	Mrs. Fred Zillman
Acquired	17 August 1945
Commissioned	22 September 1945
Decommissioned	24 September 1945
Stricken	20 March 1946
Identification	Hull symbol: AK-174; Code letters: NRCQ; ;
Fate	transferred to the US Coast Guard, 24 September 1945
	USCGC Kukui (WAK-186) underway, date and location unknown.
United States
Name	Kukui
Namesake	Kukui
Acquired	24 September 1945
Commissioned	24 September 1945
Decommissioned	29 February 1972
Identification	Hull symbol: WAK-186
Fate	Transferred to the Republic of the Philippines, 1 March 1972
History
Philippines
Name	Mactan
Namesake	Mactan Island
Acquired	1 March 1972
Identification	Hull symbol: TK90
Fate	Deleted by the Philippines Navy, 7 June 2001
General characteristics
Class and type	Alamosa-class cargo ship
Type	C1-M-AV1
Tonnage	5,032 long tons deadweight (DWT)
Displacement	2,382 long tons (2,420 t) (standard); 7,450 long tons (7,570 t) (full load);
Length	388 ft 8 in (118.47 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
Installed power	1 × Nordberg, TSM 6 diesel engine ; 1,750 shp (1,300 kW);
Propulsion	1 × propeller
Speed	11.5 kn (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity	3,945 t (3,883 long tons) DWT; 9,830 cu ft (278 m3) (refrigerated); 227,730 cu ft (6,449 m3) (non-refrigerated);
Complement	15 Officers; 70 Enlisted;
Armament	1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber dual purpose gun (DP); 6 × 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraft (AA) cannons;

USCGC Kukui (WAK-186) was a Maritime Commission Type C1-M small cargo ship launched 21 January 1945, by Froemming Brothers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, transferred to the Navy and commissioned and designated as USS Colquitt (AK-174) 22 September 1945. Two days later the ship was transferred to the Coast Guard for operation before being permanently transferred on 11 March 1946. Renamed Kukui and designated WAK-186 the ship was the largest in the Coast Guard with notable service installing, servicing and supplying the Loran-A and Loran-C electronic navigation chain stations in the Pacific until March 1972. The ship was transferred to the Philippines to serve as the Philippine Navy's supply ship BRP Mactan (TK90) until June 2001.

Construction

Colquitt was launched 21 January 1945, by Froemming Brothers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under a Maritime Commission contract, MC hull 2147; sponsored by Mrs. Fred Zillman.^[3]

US Navy service

The ship was transferred to the Navy 17 August 1945 and commissioned USS Colquitt, designated AK-174, on 22 September 1945. Two days later the ship was transferred to the US Coast Guard for operation with permanent transfer on 11 March 1946. In the very brief Navy service the ship was one of the Alamosa-class cargo ship.^[3]

Coast Guard history

On permanent transfer the ship was renamed and reclassified Kukui (WAK-186) as the needed large cargo vessel to supply the equipment and personnel for the construction and logistical support of the Pacific Loran-A and Loran-C systems. Her name was changed to Kukui, a name taken from a buoy tender that had just been decommissioned, and was given the designation WAK-186. She was converted to Coast Guard specifications at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland. During her Coast Guard career she was based out of Honolulu, Hawaii.^[4]

Construction, major maintenance and supply of the systems was done by sailors of Kukui. Their dual role as seamen and construction workers was one of the most unique assignments in the armed forces. She carried on her decks two LCMs to ferry men and equipment to shore and also had three bulldozers, several trucks and a few jeeps stashed in her holds.^[4]

Seven months a year she was underway providing necessary logistic support to members of the Coast Guard LORAN chain throughout the western Pacific. During this time she delivered "everything from toothpicks to antenna poles; from a can of pepper to a Quonset hut." She also carried the complex electronic equipment necessary to set up the LORAN system. As a Coast Guard public affairs release noted: "The men and officers of the black-hulled cutter were a versatile group. They not only sailed the ship but they operated bulldozers, landing craft, trucks and jeeps."^[4]

A typical voyage would cover over 18,000 nmi (33,000 km; 21,000 mi) and Kukui would deliver 2,500,000 short tons (2,300,000 t) of cargo to the many Coast Guard operated LORAN stations throughout the western Pacific. In all she would make over 20 stops at various stations and ports, including Yokosuka, Japan and Manila Harbor in the Republic of the Philippines. On 15 June 1953 she rendered medical assistance to a civilian workman injured at Batan LORAN station. In 1957 the crew of the Kukui observed a lack of books in the Philippine school districts they visited. The following year they got up a collection of 400 books to give to needy schoolchildren. Through hard work and perseverance they increased the total to 45,000 books within the next three years. She also delivered relief supplies to the island of Batan after it was hit by Typhoon Elaine.^[4]

On 1 December 1969, French Frigate Shoals LORAN Station was hit by a tidal wave, forcing the crew to evacuate and destroying much of the station. Kukui was sent to the island the following month and was responsible for her reconstruction and rehabilitation. On 24 June 1970 she collided with the M/V Myoriki Maru No. 25 six miles from Yokosuka, Japan, with both vessels receiving minor damage.^[4]

In January 1972, the Kukui received word that as part of a move to reduce Coast Guard spending, she would be decommissioned. She later received word that upon her decommissioning in Honolulu on 1 March 1972, she would be turned over to the Navy who in turn would give her to the Philippine Navy.^[4]

Philippine Navy history

Kukui was transferred to the Republic of the Philippines, renamed BRP Mactan (TK90), and reclassified a supply ship. She was removed from the Philippines Navy 7 June 2001.^[2]

Awards and decorations

Her crew members were eligible for the following medals:^[2]

Notes

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c C1 Cargo Ships 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c Navsource 2015.
^ ^a ^b DANFS.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f USCG.

Bibliography

Online resources

"Colquitt". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 16 November 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Colton, Tim (28 August 2009). "C1 Cargo Ships". ShipbuildingHistory. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
"USS Colquitt (AK-174)". Navsource.org. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
"Kukui, 1946" (PDF). US Coast Guard. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2020.

External links

Photo gallery of Colquitt (AK-174) at NavSource Naval History

[FOOTNOTEC1_Cargo_Ships2009-1] C1 Cargo Ships 2009.

[FOOTNOTENavsource2015-2] Navsource 2015.

[FOOTNOTEDANFS-3] DANFS.

[FOOTNOTEUSCG-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f USCG.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Alamosa-class cargo ships
Alamosa Alcona Amador Antrim Autauga Beaverhead Beltrami Blount Brevard Bullock Cabell Caledonia Charlevoix Chatham Chicot Claiborne Clarion Codington Colquitt Craighead Doddridge^* Duval^* Fairfield Faribault Fentress Flagler Gadsden Glacier Grainger Gwinnett Habersham Hennepin Herkimer Hidalgo Kenosha Lebanon Lehigh Lancaster Marengo Midland Minidoka Muscatine Muskingum Nicollet Pembina Pemiscot Pinellas Pipestone Pitkin Poinsett Pontotoc Richland Rockdale Schuyler Screven Sebastian Somerset / Coastal Sentry Sussex Tarrant Tipton Traverse^* Tulare^* Washtenaw^** / Sgt. George Peterson Westchester^* Wexford^† / Coastal Crusader Maiden's Eye / Colonel William J. O'Brien Becket Bend / Private John F. Thorson Short Splice Long Splice / Private Frank J. Petrarca
* = Canceled August 1945 ** = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Guide † = Canceled August 1945, but completed as Coastal Crusader
List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy

v t e Type C1-M ships
Type C1-M-AV1	Alamosa Alcona Acorn Knot / Sgt. George D Keathley Amador Anchor Bend Anchor Hitch Antrim Autauga Beaverhead Becket Bend / Private John F. Thorson Becket Hitch Bell Ringer / Captain Arlo L. Olson Beltrami Bight Knot Blackwall Hitch Blount Boatswain's Hitch Bowline Knot Brevard Bullock Buntline Hitch Cabell Cable Splice Caledonia Cape Somerset Cape Stanhope Capstan Knot Carrick Bend Cat's Paw Chain and Crown Charlevoix Chatham Check Knot / Sgt. Joseph E. Muller Chicot Cinch Knot Claiborne Clarion Clove Hitch Coastal Captain Coastal Charger Coastal Courser Coastal Crusader Coastal Guide / Sgt. George Peterson Coastal Mariner Coastal Monarch Coastal Monitor Coastal Rambler Coastal Ranger Coastal Telegrapher Codington Colquitt Craighead Crossing Hitch Crown and Diamond Crown Knot Diamond Hitch Diamond Knot Doddridge Double Loop Dragon Fly Duval Elmer J. Burr Emerald Knot Fairfield Faribault Fentress Fiador Knot Fisherman's Bend Flagler Flemish Knot Gadsden Glacier Grainger Grass Knot Gunner's Knot Gwinnett Habersham Half Hitch Half Knot Harold W. Roberts Hawser Bend Hawser Eye Hawser Splice Hennepin Herkimer Hickory Bay Hickory Beck Hickory Bourne Hickory Brae Hickory Brook Hickory Burn Hickory Cairn Hickory Cape Hickory Coll Hickory Crest Hickory Dale Hickory Dell Hickory Dyke Hickory Ghyll Hickory Glen Hickory Isle Hickory Knoll Hickory Lake Hickory Mount Hickory Stream Hickory Tarn Hickory Tor Hidalgo Honda Knot Hook Hitch Horseshoe Splice Jacob's Ladder Jumper Hitch Kenneth E. Gruennert / Grommet Reefer Kenosha Knob Knot Lancaster Lanyard Knot Leader Loop Lebanon Lehigh Lever's Bend Lewis Hall Link Splice / Sgt. Jonah E. Kelley Lock Knot Long Eye Long Splice / Private Frank J. Petrarca Loop Knot Magnus Hitch Maiden's Eye / Colonel William J. O'Brien Mainsheet Eye Manrope Knot Marengo Mariner's Splice Marline Hitch Marlingspike Hitch Masthead Knot Midland Minidoka Mooring Hitch Mooring Knot Muscatine Muskingum Nicollet Ocean Plat Pembina Pemiscot Phoebe Knot Pinellas Pipestone Pitkin Poinsett Pontotoc Reef Knot Reeving Eye Richland Rigger's Eye Ring Hitch Ring Knot Ring Splice Roband Hitch Rockdale Rolling Hitch Rose Knot Round Splice / Private Jose F. Valdez Running Knot Sailmaker's Splice Sailor's Splice Salmon Knot Sampan Hitch Schuyler Screven Sebastian Shamrock Knot Sheepshank Sheet Bend Shell Bar Short Splice Sinnet Snakehead Snug Hitch Somerset / Coastal Sentry Span Splice Spanish Bowline Spar Hitch Spindle Eye / Sgt. Curtis F. Shoup Spool Sinnet Square Knot Square Sinnet Star Knot Studding Sail Sussex Sword Knot Tag Knot Tapir Splice Tarrant Terminal Knot Thimble Eye Timber Hitch Tipton Traverse True Knot Tucked Bend Tulare Turk's Head Wall Knot Water Knot Westchester William G. Fournier William N. Nelson Yard Hitch
Type C1-M-AV7	Coastal Liberator
Type C1-M-AV8	Crossing Knot Flat Knot Marline Bend Persian Knot Single Hitch Solid Sinnet
Type C1-MT-BU1	Arizona Pine California Redwood Oregon Fir Washington Cedar