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USS ''Atik'' (AK-101) was a Q-ship of the United States Navy named for ''al-Atik'', a double star in the constellation Perseus. Her twin sister ship was . ==History== The steel-hulled, single-screw steamer ''Carolyn'' was laid down on 15 March 1912 at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, for the A.K. Bull Steamship Lines; launched on 3 July 1912, sponsored by Ms. Carolyn Bull (for whom the ship was probably named), a granddaughter of the shipping firm's owner, Archibald Hilton Bull (1847–1920), and delivered on 20 July 1912. For the next 30 years, ''Carolyn'' carried freight and passengers between the West Indies and ports on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. During World War I, she received a main battery of one and one gun, and a Navy armed guard detachment served in the ship from 28 June 1917– 11 November 1918. During that time, too, the Navy gave her the identification Id. No. 1608, but did not take her over for naval service. ''Carolyn'' pursued her prosaic calling under the house flag of the Bull Line through the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. A dispatch dated 31 January 1942 expressed the Chief of Naval Operations' desire that ''Evelyn'' and ''Carolyn'' "be given a preliminary conversion to AK (cargo ship) in the shortest possible time." A letter from the Chief of the Bureau of Ships elaborated on the "shortest possible time," when it stated on 12 February that the conversion and outfitting of the vessels was desired "by 1 March 1942." Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission, ''Carolyn'' steamed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she was turned over to the Navy under a bareboat charter at 15:30 on 12 February 1942. As could be expected, the process of converting two venerable tramp steamers into men-of-war was by no means complete; but, over the next few weeks, the two erstwhile "tramps" were given their main and secondary batteries and sound gear. Nevertheless, they appeared to be mere cargo ships. ''Carolyn'' became ''Atik'', and was given a cargo ship hull number, AK-101; ''Evelyn'' became ''Asterion'' (AK-100). They were to use their old identities when communicating with friendly vessels and stations; if enemy ships should challenge, reply should be made in accordance with International Procedure, using the identification SS ''Vill Franca'', of Portuguese Registry, callsign CSBT. ''Atik'' (AK-101) was placed in commission at 16:45 on 5 March 1942, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Lieutenant Commander Harry Lynnwood Hicks, USN, in command. At the outset, all connected with the program apparently harbored the view that neither ship "was expected to last longer than a month after commencement of () assigned duty." ''Atik''s holds were packed with pulpwood, a somewhat mercurial material. If dry, "an explosive condition might well develop and, if wet, "rot, with resultant fire, might well take place." Despite these disadvantages, pulpwood was selected as the best obtainable material to assure "floatability." ''Atik''s mission was to lure some unsuspecting U-boat into making a torpedo attack. According to the projected scenario, the submarine, having deemed the tramp unworthy of the expenditure of more torpedoes, would surface to sink the crippled foe with gunfire. The plan presupposed that supporting forces would come to the rescue whenever a Q-ship ran into difficulties. In March 1942, though, there was no such reserve available. The commanding officers of the two ships were told that they could expect little help if they got into trouble. Every available combatant ship and plane was employed in convoy and patrol duties. Following fitting out and brief sea trials, she and ''Asterion'' got underway on 23 March 1942. Soon after leaving port, ''Atik'' and ''Asterion'' went their separate ways. On the night of 26–27 March, she was cruising about east of Norfolk, Virginia and ''Asterion'' was cruising some to the south of this area. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Atik (AK-101)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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