Global InformationUSS Mark information
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| U.S. Army service: | |
| Name | FS-214 |
| Builder | Higgins Industries, New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Yard number | 80 |
| Completed | December 1944 |
| Out of service | 30 September 1947 |
| U.S. Navy service: | |
| Acquired | 30 September 1947 |
| Renamed | USS Mark (AG-143) |
| In service | 2 December 1947 |
| Reclassified | AKL-12, 13 March 1949 |
| Commissioned | 1 October 1965 |
| Decommissioned | 1 July 1971 |
| Fate | Transferred to Taiwan, 1971 |
| Stricken | 15 April 1976 |
 Taiwan | |
| Name | ROCS Yung Kang (AKL 514) |
| Commissioned | 1 July 1971 |
| Fate | Unknown |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Design 427 coastal freighter |
| Displacement | 693 long tons (704 t) |
| Length | 180 ft (55 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Draft | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Speed | 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
| Complement | 39 |
USS Mark (AG-143), was built as the Aircraft Repair variant, Design 427,[1][2] of the Army FS types as FS-214 for use by the United States Army. She was built at Higgins Industries, New Orleans, Louisiana, completed in December 1944. The ship was designed with the well deck covered to provide shop space for the work of repairing aircraft by an embarked Aircraft Maintenance Unit (Floating).[note 1]
The ship suffered a casualty when the ship's starboard engine exploded on 13 April 1945. Albert M. Boe, the civilian Chief Engineer, stayed at his post to shut down engines despite burns that were fatal. He was awarded the posthumous Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. Later a ship was named in his honor.[4]
Toward the close of the war the vessels were assigned names and the ship was renamed Colonel Raymond T. Lester,[1] an Army Air Corps[5] officer.
The ship was acquired by the United States Navy at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, on 30 September 1947; and placed in service on 2 December 1947.
- ^ a b Colton, Tim (28 November 2012). "U.S. Army Coastal Freighters (F, FS) Built During WWII". Shipbuilding History. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ Jackson, Ramon (10 January 2010). "Army FP/FS Vessels: Design 427". Army Ships. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "801 Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ "Albert M. Boe". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ "Col Raymond Taylor Lester". Find a Grave. 6 December 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
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