USS ''E.A. Poe'' (IX-103), formerly ''Edgar Allan Poe'', an

unclassified miscellaneous vessel The IX (unclassified–miscellaneous) hull classification symbol is used for ships of the United States Navy that do not fit into one of the standard categories. Similar lists of 'miscellaneous' ships can found at : and :. Ship status i ...

, was the only ship of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

to be named for

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales involving mystery and the macabre. He is widely re ...

. She was chartered by the Navy in 1942, then taken over after being damaged and losing use of her engines on 30 August 1943. She was employed as a dry storage ship being towed among the islands of the southwest Pacific, issuing provisions to them as well as to ships and small craft in the area. She was placed in service on 23 February 1945 and out of service on 15 March 1946 when returned to her owner. She was stricken from the

Naval Vessel Register The ''Naval Vessel Register'' (NVR) is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from t ...

on 28 March 1946. FY 1943 (IX-103, 109), 1944 (others). The Liberty ships that the Navy classified IX were all ships that had been damaged during the war and could no longer be used as seagoing cargo ships. Some had had their engine rooms destroyed, while others had had the hulls severely weakened. These ships required towing to be relocated as they were not self-propelled. All of these damaged ships were repurposed to better serve the war effort. Despite her challenges, the USS Edgar Allan Poe served a critical role in the supply chain during WWII.

References

External links

Navsource.org
NavSource Online, Gary P. Priolo, Updated 16, July 2021

Shipscribe Compiled 28 Aug 2010, Stephen S. Roberts Dry storage vessels of the United States Navy 1943 ships {{US-mil-ship-stub