USS Prentiss (AKA-102)

USS Prentiss (AKA-102)

USS Prentiss (AKA-102) was a Tolland-class attack cargo ship of the United States Navy named after Prentiss County, Mississippi. Like all AKAs, Prentiss was designed to carry military cargo and landing craft, and to use the latter to land weapons, supplies, and Marines on enemy shores during amphibious operations. She served as a commissioned ship for 15 months.

Prentiss was laid down as a Type C2-S-AJ3 ship under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1699) by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, North Carolina, on 10 October 1944; launched on 6 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Roger Williams; acquired on loan charter basis from the Maritime Commission by the Navy on 12 January 1945; and commissioned on 11 February 1945, Lt. Comdr. George P. Walker, USNR, in command.