USS Valencia (AKA-81)

USS Valencia (AKA-81)

USS Valencia (AKA-81) was a Tolland-class attack cargo ship of the United States Navy named after Valencia County, New Mexico. She 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.

Valencia was laid down as a Type C2-S-AJ3 ship under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1389) on 20 May 1944 at Wilmington, North Carolina, by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 22 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. C. L. Merritt; acquired by the Navy on 18 August 1944; converted for Navy use by the Bethlehem Steel shipyard, Key Highway plant, Baltimore, Maryland; and commissioned there on 9 January 1945, Lt. Comdr. Rodney A. Blake, USNR, in command.