USS Valeria (AKA-48)

USS Valeria (AKA-48)

USS Valeria (AKA-48) was an Artemis-class attack cargo ship named after the minor planet 611 Valeria, discovered in 1906 by Joel Hastings Metcalf, an amateur astronomer who made the initial identification of 41 minor planets. The meaning of the name is unknown. Valeria served as a commissioned ship for 8 months.

Valeria (AKA-48) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1909) on 8 April 1945 at Providence, R.I., by the Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc.; launched on 29 May 1945; sponsored by Mrs. A. D. Hunter; and transferred to the Navy on 28 June 1945 and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. Robert Smith Trower III in command.