About this Unit
USS Rigel refers to several United States Navy ships, most notably USS Rigel (AF-58) and USS Rigel (AD-13). USS Rigel (AD-13) was a destroyer tender commissioned in 1922, serving throughout World War II by providing repair and logistical support to Allied naval forces in the Pacific Theater. After decades of valuable service, she was decommissioned in 1946. USS Rigel (AF-58), a stores ship commissioned in 1955, played a vital role during the Cold War, supplying fleet units with food and refrigerated stores until her decommissioning in 1992. Both ships were named after the bright star Rigel, symbolizing guidance and support to the fleet.
Historical Facts
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Two Ships Named USS Rigel: The name USS Rigel has been assigned to two different U.S. Navy ships: USS Rigel (AD-13), a destroyer tender launched in 1918, and USS Rigel (AF-58), a stores ship launched in 1954.
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Named After a Star: Both ships were named after Rigel, the brightest star in the constellation Orion, continuing the Navy tradition of celestial naming for support vessels.
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WWII Service: USS Rigel (AD-13) played a vital support role during World War II, tending and repairing destroyers and other vessels in the Pacific Theater, including at Pearl Harbor after the attack.
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Pearl Harbor Survivor: On December 7, 1941, AD-13 was present at Pearl Harbor and survived the attack unscathed, quickly assisting with rescue and salvage operations.
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Floating Workshop: Rigel (AD-13) was equipped with extensive repair shops, making her a “floating workshop” capable of performing complex repairs on a variety of ships in forward areas.
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Battle Stars: For her service in WWII, USS Rigel (AD-13) earned four battle stars, a testament to her significant contributions during major campaigns.
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Korean & Vietnam War Service: USS Rigel (AF-58) provided logistical support during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, supplying fresh and frozen foods to ships at sea and remote bases.
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Fast Combat Support: AF-58 was designed to deliver supplies at high speeds, keeping pace with modern carrier task forces, and was capable of transferring supplies via both underway replenishment and helicopter.
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Decommissioning and Fate: AD-13 was decommissioned in 1946 and eventually scrapped, while AF-58 was decommissioned in 1992 and later sold for scrapping in 2008.
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Legacy of Service: Both USS Rigel ships exemplified the importance of support and logistics in naval operations, ensuring frontline warships remained supplied and battle-ready during critical moments in 20th-century conflicts.
