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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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  • Ship History
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  • World War II 1939-1945
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Quartz (IX-150)

1944-1947

Silicon dioxide (Si02) a hard, vitreous mineral occurring in many varieties and comprising 12% of the earth’s crust.

(IX–150: displacement 10,970; length 360’; beam 54’; draft 26’; complement 52; type B7–D1)

Quartz (IX–150), a concrete barge, was built under a Maritime Commission contract (M.C. Hull 1330) by Barrett & Hilp, Belair Shipyards, San Francisco, Calif.; launched on 4 December 1943; and accepted by the Navy and placed in service on 13 April 1944, Lt. Cmdr. Paul N. Runyon in charge.

Designed to provide facilities for the issuance of stores at advanced bases, Quartz was assigned to the Service Force, Pacific Fleet. She was towed to Pearl Harbor from San Francisco, arriving on 10 May 1944. Operating with Service Squadrons 8 and 10, she was typical of the Green Dragons, or “Crockery “ ships, which acted as warehouses afloat and packed every conceivable supply item within their holds. She provided services at Majuro, Eniwetok, Ulithi, Leyte, and Guam.

Quartz specialized in the handling of clothing, together with general stores. High speed provision ships made runs to the far reaches of the Pacific, transferred their cargoes to the concrete vessels and then returned to the United States for another load without awaiting piecemeal discharge of their cargoes.

With the end of hostilities Quartz was assigned to the Thirteehth Naval District for disposal. Arriving at Eniwetok on 28 March 1946, she took part in the nuclear weapons test in July, Operation Crossroads, after which she was taken to Kwajalein. Declared free of contamination, she was towed to Pearl Harbor, arriving on 15 September.

Placed out of service on 31 December 1946 at Bremerton, Wash., she was stricken from the Navy Register on 22 January 1947 and sold to the Foss Launch & Tug Co. on 23 October 1947.

Updated, Robert J. Cressman

16 July 2020

Published: Thu Jul 16 15:38:26 EDT 2020