The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
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Navy History and
Heritage Center #NH 631. Via NavSource.org
| Tonnage | 4860 tons |
| Dimensions | 391'9" by 52'2" by 11'10" 119.41m by 15.90m by 3.61m |
| Maximum speed | 12 knots |
| Complement | 52 |
| Armament |
2 5"/51 guns 4 3"/50 dual-purpose guns |
| Machinery |
1-shaft triple-expansion
reciprocating (2500 shp) 3 Scotch coal-burning boilers |
| Bunkerage |
1570 tons |
| Modifications |
Eventually added 8 20mm Oerlikon AA guns |
Gold Star was
built for the Navy in 1922 as a cargo
ship and reclassified as a general auxiliary in 1922. She
spent most of the
prewar years as flagship at Guam,
with frequent voyages
to Japan, China, and the Philippines.
Much of her prewar crew was made
up of Chamorros (natives of Guam.)
Because of the ship's frequent sailings in waters close to Japan, she was clandestinely fitted out with electronic equipment and used to closely monitor Japanese naval maneuvers throughout the early 1930s. This was known as Operation GOLD STAR and returned considerable intelligence.
Gold Star was at Dumanguilas Bay when war broke out. Following the loss of the Philippines, Gold Star operated out of Australian ports as a coastal steamer.
References
NavSource.org (accessed 2009-12-25)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007, 2009, 2013 by Kent G. Budge. Index
