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UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT

PROCYON class amphibious cargo ships (1941-1942)

No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
AK19, 2.1943- AKA2 Procyon (ex-Sweepstakes) 36 Tampa SB 1/1940 14.11.1940 8.1941 stricken 4.1946
AK20, 2.1943- AKA3 Bellatrix (ex-Raven) 39 Tampa SB 1940 15.8.1941 2.1942 stricken 5.1946, reinstated 8.1951, stricken 6.1960, reinstated 3.1963, to Peru 7.1963 (Independencia)
AK21, 2.1943- AKA4 Electra (ex-Meteor) 40 Tampa SB 1940 18.11.1940 3.1942 stricken 1946, reinstated 10.1951, BU 1973
AK53, 2.1943- AKA12, 1.1969- LKA12 Libra (ex-Jean Lykes) 181 Federal, Kearny 1941 12.11.1941 5.1942 stricken 1.1977
AK55, 2.1943- AKA13, 10.1949- T-AKA13 Titania (ex-Harry Culbreath) 183 Federal, Kearny 10.1941 28.2.1942 5.1942 Military Sealift Command 10.1949, stricken 7.1961
AK56, 2.1943- AKA14, 10.1949- T-AKA14 Oberon (ex-Delalba) 184 Federal, Kearny 2.1942 28.3.1942 6.1942 Military Sealift Command 10.1949, stricken 7.1960

 

Displacement standard, t

7476 - 8045

Displacement full, t

13910

Length, m

140.0 - 143.0

Breadth, m

19.2

Draught, m

7.80

No of shafts

1

Machinery

AKA2-4: 1 Nordberg diesel

AKA12-14: 1 set General Electric geared steam turbines, 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers

Power, h. p.

6000

Max speed, kts

16.5

Fuel, t

AKA2-4: diesel oil 1790

AKA12-14: oil 2130

Endurance, nm(kts)

AKA2-4: 22600(12)

AKA12-14: 18180(12)

Armament

1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20, 4 x 1 - 12.7/90

Military load

15 - 16 LCVP, 8 LCM(3), cargo, troops

by 1945, AKA2-4: 6 LCM(6), 2 LCM(3), 10 LCVP, 1 LCPL, 4515 t of cargo, 54 marines

by 1945, AKA12-14: 6 LCM(6), 3 LCM(3), 10 LCVP, 1 LCPL, 4605t of cargo, 190 marines

Electronic equipment probably SC radar

Complement

412

Project history: USN military transport vessels were sectioned into two groups: ÀÐ for transportation of troops and ÀÊ for carriage of goods and technics. The majority of them were built on the basis of standard types Ñ2, Ñ3 and Ñ4 and differed from usual cargo ships a little.

For delivery of troops and cargoes directly to a beaching place assault landing transport ships (ÀÐÀ and ÀÊÀ) served, which main difference from ÀÊ and ÀÐ consisted that they were extra equipped with disembarkation craft of LCVP, LCM and LCP (L) types; with their help delivery of people and cargoes to beach also was effected.

Originally similar ships were not outlined in own subclass and were registered as ÀÐ and ÀÊ. In February, 1943 reorganisation was done and assault transports have received indexation ÀÐÀ and ÀÊÀ.

Two ships of Doyen class, projected even on the eve of war for landing operations in Caribbean basin, became the first American assault military transports. The overwhelming majority of remaining ÀÐÀ and ÀÊÀ has been converted from merchant cargo and cargo-passenger vessels or constructed in hulls of standard cargo vessels built by the big series in days of war. An exception were specially projected as assault transports Gilliam (ÀÐÀ) and Artemis (ÀÊÀ) classes.

Besides the large landing transport ships of ÀÐÀ and ÀÊÀ classes, small landing parties and subversive groups were landed by fast landing transports (APD) converted from become outdated Wickes and Clemson classes destroyers and destroyer escorts of Buckley and Rudderow classes.

Procyon class ships were built in standard C2 type hulls.

Modernizations: by 1945, AKA2-4 were armed with: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20, 18 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar

 by 1945 AKA12-14 were armed with 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 18 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar

1/1946, AKA2-4: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20/21, 18 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar

1/1946, AKA12-14: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 4 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 18 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar

Naval service: No significant events.  

Oberon 1943

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