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 radar1/1946, 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
© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15