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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Denebola (AD-12)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Romeo - Zulu
 NIRZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Medal - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Altair Class Destroyer Tender:
  • Built in 1919 as SS Edgewood by Skinner and Eddy, Seattle, WA.
  • Transferred from the United States Shipping Board (USSB), 4 November 1921 and converted for Naval service at Philadelphia Navy Yard
  • Commissioned USS Denebola (AD-12), 28 November 1921, CDR. Joseph F. Daniels in command
  • Decommissioned, 9 August 1924, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Recommissioned, 6 April 1940
  • During World War II USS Denebola was assigned to both the European and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters and participated in the following campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of Southern France, 15 August to 25 September 1944

  • Decommissioned, 10 April 1946, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 May 1946
  • USS Denebola (AD-12) earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 1 July 1946
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 18 August 1950, to Boston Metals Co., Baltimore, MD.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,250 t.(lt) 10,000 t.(lim)
    Length 423'
    Beam 54' 3"
    Draft 20' (lim)
    Speed 12.5 kts. (trial) 12.5 kts. (design)
    Complement
    officers 70
    enlisted 562
    Armament
    two twin 5"/51 cal. surface gun mounts
    four single 3'/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    six twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Largest boom capacity 30 t.
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 13,040 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric, Curtis-design, geared turbine
    one Yarrow boiler 200psi, Sat., one Wheeler-Foster boiler 200psi, Sat.
    three turbo-drive 200kw 120v. D. C. Ship's Service Generators
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gear
    single propeller, 2,500hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Denebola 83k USS Denebola (AD-12) with USS Bainbridge (DD-246) and USS Litchfield (DD-336) alongside at Constantinople, Turkey, circa December 1922 to 18 November 1923. Paul Rebold
    Denebola 97k USS Denebola (AD-12) probably departing Baltimore, MD., in April 1940 after completion of restoration there. Between January and April 1940 the Bethlehem Steel Co. at Baltimore put her propulsion machinery, repair shops, and other interior spaces into operating order and replaced her wooden deckhouses (including the bridge) with steel structures.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command (SH files), Photo No. None, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Denebola 68k USS Denebola (AD-12) after completion of alterations and installation of armament at Baltimore and Philadelphia in June, 1940. Most of her boat deck has been enclosed, pairs of 5"/51 guns have been installed fore and aft, and four 3"/50 guns have been mounted near the smokestack.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo No. Unknown a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Denebola
    09031208    		 196k USS Denebola (AD-12) moored to a buoy, date and location unknown. David Wright
    Denebola
    09031209    		 135k USS Denebola (AD-12) moored to a buoy, circa 1943, location unknown.
    Photo courtesy of J1mBlack (real name unknown)    		 Robert Hurst
    Denebola 108k USS Denebola (AD-12) near the Boston Navy Yard, 11 March 1943. The forward port and after starboard 5"/51 guns have been removed and the antiaircraft armament has been strengthened.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo No. 19-N-41646 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Denebola 60k USS Denebola (AD-12) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Ray Zandier USS Denebola and USS Piedmont
    USS Denebola Memorabilia
    Denebola
    Ship's Service 5 cent token (front)
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp    		 Denebola
    Ship's Service 5 cent token (back)
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp
    USS Denebola (AD-12)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Daniels, Joseph Francis, USN28 November 1921 - 6 July 1922
    02CAPT. Mannix, Daniel Pratt, USN (USNA 1900)6 July 1922 - 1923
    03LCDR. Manock, Frank Delmore, USN (USNA 1909)1923 - 9 August 1924
     Decommissioned9 August 1924 - 6 April 1940
    04CDR. Dyer, Robert Allan Jr., USN (USNA 1914)6 April 1940 - 20 March 1941
    05CDR. Starkey, Robert Calwell, USN (USNA 1914)20 March 1941 - 17 May 1942
    06CDR. Ludlow Jr., William Goodwin, USN (USNA 1917)17 May 1942 - 2 May 1944
    07CDR. Curtis, John Pemberton, USN (USNA 1920)2 May 1944 - 10 April 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 4 October 2022