Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Rigel (AR-11)
ex
 USS Rigel (ARb-1) (1941)
 USS Rigel (AD-13) (1922 - 1941)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Foxtrot - Whiskey - Golf
 NFWG
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive for 7 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor) - American Defense Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal
Rigel Class Destroyer Tender: ss Destroyer Tender:
  • Built in 1918 as SS Edgecombe by Skinner and Eddy, Seattle, WA. for the US Shipping Board
  • Transferred to the Navy by Executive Order, 29 October 1921
  • Delivered, 16 November 1921
  • Converted to a Destroyer Tender and Commissioned, USS Rigel (AD-13), 24 February 1922, LT. E. G. Affleck in command
  • Redesignated Base Repair Ship (ARb-1), 10 April 1941
  • Redesignated Repair Ship AR-11 in December 1941 During World War II USS Rigel was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941 Eastern New Guinea operations
    Bismarck Archipelago operation, 25 June 1943 - 01 May 1944 Western New Guinea operations

  • Decommissioned, 11 July 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 12 July 1946, fate unknown
  • USS Rigel (AR-11) earned four battle stars during World War II
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,250 t(lt) 10,000 t.(fl)
    Length 423' 9"
    Beam 54' 3"
    Draft 20' 7" (mean)
    Speed 10.5 kts.
    Complement 482
    Armament
    four 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    six twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion geared turbine, single shaft, 2,500hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Rigel 24k USS Rigel (AR-11) date and location unknown. Photo is from the Rigel Register Newsletter. Todd Cabral
    Rigel 31k USS Rigel (AR-11) at anchor, date and location unknown. Submitted by Heather Satterfield for her Grandfather James Brice McDill, (USS Rigel Jan 1944 to January 1946)
    Rigel 146k Stern view of USS Rigel (AR-11) dry docked at Manila, P.I. late fall 1945. Jeff Gates, PH3/c USS Rigel
    Rigel 73k USS Rigel (AR-11) at anchor, in Manila Bay, P.I., late fall 1945. Jeff Gates, Photographers Mate Third Class USS Rigel
    Rigel 99k US Rigel (AR-11) crew members raising the "homeward bound pennant," Manila Bay, P.I., late fall 1945. Jeff Gates, PH3/c USS Rigel
    Rigel 99k USS Rigel (AR-11) refueling at sea while enroute back to the US, date unknown. Jeff Gates, PH3/c USS Rigel
    USS Rigel (AD-13 / AR-11)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Affleck, E. G.24 February 1922 - 26 June 1922
    02CAPT. Brinser, Harry Lerch :RADM26 June 1922 - 24 February 1924
    03CAPT. Church, John Gaylord24 February 1924 - ?
     CDR. Dramel, Milo Frederick :RADM1920s
     CAPT. Morris, Robert12 June 1928 - ?
     CAPT. Nimitz, Chester William :FADMJune 1931 - ?
    08Frucht, Max Mike1938 - ?
     CAPT. McCandless, Byron1939 - ?
     CAPT. Dudley, R.1941 - ?
     CAPT. Huntoon, Jay GlennWWII
     CDR. Davis, Valentine, MurchyWWII
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Pearl Harbor Action Report
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Type Index Back To The Destroyer Tender (AD) Photo Index Back To The Base Repair Ship (ARb) Photo Index Back To The Repair Ship (AR) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 4 February 2011