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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AE-3 Lassen


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Victor - Papa
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (circa 4 Oct to 18 Nov 1944) - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal
Lassen Class Ammunition Ship:
  • Laid down (date unknown) as MV Shooting Star a Maritime Commission type (C2 Cargo) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 23) at Tampa Bay Shipbuilding Co., Tampa, FL.
  • Launched 10 January 1940
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 15 November 1940
  • Commissioned USS Lassen (AE-3), 27 November 1941, CDR. R. S. Berkey in command
  • During World War II Lassen was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of Ulithi Atoll, 25 September to 2 October 1944
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 4 October to 18 November 1944     		3rd Fleet operations against Japan
    10 July to 6 August 1945
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 17 March to 3 June 1945     		.

  • Decommissioned, 15 January 1947, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego, CA.
  • Transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., 30 August 1960
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1961
  • Custody transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 1 October 1962
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 16 March 1976, to Nicolai Joffe Corp.
  • Lassen received three battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,350 t.(lt) 13.855 t.(fl)
    Length 459'
    Beam 63'
    Draft 25' 11"
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 280
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    eight twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 5,000 DWT
    Propulsion diesel, single shaft, 6,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Lassen 40k Lassen (AE-3) underway, date and location unknown. "AE" Sailors Association
    Lassen 54k Broadside view of Lassen (AE-3) underway off Mare Island Navy Yard, 18 February 1943. She is painted camouflage scheme measure 12(modified).
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 1329-43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lassen 89k Lassen (AE-3) at anchor, circa fall 1945, location unknown. E. L. Meckel, RM/3c USS Lassen
    View the Lassen (AE-3)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    "AE" Sailors Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Ammunition Ship (AE) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 9 November 2007