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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Arequipa (AF-31)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Yankee - Golf
 NWYG
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Second Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (1)
Third Row - Philippines Liberation Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Adria Class Stores Ship:
  • Laid down, 17 January 1944 as a Maritime Commission type (R1-M-AV3) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2195) at Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc., Beaumont, TX.
  • Launched , 4 May 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy, 19 December 1944
  • Converted for Naval service at Todd Shipyards, Galveston, TX.
  • Commissioned USS Arequipa (AF-31), 14 January 1945, LT. Ralph E. Deckwa in command
  • During World War II Arequipa was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • During the Korean War Arequipa participated in the following campaign:
    Korean War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive, 22 to 23 July 1951
  • Decommissioned, 25 August 1955 at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 1 December 1960 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1961
  • Permanent custody passed to MARAD, 1 September 1962
  • Sold, 11 December 1972, to Star-Kist Foods Inc., Terminal Island, CA.. for non-transportation use
  • Withdrawn for the National Defense Reserve Fleet for delivery to Star Kist Foods Inc., 15 February 1973
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS Arequipa received one battle star for Korean War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,139 t.(lt) 6,240 t.(fl)
    Length 338'
    Beam 50'
    Draft 18'
    Speed 12 kts. (max)
    Complement 84
    Cargo Capacity 2,120 DWT
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    six single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel engine, single screw, 1,700shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Arequipa 61k USS Arequipa (AF-31) underway (Stern view from Aft of Center Line) in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 24 July 1947.
    US Naval Shipyard Puget Sound photo # NY8-823 now in the collections of the US National Archives, Seattle Branch.    		 Tracy White
    Arequipa 58k USS Arequipa (AF-31) underway (Bow view, approximately 45° off Center Line) in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 24 July 1947.
    US Naval Shipyard Puget Sound photo # NY8-822 now in the collections of the US National Archives, Seattle Branch.    		 Tracy White
    Arequipa 64k USS Arequipa (AF-31) underway (Broadside view, Starboard Side) in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 24 July 1947.
    US Naval Shipyard Puget Sound photo # NY8-821 now in the collections of the US National Archives, Seattle Branch.    		 Tracy White
    Arequipa 31k USS Arequipa (AF-31) underway (head on view) in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 29 September 1947.
    US Naval Shipyard Puget Sound photo # NY8-1311 now in the collections of the US National Archives, Seattle Branch.    		 Tracy White
    Arequipa 51k USS Arequipa (AF-31) underway (Stern view from Aft Center Line) in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 29 September 1947.
    US Naval Shipyard Puget Sound photo # NY8-1310 now in the collections of the US National Archives, Seattle Branch.    		 Tracy White
    Arequipa 43k USS Arequipa (AF-31) underway (Bow view, approximately 45° off Center Line) in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 29 September 1947.
    US Naval Shipyard Puget Sound photo # NY8-1309 now in the collections of the US National Archives, Seattle Branch.    		 Tracy White
    Arequipa 42k USS Arequipa (AF-31) underway (Broadside view Starboard Side) in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 29 September 1947.
    US Naval Shipyard Puget Sound photo # NY8-1308 now in the collections of the US National Archives, Seattle Branch.    		 Tracy White
    Arequipa 36k USS Arequipa (AF-31) underway (View from Directly Astern) in Sinclair Inlet off Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., 29 September 1947.
    US Naval Shipyard Puget Sound photo # NY8-1312 now in the collections of the US National Archives, Seattle Branch.    		 Tracy White
    Arequipa 24k USS Arequipa (AF-31) under tow of Molala (ATF-106), reaches San Francisco, 31 May 1951. After her main engine had failed some 850 miles from her destination, Arequipa had used two sails for emergency "power" for several days before the Fleet Tug USS Molala arrived to assist.
    US Navy photo # NH 96629 from DANFS.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    View the Arequipa (AF-31)
    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
    No Information Available
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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 13 June 2008