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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Malabar (AF-37)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Golf - Juliet
 NXGJ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Adria Class Stores Ship:
  • Laid down, 17 July 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (R1-M-AV3) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2201) at Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc, Beaumont, TX.
  • Launched, 17 September 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy, 24 February 1945
  • Converted for Naval service at Tennessee Coal & Iron Dock, Houston, TX.
  • Commissioned, USS Malabar (AF-37), 8 March 1945, LT. Charles S. Rogers, USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Malabar was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Malabar was assigned to Occupation and China service for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    (Asia) 16 to 30 September 194516 November to 3 December 1945
    (Europe) 27 March to 7 April 1948 
    (Europe) 11 December 1950 to 2 January 1951 

  • Decommissioned, 20 June 1955, at Galveston, TX.
  • Laid up in Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Title transferred to the Maritime Administration, 26 May 1960
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1960
  • Final disposition, disposed of by MARAD sold for scrapping, 27 July 1977, Consolidated-Andy Inc., 19 August 1977
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,139 t.(lt) 7,435 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 6"
    Beam 50'
    Draft 21' 1"
    Speed 11.5 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 10
    Enlisted 74
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Cargo Capacity 3,170 DWT
    non-refrigerated 47,510 Cu ft
    refrigerated 114,580 Cu ft
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    six single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 6,300 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Nordberg Diesel TSM engine
    three Diesel-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    one propeller, 1,700shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Malabar
    09064502
    BS 79120    		 173k Malabar (AF-37) underway off the Texas coast, prior to commissioning, 24 February 1945. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 6AO.
    U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photos BS 79120 and 79116     		Robert Hurst
    Malabar
    09064503
    BS 79120    		 98k
    USS Malabar (AF-37)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Rogers, Charles Sanders8 March 1945 - 12 June 1946
    02LCDR. Buker, Melvin Charles, USNR12 June 1946 - 19 April 1947
    03LCDR. Lyman, John Grant, USNR19 April 1947 - 9 March 1948
    04CDR. Dodson, Boykin Robinson9 March 1948 - 1949
    05LCDR. Garland, John Dexter1949 - 1950
    06CDR. Lewankowski, Stanley John1950 - June 1952
    07LCDR. Chern, John Robert, USNJune 1952 - 1953
    08CDR. Moody, Jr., Harold, A.1953 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Stores Ship (AF) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 17 November 2023