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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Hercules (AK-41)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Hotel - Echo NCHE

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)

Hercules Class Cargo Ship

Laid down, date unknown, as SS Exporter a Maritime Commission type (C3-E) hull under Maritime Commission contract at Fore River Ship Building Co., Quincy, MA. for American Export Lines

Launched, 18 July 1939

Acquired by the Navy, 15 July 1941

Commissioned USS Hercules (AK-41), 30 November 1942, CDR. W. H. Turnquist, USNR, in command

During WWII USS Hercules was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Gilbert Islands operation, 17 November to 8 December 1943	Leyte operation Leyte landings, San Pedro Bay, 13 October to 29 November1944
Marianas operation Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 to 26 June 1944	Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 14 March 1945
Western Caroline Islands operation Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands-Peleliu, 6 September to 14 October1944

Decommissioned, 28 June 1946 at Norfolk, VA.

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 18 July 1946, for disposal

Returned to American Export Lines, renamed SS Exermont

Sold, date unknown, renamed SS Bostonian

Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1958

Final Disposition, scrapped in 1971

USS Hercules earned five battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 5,150 t.(lt) 16,620 t.(fl)
Length 473' 1"
Beam 66'
Draft 27' 2"
Speed 17.7 kts.
Complement

Officers 23

Enlisted 175
Largest Boom Capacity 25 t.
Cargo Capacity 6,170 DWT

non-refrigerated 551,116 Cu Ft.
Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

eight single 40MM AA gun mounts
Fuel Capacity

NSFO 13,660 Bbls
Propulsion

one Bethlehem Shipbuilding steam turbine

two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 450psi 742°

double Falk Main Reduction Gears

three turbo-drive 150Kw 120V/240V D.C.

single propeller, 8,000shp

Size	Image Description	Source
87k	Aft starboard quarter view of *USS Hercules* (AK-41)** off San Francisco, 10 December 1942. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7674-12-42, 12/10/42.	Darryl Baker
99k	Broadside view of *USS Hercules* (AK-41)** off San Francisco, 10 December 1942. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, photo #19-N-39848 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Darryl Baker / Mike Green
94k	*USS Hercules* (AK-41)** off San Francisco, 10 December 1942. US Navy photo # 19-N-39847 from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.	US Naval Historical Center
56k	Bows on view of *USS Hercules* (AK-41) in the Mare Island channel, 27 September 1945. Hercules** under repairs at the yard from 22 June to 22 September 1945. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6689-45.	Darryl Baker
107k	Broadside view of *USS Hercules* (AK-41)** off Mare Island, 27 September 1945. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6691-45.	Darryl Baker
59k	Stern view of *USS Hercules* (AK-41)** off Mare Island, 27 September 1945. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6693-45.	Darryl Baker

USS Hercules (AK-41)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 11 February 2011