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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AK-47 Aquila

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Zulu - November
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal
  • Laid down in 1936 as MV Tunis at Heslinger Shipbuilding Co., Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Launched in 1936
  • Laid up at New York in April 1940
  • Taken over by the Maritime Commission by Executive Order, from her owners, A/S Helsingors Jernskibs-og Maskinbyggeri, Helsingor, 6 June 1941
  • Chartered to Marine Operating Co, Inc., renamed MV Aquila, Panama flagged, 21 July 1941.
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission 11 August 1941, at New York
  • Commissioned, USS Aquila (AK-47), 24 October 1941, LCDR. Samuel S. Fried in command
  • Decommissioned, 9 October 1945, at Norfolk, VA. and returned to the Maritime Service the same day for disposal
  • Charter by Alcoa Steam Ship Co., at Portsmouth, VA., 9 October 1945, renamed MV Bonanza
  • Returned to her owners DFDS, Denmark, 25 June 1946 in accordance with Public Law 101, renamed MV Tunis
  • Sold in 1966, renamed MV Maria T
  • Sold in 1972, renamed MV Mathios
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in Greece in 1978
    Specifications:
    Displacement2,054 t.
    Length 288' 1"
    Beam 40' 6"
    Draft 18' 4"
    Speed 12.5kts.
    Complement 156
    Armament two 3"guns
    Propulsion diesel, single screw
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USS Aquila (AK-47)
    Aquila 31k Aquila (AK-47) underway, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Aquila 32k Aquila (AK-47) underway off Boston, 4 August 1942.
    US Navy photo # NH 92646 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Commercial Service
    Aquila 62k Ex-Aquila (AK-47) underway for DFDS, Denmark as SS Tunis David Nixon
    View the Aquila (AK-47)
    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 3 August 2007