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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AK-70 Crater

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Tango - Xray
 NXTX
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 - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal
Crater Class Cargo Ship
  • Laid down, 28 August 1942, as SS John James Audubon, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE 420) at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard #2, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 8 October 1942
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 22 October 1942
  • Commissioned USS Crater (AK-70), 31 October 1942, LCDR. R. Dodd, USNR, in command
  • During World War II Cra4ter was assigned to the Asiatic=Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 25 June 1946
  • Transferred to the War Shipping Administration, 26 June 1947 for lay up in National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Group, Benecia, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 26 August 1974, at Suisun Bay, to Seangyong Trading Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 11,565 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 198
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    six single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Crater 71k Ex-Crater (AK-70) moored, probably in a breakers yard, date and place unknown. David Nixon
    View the Crater (AK-70)
    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 11 January 2008