Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Lost to enemy action, 23 June 1943

USS Deimos (AK-78)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Oscar - Victor
 NYOV


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - 23 June 1943)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Crater Class Cargo Ship
  • Laid down, 27 November 1942, as SS Chief Ouray, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MCE hull 513) at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No. 1, Richmond, CA.; Launched, 28 December 1942
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 7 January 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Deimos (AK-78), 23 January 1943, LCDR. Walter L. Sorenson, USNR, in command
  • During World War II Deimos was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Consolidation of Solomon Islands
    Consolidation of southern Solomons, 15 June 1943

  • Severely damaged by Japanese torpedo attack, 23 June 1943, off Guadalcanal
  • Final Disposition, abandoned and sunk by gun fire from USS O'Bannon (DD-450), at 11°26' S., 162°01'E.
  • USS Deimos received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,250 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.5 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 21
    Enlisted 189
    Troop Accommodation
    Officers 52
    Enlisted 991
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Cargo Capacity 7,500 DWT
    non-refrigerated 400,000 Cu ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    six single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    NSFO 7,285 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Joshua-Hendy vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 220psi 450°
    Ship's Service Generators
     three recip-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
     one turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Deimos 76k Broadside view of USS Deimos (AK-78) underway off San Francisco, 26 January 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 732-1-43, 1/26/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    USS Deimos (AK-78)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Sorenson, Walter Louis23 January 1943 - 23 June 1943
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 6 September 2013