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

USS Bootes (AK-99)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Tango - Papa NJTP

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 (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal

Crater Class Cargo Ship

Laid down, 24 April 1943, as SS Thomas Oliver Larkin, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1656), at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, CA.

Launched, 16 May 1943

Acquired by the US Navy, 29 May 1943

Commissioned, USS Bootes (AK-99), 5 July 1943, LCDR. Howard P. Bacon, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Bootes was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates
Hollandia operation, 21 April to 1 May 1944

Decommissioned, 22 April 1946, at Pearl Harbor, T.H.

Towed to San Francisco, in the spring of 1947

Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 11 September 1947, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., name reverted to SS Thomas Oliver Larkin

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 August 1947

Final Disposition, scrapped in 1973

USS Bootes received one battle star for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
Length 441' 6"
Beam 56' 11"
Draft 28' 4"
Speed 12.5 kts.
Complement

Officers 21

Enlisted 183
Cargo Capacity 7,750 DWT

non-refrigerated 411,750 Cu ft
Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
Armament

one single 5"/51 cal surface gun mount

one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 40mm AA gun mounts

six single 20mm AA gun mounts
Fuel Capacity

NFSO 7,285 Bbls
Propulsion

one Joshua-Hendy. vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine

two Babcock and Wilcox 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

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
123k	Amidships looking aft plan view of *USS Bootes* (AK-99)** at Alameda, CA., 4 December 1943. Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 8076-43.	Darryl Baker
121k	Amidships looking forward plan view of *USS Bootes* (AK-99)** at Alameda, CA., 4 December 1943. Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 8076-43.	Darryl Baker
66k	Stern view of *USS Bootes* (AK-99)** off San Francisco, CA., 10 December 1943. Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 8261-43.	Darryl Baker
69k	Broadside view of *USS Bootes* (AK-99)** off San Francisco, CA., 10 December 1943. Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 8076-43.	Darryl Baker
89k	Bows on view of *USS Bootes* (AK-99)** off San Francisco, CA., 10 December 1943. Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 8076-43.	Darryl Baker
94k	*USS Bootes* (AK-99)** off San Francisco, CA., 10 December 1943. US National Archives Record Group RG-19-LCM photo # 19-N-57818, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Mike Green

USS Bootes (AK-99)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command

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

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

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

Last Updated 15 April 2011