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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AK-101 Lyra

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 25 April 1943, as SS Cyrus Hamlin, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE 1555) at Permanente Metal Corp., Yard No. 1, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 28 May 1943
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 10 June 1943
  • Converted for Naval service at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Commissioned, USS Lyra (AK-101), 22 July 1943, LCDR. J. H. Henderson in command
  • Decommissioned, 3 May 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 8 May 1946, for disposal, name reverted to SS Cyrus Hamlin
  • Final Disposition, sold by the Maritime Commission in 1947 to A. G. Pappadakis of Piraeus Greece, renamed SS Virginia
  • Sold in 1951 to Freighters & Tankers Agency Corp, New York, name retained
  • Sold in 1953 to J. J. Culucundis, Piraeus and Freighters & Tankers Agency Corp, New York, name retained.
  • Sold in 1954 to J. J. Culucundis, Piraeus and A G Pappadakis & Co Ltd, London, name retained.
  • Sold in 1964 to Amedeo - Marfrontera Cia Nav. SA, Panama RP - Greek flag, (managed Carpanayoti & Co Ltd, London)
  • Sold to Taiwan breakers, arrived Kaohsiung 3 April 1967
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,250 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 27' 7"
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 206
    Armament
    one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    eight 20mm guns
    Propulsion Joshua Hendy reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950shp
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    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Lyra (AK-101)
    Lyra 74k Lyra (AK-101) (aft plan view) moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA., 12 June 1943 before being converted for Naval Service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4326-43, 6/12/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 66k Lyra (AK-101) (forward plan view) moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA., 12 June 1943 before being converted for Naval Service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4327-43, 6/12/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 84k Lyra (AK-101) (aft plan view) moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA., 28 July 1943 after conversion for Naval Service. Circled items are alterations made to make Lyra suitable for Naval Service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5438-43, 7/28/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 110k Lyra (AK-101) (amidship and aft plan view) moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA., 28 July 1943 after conversion for Naval Service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5441-43, 7/28/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 69k Lyra (AK-101) (stern view) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, 4 August 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5667-43, 8/4/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 74k Lyra (AK-101) (broadside view) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, 4 August 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5669-43, 8/4/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 76k Lyra (AK-101) (bows on view) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, 4 August 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5671-43, 8/4/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 94k Lyra (AK-101) (stern view) off San Francisco, 11 December 1943
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8226-43, 11/124/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 72k Lyra (AK-101) (bows on view) off San Francisco, 11 December 1943
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8230-43, 11/124/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Commercial Service
    Lyra 53k ex-Lyra (AK-101) in commercial service as the Greek flagged SS Virginia underway, date unknown. David Nixon
    View the Lyra (AK-101)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    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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    The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 17 March 2006