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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Rotanin (AK-108)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Tango - Whiskey
 NTTW
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 - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 24 July 1943, as SS William Kelly, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1872), at California Shipbuilding Corp., Terminal Island, CA.
  • Launched, 18 August 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Rotanin (AK-108), 23 November 1943, LT. William L. Howard, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Rotanin was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 21 to 31 May 1945

  • Following World War II USS Rotanin was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 9 November to 15 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 5 April 1946
  • Delivered, 5 April 1946 to the Maritime Commissions National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. for disposal
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 17 April 1946
  • USS Rotanin earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 29 April 1966, to Nicolai Joffe Corp., removed 5 May 1966, scrapping completed by National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.(NASSCO), Terminal Island, CA., 30 August 1966
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 12,350 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.8 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 16
    Enlisted 190
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 74
    Enlisted 999
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Cargo Capacity 4,470 DWT
    non-refrigerated 272,146 Cu ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four 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 Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 220psi 450°
    three turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Rotanin 101k USS Rotanin (AK-108) anchored at San Pedro in early 1946. Kyle W. Wheeler for his father Kenneth H Wheeler SC/1c USS Rotanin
    Rotanin 168k USS Rotanin (AK-108)'s mascot, Pete, the cross-eyed Siamese cat. Kyle W. Wheeler for his father Kenneth H Wheeler SC/1c USS Rotanin
    Rotanin 94k USS Rotanin (AK-108) sailors relaxing during an afternoon smoker at sea. Kyle W. Wheeler for his father Kenneth H Wheeler SC/1c USS Rotanin
    Rotanin 124k USS Rotanin (AK-108) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 84612. Courtesy of D.M. McPherson, 1976.    		 Mike Green
    Rotanin 85k USS Rotanin (AK-108) anchored in the harbor at Jinsen, Korea, date unknown. Kyle W. Wheeler for his father Kenneth H Wheeler SC/1c USS Rotanin
    Rotanin 171k USS Rotanin (AK-108) underway in harbor with the assistance of tugs, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Jim Kurrasch
    Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
    USS Rotanin (AK-108)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Howard, William L. USNR23 November 1943 - 16 March 1944
    02LCDR. Blain, John Bernard, USNR16 March 1944 - 13 March 1945
    03LCDR. Lehleitner, George Howard, USNR13 March 1945 - 5 April 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 6 September 2019