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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Alkes (AK-110)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Tango - Alpha
 NKTA
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 10 June 1943, as SS Increase A. Lapham, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1584), at Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 29 June 1943
  • Delivered to the War Shipping Administration, 16 July 1943, operated under a GAA agreement by Alaska Packers Association
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 5 October 1943
  • Converted for Naval service at Huley Marine Works, Oakland, CA.
  • Commissioned, USS Alkes (AK-110), 29 October 1943, at Oakland, CA., CDR. William H. Wight in command
  • During World War II USS Alkes was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Mojuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 28 May to 30 June 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 8 to 10 August 1944     		 

  • Decommissioned, 20 February 1946, at Baltimore, MD.
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 27 February 1946, name reverted to SS Increase A. Lapham
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 12 March 1946
  • USS Alkes earned three battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 26 October 1971, to Hierros Ardes S. A., Bilbao, Spain
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.5 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 16
    Enlisted 190
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Cargo Capacity 7,750 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 Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 220psi 450°
    Ship's Service Generators
     one turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
     three recip-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Alkes 78k USS Alkes (AK-110) (broadside view) off San Francisco, 2 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7443-43, 11/2/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Alkes 80k USS Alkes (AK-110) (forward plan view) moored pierside at San Francisco, 2 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7469-43, 11/2/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Alkes 74k USS Alkes (AK-110) (aft plan view) moored pierside at San Francisco, 2 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7470-43, 11/2/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Alkes 309k USS Alkes (AK-110) underway in San Francisco Bay, date unknown. Note the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in the background.
    US Navy Bureau of Ships photo.    		 Ed Zajkowski
    Alkes 46k USS Alkes (AK-110) in San Francisco Bay, date unknown. Note the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the tip of Yerba Buena Island in the background.
    US Navy photo.    		 Russ Padden
    USS Alkes (AK-110)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Wight, William Henry, USNR29 October 1943 - 31 January 1943
    02LCDR. Wickman, Charles Lorraine, USN Ret.31 January 1943 - 20 February 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 8 November 2013