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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Zaurak (AK-117)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Charlie - Foxtrot NTCF

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - Leyte operation)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)

Crater Class Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 7 October 1943, as SS Hugh Young, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1964), at Todd Houston Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX.

Launched, 18 November 1943

Acquired by the US Navy, 27 November 1943

Moved to Todd Johnson Shipyard, New Orleans, LA., for conversion to a Navy cargo ship

Commissioned, USS Zaurak (AK-117), 17 March 1944, LCDR. John S. Kapuscinski, USNR, in command.

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

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaign**
Campaign and Dates
Leyte operation Leyte landings, 29 October to 8 November 1944

Decommissioned, 12 March 1946, at San Francisco, CA.

Delivered to the Maritime Commission the same day for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 26 March 1946

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 19 June 1963, to Union Minerals and Alloy Co.

USS Zaurak earned one battle star for service in World War II

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 46

Enlisted 1018
Largest Boom Capacity 37 t.
Cargo Capacity 4,520 DWT

non-refrigerated 417,330 Cu ft.
Armament

one single 5"/38 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 Filer and Stowell vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engine

two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 220psi 450°

three turbo-drive 60Kw 120 V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller, 2,500shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	95k	*USS Zaurak* (AK-117)** moored midstream, date and location unknown.		David Nixon
	48k	Sketch by Cressy of *USS Zaurak* (AK-117)** underway.		Russ Padden

USS Zaurak (AK-117)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command

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

Last Updated 1 April 2011