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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AK-121 Sabik

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 (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
Crater Class Cargo Ship
  • Laid down, 8 November 1943, as SS William Becknell, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2423) , at Todd-Houston Shipbuilding Corp., Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 17 December 1943
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 29 December 1943
  • Converted for Naval service at Todd-Johnson Dry Docks, Inc, New Orleans, LA.
  • Commissioned, USS Sabik (AK-121), 19 April 1944, Lt. Comdr. Harry Gorman in command
  • During WWII Sabik was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, Tacloban and Dulag, October and November 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, November 1944 to January 1945

  • Decommissioned, 19 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., named reverted to SS William Becknell
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 17 April 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 30 October 1961, to Union Minerals and Alloys Corp., New York, N.Y.
  • Sabik earned two battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 11,565 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 216
    Armament
    one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    two dual 40mm AA gun mounts
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950shp.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    LST-130 150k The stern of Sabik (AK-121) is visible forward of LST-130 at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 7 September 1945, while a covered lighter and ARD-11 is to the right.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6391-45.    		 Darryl Baker
    Sabik 156k Forward plan view of Sabik (AK-121) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 14 September 1945. Sabik was at the yard from 24 August to 21 September 1945.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6461-45.    		 Darryl Baker
    Sabik 138k Amidships looking aft plan view of Sabik (AK-121) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 14 September 1945.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6462-45.    		 Darryl Baker
    View the Sabik (AK-121)
    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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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 18 August 2006