Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Azimech (AK-124)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Delta - Victor
 NHDV
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down as SS Mary Patten, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1725), at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No. 2, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 11 August 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 7 October 1943
  • Converted for Naval service at Moore Drydock Co, Oakland, CA.
  • Commissioned USS Azimech (AK-124), 29 October 1943, LCDR. Earl P. Gaither, USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Azimech (AK-124) 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, 18 April to 19 May 1945

  • Decommissioned, 11 December 1945, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 3 January 1946
  • USS Azimech earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 14 December 1945, at the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., name reverted to SS Mary Patten
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 12 September 1972 to Isaac Verela for scrapping in Spain, removed, 8 December 1972
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 27' 7"
    Speed 12.5 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 15
    Enlisted 190
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    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 Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 220psi 450°
    Ship's Service Generators
     three recip-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
     one turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USS Azimech (AK-124)
    Azimech 96k SS Mary Patten (plan view - amidships looking forward) before conversion to US Naval service at Moore Drydock, Oakland, CA., 9 October 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7026-43, 10/9/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Azimech 107k SS Mary Patten (plan view - amidships looking aft) before conversion to US Naval service at Moore Drydock, Oakland, CA., 9 October 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7028-43, 10/9/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Azimech 85k USS Azimech (AK-124) (plan view - amidships looking forward) moored pierside at San Francisco after conversion to US Naval Service, 3 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7440-43, 11/3/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Azimech 97k USS Azimech (AK-124) (plan view - amidships looking aft) moored pierside at San Francisco after conversion to US Naval Service, 3 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7441-43, 11/3/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Azimech 67k USS Azimech (AK-124) (bows on view) underway off San Francisco, 3 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7442-43, 11/3/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Azimech 68k USS Azimech (AK-124) (broadside view) underway off San Francisco, 3 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7443-43, 11/3/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Azimech 47k USS Azimech (AK-124) (stern view) underway off San Francisco, 3 November 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7475-43, 11/3/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Azimech 104k USS Azimech (AK-124) underway in San Francisco Bay, 3 November 1943, soon after conversion. This was one of four ships of this class converted with an old 4"/50 gun aft. This low-angle weapon is noticeably smaller than the old, low-angle 5"/51 and 5"/50 guns mounted in some sisters.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo No. unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    National Defense Reserve Fleet
    Azimech 272k Ex-USS Azimech (AK-124) renamed SS Mary Patten laid up in the James River Reserve Fleet, circa June 1971.
    @copy L. van Ginderen collection.    		 Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Azimech 141k SS Mary Patten, ex-USS Azimech (AK-124), ready for departure from the James River Reserve Fleet to Castellon, Spain for scrapping, September 1972. David Nixon
    USS Azimech (AK-124)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Gaither, Earl Paul, USNRUSNR29 October 1943 - 11 December 1945
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 17 January 2020