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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Alnitah (AK-127)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Charlie - India
NHCI
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 - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 12 October 1943, as SS John A. Logan, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 451), at Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 14 January 1943
  • Delivered, 27 January 1942, to United States Lines under a GAA contract
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 8 October 1943, under a bare bottom charter at Los Angeles, CA.
  • Converted for Naval service at Los Angeles Shipbuilding Corp, San Pedro, CA.
  • Commissioned, USS Alnitah (AK-127), 27 November 1943, At San Pedro, CA., LCDR. Ernest J. Youngjohns, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Alnitah was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Alnitah was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    22 December 1945 to 4 February 1946
    23 February to 11 March 1946

  • Decommissioned, 11 March 1946, at Yokohama, Japan, and transferred to the War Shipping Administration representative at Yokohama the same day
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 March 1946
  • Laid up in reserve, 26 September 1947, at Astoria, OR.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 3 March 1961, (PD-X-598 W/77H) for $2,887, to Zidell Explorations Inc., at Astoria, OR. Physically delivered for dismantling,12 April 1961
    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 19
    Enlisted 290
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 58
    Enlisted 999
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Cargo Capacity 4,470 DWT
    non-refrigerated 231,565 Cu ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun, stern mount
    one single 3'/50 dual purpose gun, bow mount
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts, four each, port and starboard sides
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 7,285 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Machinery Corp. 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 Contributed
    By
    Alnitah 141k Alnitah (AK-127) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 84660. Courtesy of D.M. McPherson, 1976.    		 Mike Green
    USS Alnitah (AK-127)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Youngjohns Jr., Ernest James, USNR27 November 1943 - 11 March 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 26 March 2021