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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Leonis (AK-128)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Delta - Zulu
 NHDZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, in 1943, as SS Key Pittman, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 512) at Poole, McGonigle & Jennings, Portland, OR.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 6 October 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Leonis (AK-128), 25 October 1943, LCDR. A. J. Barkowsky in command
  • During World War II USS Leonis was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 20 June to 3 July 1944     		Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 6 September to 14 November 1944

  • Decommissioned, 5 December 1945, at Baltimore, MD.
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 9 December 1945, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., name reverted to SS Key Pittman
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Sold for scrapping, 29 April 1966, to Universal Salvage Corp., canceled because of default in payment, returned to the James River Reserve Fleet, August 1966
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 21 November 1967, to North American Smelting Co.
  • USS Leonis received two battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 29
    Enlisted 190
    Cargo Capacity non-refrigerated 408,312 Cu. ft. 7,800DWT
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 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 Ironworks 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.
    one propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Leonis 96k USS Leonis (AK-128) underway with the assistance of a tug, near Portland, OR., circa October 1943. David Nixon
    USS Leonis (AK-128)
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 27 May 2011