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 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, 21 November 1942, as SS Key Pittman, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 512) at Kaiser Permanente Yard No. 1, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 6 October 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Leonis (AK-128), 25 October 1943, LCDR. Anthony J. Barkowsky, USNR 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, 15 December 1946
  • 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, 2 November 1967, to North American Smelting Co., removed, 21 November 1967. scrapping completed, 17 November 1968
  • USS Leonis earned 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. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 18
    Enlisted 216
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Cargo Capacity 4,800 DWT
    non-refrigerated 408,312 Cu ft.
    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 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
    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)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Barkowsky, Anthony James, USNR25 October 1943 - 5 December 1945
    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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 July 2014