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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Phobos (AK-129)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Charlie - Mike
 NHCM
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, 25 September 1943, as SS Joseph H. Kibbey, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE 1961) at Todd-Houston Shipbuilding Corp., Houston, TX.
  • Launched, 6 November 1943
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 17 November 1943, for operation under a GAA agreement by American Export Lines, Inc.
  • Converted for Naval service at Todd-Johnson Dry Docks, Inc., New Orleans, LA.
  • Commissioned, USS Phobos (AK-129), 12 June 1944, at Algiers, LA., LCDR. Edgar R. Winckler, USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Phobos was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Phobos was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 22 October to 15 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 22 March 1946, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 17 April 1946
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 17 January 1947, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 20 February 1970, by Union Minerals and Alloys Corp. Physically delivered for dismantling at Oakland CA., 26 May 1970. Dismantling completed, 2 October 1970
    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 and Troop Accommodations
    Officers 72
    Enlisted 260
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Cargo Capacity 4,430 DWT
    non-refrigerated 118,346 Cu ft.
    Armament
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve 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 turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Phobos 111k Phobos (AK-129) at anchor in the Mississippi River near New Orleans, LA., circa 20 June 1944. A troop carrier, this ship was the only one of this class converted by the War Shipping Administration instead of the Navy. Note the platform on the bow for two 40 mm guns side by side, and the numerous minor differences in configuration compared to her sisters.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # 19-N-68104 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the US Naval History and Heritage Command collection, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Phobos 62k Phobos (AK-129) riding at anchor in the south anchorage at Ulithi Atoll during the Okinawa Gunto campaign, spring/summer 1945. George Raitt for his father Charlie Raitt SM3/c USS Phobos 1945-46
    Phobos 92k USS Phobos (AK-129) at anchor in San Francisco Bay circa January 1946. A troop carrier, this ship was the only one of this class converted by the War Shipping Administration instead of the Navy. Note the platform, now empty, on the bow for two 40mm gun mounts side by side, and the numerous minor differences in configuration compared to her sisters.
    US Navy photo # NH 83236 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.    		 Mike Green
    USS Phobos (AK-129)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Winckler, Edgar Ross, USNR12 June 1944 - 22 March 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    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
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    Last Updated 11 July 2014