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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Propus (AK-132)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Echo - Hotel
 NHEH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 31 January 1944, as SS Frederick Tresca a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 2471), at St. Johns River Shipbuilding Corp., Jacksonville, FL.
  • Launched, 29 March 1944
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 10 April 1944
  • Converted for Naval service at Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock Co., Jacksonville, FL.
  • Commissioned, USS Propus (AK-132), 22 June 1944, LCDR. Harvey A. Seeley in command.
  • During World War II USS Propus was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 20 November 1945, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Returned to the War Shipping Administration, 21 November 1945, for disposal, name reverted to SS Frederick Tresca
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 5 December 1945
  • Merchant Service
    Sold for commercial service by the Maritime Commission, 17 March 1947, to Nicolas G. Nicolaou, Athens, renamed SS Nicolaou Georgios, reflagged Greek
    Abandoned, 24 May 1951 because of fire in the Red Sea while bound from Dairen to Trieste with a cargo of maize
    Towed to Suez by SS Montelbello Hills, declared a total loss
    Sold in 1951 to Achille Lauro, Naples, towed to Italy repaired and re-engined at Trieste 1952 with 3000bhp B. & W. Diesel built by Harland & Wolfe, Belfast in 1940, speed 11.5 kts, renamed SS Gabbiano, reflagged Italian
    Final Disposition, sold to Italian breakers, arrived Spezia 12 September 1969
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 27' 7"
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 18
    Enlisted 208
    Largest Boom Capacity 37 t.
    Cargo Capacity 7,800 DWT
    non-refrigerated 430,111 Cu ft
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 9,660 Bbls
    Diesel 2,010 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Machinery vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 220psi 450°
    Ship's Service Generators
    one turbo-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    two recip-drive 60 Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Houston 152k Ex-USS Propus (AK-132) underway as the Achille Lauro company's SS Gabbiano, date and location unknown. David Nixon
    USS Propus (AK-132)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Seeley, Harvey A.22 June 1944 - 10 October 1945
    02LT.(SC) Nelson, Carl Edward, USN (OinC Decom Crew)10 October 1945 - 20 November 1945 -
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 July 2014