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 Syrma (AK-134)


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

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 10 January 1944, as SS Andres Almonaster, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 2455), at Delta Shipbuilding Co., Inc., New Orleans, LA.
  • Launched, 19 February 1944
  • Converted to Naval service at Todd-Galveston Drydock Co., Galveston, TX.
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 20 March 1944
  • Commissioned, USS Syrma (AK-134), 3 August 1944, CDR. Niles E. Lanphere in command
  • During World War II USS Syrma was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 8 January 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 11 January 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 21 January 1946
  • Merchant Service
    Sold to Fordham Trading Corp., 6 January 1948, renamed SS San Jorge
    Renamed SS St. John in 1954
    Final Disposition, scrapped in 1968 at Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China
    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 18
    Enlisted 208
    Largest Boom Capacity 37 t.
    Cargo Capacity 7,800 DWT
    non-refrigerated 417,791 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 American Ship Building vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 220psi 450°
    Ships Service Generators
    three reciprocating-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
    USS Syrma (AK-134)
    Syrma 62k USS Syrma (AK-134) underway, date and location unknown. This photo is probably a stock photo used by the builder for various document covers such as launching and commissioning brochures. John Noce for his father Dominic Joseph Noce WT3/c USS Syrma
    Syrma 41k USS Syrma (AK-134) at anchor at Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, circa 28-29 May 1945. John Noce for his father Dominic Joseph Noce WT3/c USS Syrma
    Syrma 37k USS Syrma (AK-134) moored to a buoy at Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands, circa 1 July to 12 August 1945. John Noce for his father Dominic Joseph Noce WT3/c USS Syrma
    Merchant Service
    Syrma 293k Ex-USS Syrma (AK-134) in merchant service as SS San Jorge approaching Vancouver B.C., early 1950s.
    Photo ©Alex Duncan (deceased).    		 Gerhard Mueller-Debus

    For more photos and information about USS Syrma, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • Ship's History
  • Crew Photos and Miscellaneous
    • Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Lanphere, Niles Edward3 August 1944 - 4 September 1945
    02LCDR. Letteau, George M.4 September 1945 - 8 January 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page 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 16 September 2013