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 Venus (AK-135)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Charlie - Xray
NHCX
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive SS William Williams, 2 May 1943) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal


Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 5 July 1942, as SS William Williams, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 263), at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No. 2, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 21 August 1942
  • Delivered to Isthmian Steamship Lines, 8 September 1942 for operation under contract to the War Shipping Administration
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 6 November 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Venus (AK-135), 10 November 1943, LCDR. George H. L. Peet in command
  • During World War II USS Venus was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 4 December 1943, at Auckland, N.Z. and placed in service the same day
  • Recommissioned, 26 September 1944, at Auckland
  • Decommissioned, 18 April 1946, at Pearl Harbor, T.H.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 February 1948
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 27 February 1948, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 18 April 1961, to Union Minerals and Alloys Corp. (PD-X-600) for $59,339.89, lump sum for group of EC-2's. Removed from the Reserve Fleet, 21 August 1961. Dismantling at Oakland, CA. completed, 21 October 1961.
  • USS Venus earned one battle star for World War II service as SS William Williams

    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
    SS William Williams
    Venus 110k SS William Williams launching at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No. 2, Richmond, CA., 21 August 1942. David Nixon
    USS Venus (AK-135)
    Venus 117k USS Venus (AK-135) pierside at Sydney, Australia, 4 June 1945. Danny Joe Kendrick for his Father Joe "Bill" William Kendrick, S1/c USS Venus
    Venus 149k Reverse side of above photo with USS Venus (AK-135) crew member names. Danny Joe Kendrick for his Father Joe "Bill" William Kendrick, S1/c USS Venus
    Venus 93k USS Venus (AK-135) pierside loading cargo at Sydney, Australia, 4 June 1945. Danny Joe Kendrick for his Father Joe "Bill" William Kendrick, S1/c USS Venus

    USS Venus (AK-135)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Peet, George H. L.10 November 1943 - 4 December 1943
     Decommissioned4 December 1943 - 26 September 1944
    01LCDR. Peet, George H. L.26 September 1944 - 18 April 1946
    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 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 11 July 2014