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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Ara (AK-136)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Echo - November
NHEN
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 (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal


Crater Class Cargo Ship
  • Laid down, 17 July 1941, as SS Daniel Boone, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 69) at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 14 January 1942
  • Completed and delivered, 15 April 1942, to the War Shipping Administration for operation under GAA contract by American Hawaiian SS Co.
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 3 December 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Ara (AK-136), 4 January 1944, LCDR. William B. Hudgins in command
  • During World War II USS Ara (AK-136) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 27 July to 15 August 1944

  • Decommissioned, 26 November 1945, at Norfolk, VA. and returned to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., name reverted to SS Daniel Boone
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 5 December 1945
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 26 October 1971, removed from the Reserve Fleet anchorage, 6 January 1972, for delivery to Hierros Ardes S. A. Spain
  • USS Ara earned one battle star 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.
    Complement
    Officers 13
    Enlisted 212
    Cargo Capacity
    non-refrigerated 420,277 Cu. ft. 7,800DWT
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    six single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    NSFO 9,660 Bbls
    Diesel 2,010 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Machine Corp. 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 Daniel Boone (MCE hull 69)
    Ara 99k SS Daniel Boone at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, CA., after launching on 14 January 1942. David Nixon
    USS Ara (AK-136)
    Ara 65k Stern view of USS Ara (AK-136) off San Francisco, CA., 11 January 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 267-44.
    Darryl Baker
    Ara 71k Broadside view of USS Ara (AK-136) off San Francisco, CA., 11 January 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 269-44.
    Darryl Baker
    Ara 81k USS Ara (AK-136) off San Francisco, CA., 11 January 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 270-44, now in the collections of the NARA San Francisco, Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files.
    Tracy White
    Ara 75k Bow on view of USS Ara (AK-136) off San Francisco, CA., 11 January 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 271-44.
    Darryl Baker

    USS Ara (AK-136)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Hudgins, William B.4 January 1944 - 1 June 1945
    02LT. Jacobs, William H.1 June 1945 - 26 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
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    Last Updated 16 September 2013