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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Ascella (AK-137)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Delta - Bravo
 NHDB
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - 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, 7 January 1943, as SS George C. Yount, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 708), at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 4 February 1943
  • Delivered to American President Lines for operation
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 30 November 1943
  • Modified for Naval service at Matson Navigation Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Commissioned, USS Ascella (AK-137), 7 January 1944, at Hunters Point Navy Yard, San Francisco, CA., LCDR. Alexander Kusebauch, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Ascella (AK-137) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Ascella was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    17 September to 3 October 194531 December 1945 to 10 April 1946

  • Decommissioned, 13 August 1946, at Pearl Harbor, T.H.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 22 May 1947, returned to the Maritime Commission, name reverted to SS George C. Yount
  • Laid up, 28 May 1947, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 7 July 1964, (PD-X-670) for $49,653.18 to National Metal & Steel Corp. Removed from the Reserve Fleet, 27 July 1964.
    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 21
    Enlisted 180
    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 Joshua-Hendy vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Western Pipe & Steel 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
    Ascella 69k Bows on view of USS Ascella (AK-137) off San Francisco, CA., 13 January 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 272-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ascella 68k Broadside view of USS Ascella (AK-137) off San Francisco, CA., 13 January 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 274-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ascella 73k Stern view of USS Ascella (AK-137) off San Francisco, CA., 13 January 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 276-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ascella 69k Aft plan view of USS Ascella (AK-137) at San Francisco, CA., 15 January 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 351-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Ascella 87k Panoramic view of the officers and crew of USS Ascella (AK-137) at Auckland, New Zealand, circa 1944.
    US Navy Photo # UA571.51    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Ascella 42k USS Ascella (AK-137) at anchored with an unidentified ship alongside, 19 January 1946, on the Yangtze River, Shanghai, China. Robert Allerton USS LST-1040
    USS Ascella (AK-137)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Kusebauch, Alexander USNR7 January 1944 - 1 July 1945
    02LT. Blee, James Benjamin, USNR1 July 1945 - 1 September 1945
    03LT. Middleton, Richard B., USNR1 September 1945 - 1 November 1945
    04LT. Bell, Warren S., USNR1 November 1945 - 13 August 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 15 June 2018