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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Cheleb (AK-138)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Echo - Romeo NHER

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal

Crater Class Cargo Ship

Laid down, 29 December 1942, as SS Lyman J. Gage, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE Hull 520) at Permanente Metals Corp. Yard No. 1, Richmond, CA.

Launched, 29 January 1943

Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 6 February 1943

Commissioned, USS Cheleb (AK-138), 1 January 1944, LT. Addison E. McKimmey, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Cheleb, was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Following World War II USS Cheleb was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 16 November 1945 to 2 April 1946

Decommissioned, 25 July 1946, at Pearl Harbor, T.H.

Cheleb was retained by the Navy and used in a special explosives test, before being returned to the Maritime Administration

Struck from the Naval Register, 22 May 1947

Returned to the Maritime Commission, 23 May 1947, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 27 March 1978, (PD-X-1026) to Levin Metals, Corp. for $111,653. Removed from the Reserve Fleet, 19 April 1978

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 234

Cargo Capacity 7,800 DWT

non-refrigerated 373,943 Cu ft

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 Combustion Engineering 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

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
113k	*USS Cheleb* (AK-138)** amidship looking aft while at Alameda, CA., 4 December 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8072-43.	Darryl Baker
58k	Stern view of *USS Cheleb* (AK-138)** off San Francisco, CA., 3 January 1944. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 90-44.	Darryl Baker
53k	Broadside view of *USS Cheleb* (AK-138)** off San Francisco, CA., 3 January 1944. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 92-44.	Darryl Baker
62k	Bow on view of *USS Cheleb* (AK-138)** off San Francisco, CA., 3 January 1944. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 94-44.	Darryl Baker

USS Cheleb (AK-138)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Commanding Officers
01	LT. McKimmey, Addison, E.	1 January 1944 - 3 January 1944
02	LCDR. Clark, Matthias S.	3 January 1944 - 8 February 1945
01	LCDR. McKimmey, Addison, E.	8 February 1945 - 25 July 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

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Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 11 July 2014