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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Alcona (AK-157)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Foxtrot - Hotel
 NEFH
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 - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal
Alamosa Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 27 November 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2102), at Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 9 May 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy, 15 September 1944 and Commissioned USS Alcona (AK-157) the same day, LT. Lester J. Lavine, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Alcona was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 6 May 1955, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston S.C.
  • Laid up in reserve Charleston Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 April 1960, remained in the Charleston Group until sold
  • Title passed to the Maritime Commission, 28 July 1960
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 28 July 1960, (PD-X-583) to Hugo Neu Steel Products. Dismantling completed, 31 October 1961
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 8"
    Beam 50'
    Draft 21' 1"
    Speed 11.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 15
    Enlisted 70
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity 3,945 DWT
    refrigerated 9,830 Cu ft
    non-refrigerated 227,730 Cu ft
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    six single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 6,300 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Nordberg Diesel, TSM 6 engine
    two Diesel-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,750shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Alcona 86k A post-war image of USS Alcona (AK-157) under way, date and location unknown. Note her armament has been removed.
    US Navy photo    		 Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Alcona 140k USS Alcona (AK-157) under way in harbor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    USS Alcona (AK-157)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Lavine, Lester J., USNR15 September 1944 - December 1945
    02LT. Foust, Hubert, USNRDecember 1945 - January 1946
    02LCDR. Byington, Horace D., USNRJanuary 1946 - 8 May 1946
    03CAPT. Esslinger, Robert John, USN (USNA 1930) :RADM8 May 1946 - ?
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 5 April 2019