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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Faribault (AK-179)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Kilo - Kilo
 NEKK
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 - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Nation Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (2) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korean War Service Medal
Alamosa Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down in 1944 as a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2375) at Kaiser Cargo Inc., Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 24 February 1945
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 20 April 1945, and commissioned USS Faribault (AK-179), the same day, LCDR. Claude O. Fulgham, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Faribault (AK-179) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Faribault was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 22 October to 14 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, 10 July 1946, at Seattle, WA.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 11 July 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA. Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Reacquired by the US Navy, 16 May 1947
  • Recommissioned, 26 June 1947, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.
  • During the Korean War USS Faribault (AK-179) participated in the following campaigns

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Third Korean Winter
    11 to 12 December 1952
    6 to 8 and 15 to 18 January 1953
    1 to 2 February 1953
    7 to 8 March 1953     		Korean Summer-Fall 1953
    24 to 26 May 1953

  • During the Korean War USS Faribault was assigned to China service from 19 to 23 February 1953
  • Decommissioned, 20 July 1956
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration, 14 December 1960
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in Japan, 17 October 1960, to The Learner Co. (MARAD sale PD-X-588. dated 12 October 1960) for $51,000.00
  • USS Faribault earned two battle stars for Korean War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 6"
    Beam 50'
    Draft 21' 1"
    Speed 11.5kts
    Complement
    Officers 15
    Enlisted 70
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity 3,945 DWT
    non-refrigerated 227,730 Cu. ft.
    refrigerated 9,830 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 TSM6 engine
    two Diesel-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,700shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Faribault 117k USS Faribault (AK-179) underway at Pearl Harbor, 18 November 1953.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command (UA-156a), Photo No. Unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Faribault
    0913017903    		 446k USS Faribault (AK-179) underway circa 1947-1956, location unknown.
    Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum    		 Darryl Baker
    Faribault 79k USS Faribault (AK-179), left, and USS Karen (AF-33), right, at anchor in Along Bay, North Vietnam during operation "Passage to Freedom," while evacuating Catholics refugees from the North to South Vietnam in 1955.
    Photo courtesy Ernie Showalter USS Faribault    		 Andre Pilon
    USS Faribault (AK-179)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Fulgham, Claude Owen, USNR24 April 1945 - 24 September 1945
    01LT. Eriewine, Joseph David, USNR24 September 1945 - 24 January 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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 22 September 2023