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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Grainger (AK-184)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Lima - Uniform
 NELU
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 Medal 9with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (2) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Alamosa Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down in 1944 as a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2115), at Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc., Superior, WI.
  • Launched, 7 May 1944 Completed, 23 December 1944
  • Commissioned USS Grainger (AK-184), 26 January 1945, LT. Henry J. Johnson, USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Grainger was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 25 July 1946, at Seattle, WA.
  • Returned to the War Shipping Administration, 26 July 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 August 1946
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 9 May 1947
  • Recommissioned, 12 June 1947, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., LCDR. Ralph E. Deckwa, USN, in command
  • During the Korean War USS Grainger participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    8 September to 9 October 1950     		Inchon Landing
    16 to 17 September 1950

  • During the Korean War USS Grainger was assigned to China service from 15 to 18 January 1954
  • Decommissioned, 7 February 1956, at Long Beach, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego, Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 April 1960
  • USS Grainger earned two battle stars for Korean service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in Japan, 17 October 1960, to The Learner Co. (PD-X-588) for $51,000.00
  • Title transfer to the Maritime Administration, 14 December 1960
  • Withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet, 14 December 1960
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 6"
    Beam 50'
    Draft 29' 2" (limiting)
    Speed 11.5 kts.
    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, 1,750shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Grainger
    0913018404    		 211k Christening and launching of Grainger (AK-184), 7 May 1944, by Mrs. Carl Bong, at Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc., Superior, WI.
    Walter Butler Shipbuilders, Inc. photo    		 Dale Hargrave
    Grainger 478k USS Grainger (AK-184) underway near her builders yard at Superior, WI. in the Great Lakes during sea trials in January-February 1945. Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Grainger 105k USS Grainger (AK-184) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 78565    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Grainger 209k Overhead view of USS Grainger (AK-184) under way, circa late 1940s, location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 89486    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Grainger (AK-184)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Johnson, Henry J., USNR26 January 1945 - 1 October 1945
    02LT. Rorie, Kenneth G., USNR1 October 1945 - 25 July 1946
     Decommissioned25 July 1946 - 12 June 1947
    03LCDR. Deckwa, Ralph Emerson USN12 June 1947 - ?
    04CDR. Hesson, J. F.1953
    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
    USS Grainger (AK-184) War Diary March to November 1945
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 16 December 2022