Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Altair (AKS-32)
ex
 USS Altair (AK-257) (1952 - 1953)
 SS Aberdeen Victory (1944 - 1952)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Echo - Quebec
SS Aberdeen Victory Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1-Okinawa) - World War II Victory Medal
USS Altair Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba)
Greenville Victory Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 20 April 1944, as SS Aberdeen Victory, a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 110), at Oregon Shipbuilding Corp, Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 30 May 1944
  • Completed, 22 June 1944
  • Contracted to Waterman Steamship Co.
  • During World War II SS Aberdeen Victory was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, circa 1945-1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Transferred to the US Navy, 7 July 1951
  • Commissioned Cargo Ship USS Altair (AK-257), 31 January 1952, at Baltimore, MD.
  • Decommissioned, 5 January 1953, at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA., for conversion to a General Stores Issue Ship

    Antares Class General Stores Issue Ship
  • Converted at Maryland Drydock Co., Baltimore, MD.
  • Recommissioned, USS Altair (AKS-32), 15 December, 1953, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Decommissioned, 2 May 1969, at Portsmouth, VA.
  • Custody transferred to MARAD, 1 May 1973, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1973
  • Title transfer to MARAD, 1 September 1971
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 31 January 1975, to Luria Brothers & Co., Philadelphia, PA.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,960 t.
    Length 455' 3"
    Beam 62'
    Draft 28' 6"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 250
    Armament two twin 40mm gun mounts
    Propulsion steam turbine, single shaft, 8500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Altair 82k USS Altair (AKS-32) moored at Naples Italy, late-May 1962. Photo by Jack C. Sofield
    Altair 72k USS Altair (AKS-32) underway in the Mediterranean Sea.
    US Naval Support Activity, Naples Italy photo from the 16 August 1963 edition of station newspaper "Panorama".    		 Michael F Troiano, BM3, USS Altair 1963-65
    Altair 80k USS Altair (AKS-32), underway, circa 1959 or later (note the helicopter flight deck on her fantail which was added in 1959) place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1962    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Nitro 196k USS Nitro (AE 23) at right conducts an underway replenishment of ammunition with USS Forrestal (CV-59) while USS Altair (AKS-32) at left simultaneously conducts an underway replenishment of general stores.
    Tyrrhenian Sea, 8 January 1965. U.S. Navy photo from All Hands magazine, July 1965.
    (Thanks to Ken Killmeyer, USS Forrestal Association Historian, who found out where and when the photo had been taken.)    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Additional Ships Patches
    Altair
    Contributed by C Wood Halsey & Charles Brecheisen    		 Altair
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    View the Altair (AK-257 / AKS-32)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and heritage Command
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Altair AKS-32
    USS Altair AKS-32 Blog
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index Back To The General Stores Issue Ship (AKS) 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 20 April 2007