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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Betelgeuse (AK-260)


Patch at left submitted by Elmer Brown and patch at right Mike Smolinski
SS Columbia Victory Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
USS Betelgeuse (AK-260) Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal (2)
Greenville Victory Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 11 February 1944, as SS Columbia Victory, a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV 10), at California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 10 April 1944
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 31 May 1944
  • Operated by Grace Lines, the Waterman Steamship Corporation and the Isthmian Steamship Company
  • During World War II SS Columbia Victory participated in the following campaigns while operating in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 25 February to 6 March 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 27 May to 4 June 1945

  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1948
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 3 August 1951
  • Commissioned USS Betelgeuse (AK-260), 15 April 1952, at Savannah, GA., CDR. Leonard A. Parker in command
  • Decommissioned, 15 January 1971
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1974
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping to Luria Brothers in December 1975
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,960 t.
    Length 255' 3"
    Beam 62'
    Draft 28' 6"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 250
    Armament none
    Propulsion steam turbine, single shaft, 8,500shp
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    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Betelgeuse 55k USS Betelgeuse (AK-260) entering Hampton Roads, VA., date unknown. Courtesy Elmer Brown
    USS Betelgeuse AK (FBM) 260 Reunion Association
    Betelgeuse 56k USS Betelgeuse (AK-260) and USS Forrestal (CV-59), 1956, location unknown. Courtesy Elmer Brown
    USS Betelgeuse AK (FBM) 260 Reunion Association (John Ackerman)
    Proteus 73k USS Betelgeuse (AK-260), moored alongside USS Proteus (AS-19) at Holy Loch, Scotland while Proteus tends two of her brood. Betelgeuse shuttled between Charleston and Holy Loch bringing everything needed to operate the tender, maintain the subs and provide for the well being of crew and dependents.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine October 1962    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Betelgeuse 38k USS Betelgeuse (AK-260) underway, date and location unknown. Photo source, "Jane's Fighting Ships 1968-69." Robert Hurst
    View the Betelgeuse (AK-260)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Betelgeuse AK (FBM) 260 Reunion Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 25 April 2008