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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Pollux (AKS-2)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Defense Service Medal (with "A" device) - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Castor Class General Stores Issue Ship:
  • Laid down, 26 May 1939. as SS Comet, a Maritime Commission type (C2-Cargo) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 33) at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J.
  • Launched, 16 December 1939
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 16 January 1941
  • Converted to a General Stores Issue Ship at Brewers Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Hoboken, N.J.
  • Commissioned USS Pollux (AKS-2), 6 May 1941, CDR. Hugh W. Turney in command
  • Lost due to grounding, 18 February 1942, off St. Lawrence Harbor, Newfoundland at Laun's Point
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 25 March 1942
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,350 t.(lt) 14,400 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 5"
    Speed 16.5 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 15
    Enlisted 184
    Cargo Capacity 4,660 t.
    non-refrigerated 23,800 Cu ft
    refrigerated 347,769 Cu ft
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 10,850 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric-Curtis steam turbine
    two Foster and Wheeler D-type boilers, 465psi 765°
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    two turbo-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    one Diesel-drive 80Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    single propeller, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Pollux 73k USS Pollux (AKS-2) under way, 26 May 1941, after initial conversion at Brewer Shipbuilding and Drydock Co, Staten Island.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-24140, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Pollux 73k USS Pollux (AKS-2) under way off Boston Navy Yard, 10 October 1941.
    US Navy photo (Boston Navy Yard photo # 2532-41, 10 October 1941) now in the collections of the US National Archives, College Park, MD., RG-19-LCM, Box 69.    		 Dan Treadwell
    Pollux 46k USS Pollux (AKS-2) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from the collections of the US Navy Memorial.    		 Stan Svec
    Pollux 272k USS Pollux (AKS-2) wrecked on the Newfoundland coast at Laun's Point, St. Lawrence harbor, where she went aground, 18 February 1942.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 86970    		 Mike Green
    USS Pollux (AKS-2)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Turner, Hugh Weber, USN (USNA 1920) :RADM6 May 1941 - 18 February 1942
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    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 4 October 2022