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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Acubens (AKS-5)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Zulu - Yankee
NIZY
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

Acubens Class General Stores Issue Ship:
  • Laid down as SS Jean Louis, 25 November 1943, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1935) at Delta Shipbuilding Co., New Orleans, LA.
  • Launched, 8 January 1944
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 9 February 1944
  • Completed as a General Stores Issue Ship at Todd-Johnson Dry Docks, Inc., New Orleans, LA.
  • Commissioned USS Acubens (AKS-5), 15 July 1944, CDR. Edward B. Ellis USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Acubens was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 11 March 1946, at Pearl Harbor
  • All ships of the Acubens class were meant to be used as Bikini Assets, in 'C' test and were kept at Pearl Harbor until a decision was made in 1947 to transfer custody of these ships to the Maritime Commission
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred, 20 June 1947, to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay Group, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 22 September 1964, to Schintzer Steel Products Co., Portland, OR. (PD-X-676 dated 31 August 1964), $150,250.00, in a three ship deal, delivered, 19 October 1964
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,240 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 17
    Enlisted 176
    Cargo Capacities 5,900DWT
    Non-refrigerated 220,166 Cu ft
    Refrigerated 21,800 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 Capacities
    NSFO 13,475 Bbls
    Diesel 695 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Iron Fireman vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 220psi 450°
    two turbo-drive 150Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    .

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    Size Image Description Source
    Acubens 264k USS Acubens (AKS-5) commissioning ceremony, 15 July 1944, at Todd-Johnson Dry Docks, Inc., New Orleans, LA. Ship's doctor LT. Raoul Laurent Drapeau, MD (MC) USNR far left front row.
    US Navy photos from the collection of the Drapeau family
    Raoul Drapeau
    Acubens 309k
    Acubens 307k
    Acubens 100k USS Acubens (AKS-5) probably the commanding officer inspecting boat crews, date and location unknown. Note the ship's mascot dog in the background.
    Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family
    Raoul Drapeau
    Acubens 48k USS Acubens (AKS-5) under way in Hampton Roads, 14 August 1944. Note the ship's Measure 32 pattern camouflage and her "Liberty Ship" lines.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-248504, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    US Naval Historical Center
    Acubens
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM photo #19-N-71993
    100k USS Acubens (AKS-5) under way off Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 14 August 1944.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM photo #19-N-71993, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    Acubens
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM photo #19-N-71994
    106k
    Acubens 119k USS Acubens (AKS-5) under way, probably at Port Moresby, or Hollandia, New Guinea, circa December 1944-January 1945. Randell Summerville
    Acubens 114k USS Acubens (AKS-5) anchored off San Francisco, CA. in San Francisco Bay, circa December 1945
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 78143, courtesy Donald McPherson, Corte Madera, CA., 1973.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Acubens 205k LT. Raoul Laurent Drapeau (MC), USS Acubens (AKS-5), transferring via highline to USS Clark (DD-361) during a medical emergency, date and location unknown.
    Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family
    Raoul Drapeau
    Acubens 192k LT. Raoul Laurent Drapeau (MC) returns safely to USS Acubens (AKS-5) after being highlined to USS Clark (DD-361) to treat a patient, date and location unknown.
    Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family
    Raoul Drapeau
    Acubens 136k USS Acubens (AKS-5) "Crossing the Line" (crossing the equator) initiation of the ships pollywogs, date and location on the equator unknown.
    Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family
    Raoul Drapeau
    Acubens 94k
    Acubens 41k USS Acubens (AKS-5) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family
    Raoul Drapeau

    USS Acubens (AKS-5)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR/CAPT. Ellis, Edward Billings USNR15 July 1944 - 11 March 1946

    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 General Stores Issue Ship (AKS) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 17 November 2023