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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Talita (AKS-8)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Zulu - Delta NAZD

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

Acubens Class General Stores Issue Ship:

Laid down, 23 April 1943, as SS Jonathan Jennings a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCE-2012) at Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, OR.

Launched, 12 May 1943

Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 20 May 1943, at Portland OR.

Operated for the War Shipping Administration under contract by Alaska SS Lines from 20 May 1943 to 5 November 1943

Acquired by the Navy on a bare boat basis from the War Shipping Administration, 5 November 1943; renamed Talita, 13 November 1943

Converted to a General Stores Issue Ship at Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Tampa, FL.

Commissioned USS Talita (AKS-8) 4 March 1944, CDR. Hans Harley, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Talita was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Following World War II USS Talita was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 25 September to 1 November 1945

Decommissioned, 9 April 1946, at Pearl Harbor, T. H.

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, 17 July 1947

Towed to San Francisco for lay up

Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 9 July 1947, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 18 October 1962, to Union Minerals and Alloys for $47,389.99 (MA-3148), delivered, 5 November 1962

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 24

Enlisted 194

Largest Boom Capacity 37 t.

Cargo Capacity 3,230 DWT

non-refrigerated 219,018 Cu ft

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount

Fuel Capacities

NSFO 9,660 Bbls

Diesel 2,010 Bbls

Propulsion

one Iron Fireman vertical reciprocating steam engine

two Wickes header-type boilers, 220psi 450°

three turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller, 2,500shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
	211k	*USS Talita* (AKS-8)** at anchor off San Francisco, CA. in San Francisco Bay, circa 1945-46. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 77389, courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, Corte Madera, California, 1973.		US Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Talita (AKS-8)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Harley, Hans	4 March 1944 - 26 August 1944
02	CDR. Cochrane, Edwin Fridley	26 August 1944 - 1 April 1945
03	LT. Simmons, William Vincent, USNR	1 April 1945 - 29 May 1945
04	LCDR. Graves Jr., James H.	29 May 1945 - 10 November 1945
05	LT. Simmons, William Vincent, USNR	10 November 1945 - 9 April 1946


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
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

Last Updated 15 January 2021