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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 Johathan 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.
  • Converted under a GAA contract by Alaska SS Lines from 20 May 1943 to 5 November 1943 to a General Stores Issue Ship
  • Delivered to the US Navy at Tampa Bay Shipbuilding for completion
  • Commissioned USS Talita (AKS-8), 4 March 1944, CDR. Hans Harley in command
  • During and following 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 1947, at Pearl Harbor, T. H. and towed to San Francisco for lay up.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 17 July 1947
  • 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 11 May 1962, to Union Minerals and Alloys
    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
    Talita 211k USS Talita (AKS-8) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 David Nixon
    USS Talita (AKS-8)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Harley, Hans4 March 1944 - 26 August 1944
    02CDR. Cochrane, Edwin Fridley26 August 1944 - 1 April 1945
    03CDR. Simmons, William Vincent1 April 1945 - 29 May 1945
    04LCDR. Graves Jr., James H.29 May 1945 - 10 November 1945
    05CDR. Simmons, William Vincent10 November 1945 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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 19 April 2013