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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AKS-13 Hesperia


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Xray - Alpha
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - 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, 9 October 1944, as Sam Dale, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2825) at Delta Shipbuilding Co., New Orleans, LA.
  • Launched, 18 November 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy and converted for Naval service at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA.
  • Commissioned USS Hesperia (AKS-13), 1 April 1945, LCDR. William G. Dutton in command
  • Following WWII Hesperia performed occupation duty in the Far East
  • Decommissioned, 27 February 1947, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 17 April 1973, to Tung Ho Steel Enterprise Corp., Taiwan
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 7"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 27' 7"
    Speed 11 kts.
    Complement 195
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 2,500hp; Cruising radius 17,000 miles
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Hesperia 90k Hesperia (AKS-13) off Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 26 April 1945.
    US Navy photo # NH 94526 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Hesperia 87k Hesperia (AKS-13) off Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 26 April 1945.
    US Navy photo # NH 94525 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Hesperia 97k Hesperia (AKS-13) off Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 26 April 1945.
    US Navy photo # NH 94527 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Hesperia 79k Hesperia (AKS-13) off Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 26 April 1945.
    US Navy photo # NH 94523 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Hesperia 78k Hesperia (AKS-13) off Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 26 April 1945. Saturn (AF-40) is in the left background.
    US Navy photo # NH 94524 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of Charles N. Dragonette.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Hesperia 29k Hesperia (AKS-13) underway, date and place unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Hesperia 265k Amidships plan view of Hesperia (AKS-13) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 30 April 1946
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 1680-46, 4/30/46    		 Darryl Baker
    Hesperia 276k Amidships looking forward plan view of Hesperia (AKS-13) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 30 April 1946
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 1680-46, 4/30/46    		 Darryl Baker
    Hesperia 97k Broadside view of Hesperia (AKS-13) of Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 2 May 1946
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 1700-46, 5/2/46    		 Darryl Baker
    Hesperia 90k Bow on view of Hesperia (AKS-13) of Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 2 May 1946
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 1702-46, 5/2/46    		 Darryl Baker
    View the Hesperia (AKS-13)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 24 August 2007