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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS De Grasse (AK-223)
ex
 USS De Grasse (AP-164) (1944)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Whiskey - Golf
 NKWG
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 31 January 1943, as SS Nathaniel J. Wyeth, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1598) at Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 24 February 1943
  • Classified as a Transport and renamed De Grasse, 27 October 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 28 October 1943
  • Converted for Naval service at United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA.
  • Commissioned USS De Grasse (AP-164), 8 November 1943, LCDR. Wayne Jordan, USNR, in command
  • Reclassified a Cargo Ship, (AK-223), 20 August 1944
  • During World War II USS De Grasse was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 3 to 8 February and March 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 28 April to 5 May 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 20 June to 3 July 1944
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 15 August 1944     		 

  • Decommissioned, 28 March 1946, and delivered to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., named reverted to SS Nathaniel J. Wyeth
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 17 April 1946
  • USS De Grasse earned three battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 10 February 1970, (PC-X-856) (MA-4948 for $44,200) to Zidell Explorations, Portland, OR., withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet, 17 March 1970
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 12,350 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.8 kts (trial)
    Complement 256
    Total Accommodations
    Officers 81
    Enlisted 1,095
    Cargo Capacity 4,430 DWT
    non-refrigerated 300,000 Cu. ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    NSFO 9,960 Bbls
    Diesel 2,010 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Iron Fireman vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 250psi, 450°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    three recip-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    one turbo-drive 120Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
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    De Grasse 146k
    Namesake

    Admiral Comte de Grasse (1722-1788) commanded the French Fleet which defeated the British in the Battle off the Virginia Capes, 5 September 1781. Lord Cornwallis' army, cut off from sea support by De Grasse, surrendered to General Washington at Yorktown—the most decisive victory of the Revolutionary War.
    Photo of French Admiral Count de Grasse.from the U.S. National Archives     		Bill Gonyo
    De Grasse 83k USS De Grasse (AK-223) in San Francisco Bay, circa January 1946. The rails are crowded with troops returning home on this Magic Carpet voyage.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 77387, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    USS De Grasse (AP-164 / AK-223)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Jordan, Wayne, USNR8 November 1943 - 15 July 1944
    02LCDR. Schultz, Frank William, USNR15 July 1944 - 7 July 1945
    03LCDR. Hartmann, W. G., USNR7 July 1945 - 4 October 1945
    04LCDR. Gilbert, Jack Robinson, USNR4 October 1945 - 12 December 1945
    05LCDR. Lyons, William Clarence, USNR12 December 1945 - 28 March 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
    USS De Grasse (AK-223) War Diary, September 1944 to November 1945
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Transport (AP) Photo Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 26April 2019