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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Ajax (AR-6)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Bravo - Charlie
 NWBC
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal (4) - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Vulcan Class Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 7 May 1941, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. San Pedro, CA.
  • Launched, 22 August 1942
  • Commissioned USS Ajax (AR-6), 3 October 1943, CDR. John L. Brown in command
  • During World War II USS Ajax was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Ajax was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 25 September to 27 November 1945
  • During the Korean War USS Ajax participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    20 to 22 August 1951
    15 to 16 November 1951     		Korea Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    11 to 13 November 1952
    Second Korean Winter
    3 to 4 April 1952     		Third Korean Winter
    16 to 18 December 1952
    12 to 13 March 1953

  • During the Vietnam War USS Ajax participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    8 to 23 June 1968     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 to 11 May 1970
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    26 September to 11 October 1969     		Consolidation I
    25 August to 23 September 1971
    29 October to 21 November 1971
    Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    18 to 30 April 1970     		 

  • Decommissioned, 31 December 1986, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 16 May 1989
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, 23 May 1997
  • USS Ajax earned four battle stars for Korean War service and five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,430 t.(lt), 16,200 t.(fl)
    Length 529' 5"
    Beam 73' 4"
    Draft 23' 4" (lim)
    Speed 19.2 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 54
    Enlisted 1,067
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four .50 cal. machine guns
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 25,420 bbls
    Propulsion
    two Allis Chalmers geared steam turbines
    four Babcock and Wilcox 3-drum boilers, 400psi 720°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gears
    six turbo-drive 750Kw 450V A.C. Ship' Service Generators
    two propeller shafts, 11,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Ajax 138k USS Ajax (AR-6) underway off San Pedro, CA.. 23 November 1943.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # 19-N-55131, a Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.    		 Robert Hurst
    Ajax 130k USS Ajax (AR-6) at anchor with USS LCI(L)-604 and an unidentified LCI alongside, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Ajax 61k USS Ajax (AR-6) at anchor, date and location unknown. CAPT. John C. Ruff USN Ret.
    17th and last CO
    Ajax 121k Aboard USS Ajax (AR-6) MRFN Robert W. Tatum cuts a gate valve seat on a horizontal metal lathe., 13 December 1952 at Sasebo, Japan.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-477167, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Ajax 127k USS Ajax (AR-6) tending destroyers and patrol vessels at Sasebo, Japan, 14 December 1952. Ships nested along her port side include (left to right):
    USS The Sullivans (DD-537);
    USS McGowan (DD-678);
    USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675);
    Korean frigate Imchin (66) ex USS Sausalito (PF-4)
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-478507, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Ajax 123k USS Ajax (AR-6) tending destroyers and patrol vessels at Sasebo, Japan, 14 December 1952. Ships nested along her port side include (left to right):
    USSThe Sullivans (DD-537);
    USS McGowan (DD-678);
    USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675);
    Korean frigate Imchin (66), ex USS Sausalito (PF-4)
    Nest of five minesweepers in the left distance includes:
    USS Heron (AMS-18);
    USS Curlew (AMS-8);
    USS Mockingbird (AMS-27);
    USS Gull (AMS-16)     and
    USS Chatterer (AMS-40)
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-478506, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the National Archives.
    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Ajax 30k USS Ajax (AR-6) at anchor, circa 1955, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Ajax 83k USS Ajax (AR-6) drydocked at Sasebo, Japan in June 1960.  
    Ajax 59k
    Ajax 70k
    Ajax 78k
    Currituck 90k USS Ajax (AR-6) with; USS Cavalier (APA-37), USS Currituck (AV-7) and USS Boyd (DD-544) alongside at Naval Station Sasebo, Japan, circa 1961-62.
    US Navy photos from the collection of CDR. R.F. Dresel USN, USS Currituck    		 Suzanne D. Simpson
    Ajax 102k USS Ajax (AR-6). flagship of Commander Service Squadron THREE, with five Seventh Fleet destroyers alongside, circa 1962.
    The destroyers are (from left to right):
    USS Ernest G. Small (DDR-838);
    USS Rupertus (DD-851);
    USS Trathen (DD-530);
    USS Cowell (DD-547);     and
    USS Black (DD-666).
    US Navy photo # NH 98069, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Ajax 90k USS Ajax (AR-6) underway,date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Yakutat 79k USS Ajax (AR-6) with USCGC Yakutat (WHEC-380) alongside at Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippine Islands in August 1967. Photo by Larry Backus
    Ajax/Jamestown 77k USS Ajax (AR-6) with USS Jamestown (AGTR-3) alongside at India Basin, Sasebo, Japan, circa1969-70. William P Jones MD
    ex Medical Officer
    USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)
    Ajax 80k USS Ajax (AR-6) moored in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, circa 6 July to 12 October 1980. Alongside are USS Kirk (DE-1087), USS Racine (LST-1191) and USS Frederick (LST-1184). Ken Moss EN3 USS Ajax
    Ajax 95k USS Ajax (AR-6) moored in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, circa 6 July to 12 October 1980. with USS Kirk (DE-1087), USS Racine (LST-1191) and USS Frederick (LST-1184) alongside to port. To starboard is an unidentified submarine. Ken Moss EN3 USS Ajax
    Ajax 77k USS Ajax (AR-6) moored in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, circa 6 July to 12 October 1980, with a submarine alongside. Ken Moss EN3 USS Ajax
    Ajax 65k USS Ajax (AR-6) off San Diego, date unknown CAPT. John C. Ruff USN Ret.
    17th and last CO
    Ajax 89k Decommissioned USS Ajax (AR-6) at anchor near Bremerton, WA, date unknown.
    Photo source - Cobatfor (name unknown).    		 Robert Hurst
    Ajax 32k ex USS Ajax (AR-6) ready for scrapping, date and location unknown.  
    Additional USS Ajax Patches
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Ajax Ajax Ajax

    For more photos and information about USS Ajax, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • USS Ajax Reunion Association
  • Commanding Officers
    • Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 7 March 2013