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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AK-31 / AD-21 / AR-23 Markab

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Tango - Xray NBTX

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Philippines Liberation Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Hamul Class Destroyer Tender:

Laid down as SS Mormacpenn under Maritime Commission contact (MC hull 66) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.

Launched, 21 December 1940

Acquired by the US Navy, 2 June 1941

Commissioned USS Markab (AK-31), 15 June 1941, Cdr. Allen D. Brown in command

Reclassified Destroyer Tender (AD-21), 24 January 1942

Decommissioned in January 1947, at Orange TX.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange, TX..

Recommissioned, 26 February 1952, Capt. Melvyn H. McCoy in command

Decommissioned, 31 July 1955

Reclassified Repair Ship (AR-23), 15 April 1960

Recommissioned, 1 July 1960, CAPT. E. M. Westbrook, Jr., in command

Decommissioned, 19 December1969, at Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Vallejo, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1976

Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration

Final Disposition, disposed of by MARAD sale, 12 April 1977, fate unknown

Markab earned one campaign star for Vietnam War service

Specifications:
Displacement 8,560 t.
Length 492'
Beam 70'
Draft 28' 6"
Speed 17 kts.
Complement 864
Armament unknown
Propulsion system unknown

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Markab (AD-21)
	44k	Markab (AD-21) underway, 7 October 1942, location unknown. US Navy photo	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	84k	Stern view of Markab (AD-21) underway off San Francisco, 19 February 1944. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1166-44	Darryl Baker
	66k	Broadside view of Markab (AD-21) underway off San Francisco, 19 February 1944. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1168-44	Darryl Baker
	82k	Bows on view of Markab (AD-21) underway off San Francisco, 19 February 1944. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in the background. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1170-44	Darryl Baker
	94k	Markab (AD-21) moored to a buoy, circa 1954, place unknown with Fred T. Barry (DD-858) and Norris (DD-859) alongside	William J Campbell
	164k	Markab (AR-23) with Leonard F. Mason (DD-852) and Henry W. Tucker (DD-875) alongside at Yokosuka, Japan, 21 June 1966	©Richard Leonhardt
	192k	Markab (AR-23) with destroyers Dashiel (DD-659) Isherwood (DD-520) Power (DD-839) and William C. Lawe (DD-763) alongside at Yokosuka, Japan, date unknown.	Mark Roberts, Destroyersonline.com
USS Markab (AR-23)
	259k	Markab (AR-23) "Repair Facilities Available for Forces Afloat" booklet provided to ships alongside for serves and repair, 1961.	Robert M. Cieri
	41k	Markab (AR-23) at Yokosuka, Japan, 1966 with destroyers alongside: to port, Everett F. Larson (DD-830) Radford (DD-446) James E. Kyes (DD-787) and to starboard, two unidentified DDs US Navy photo.	.
	58k	Markab (AR-23) passing under the Golden Gate Bridge as she enters San Francisco Bay in 1968.	Robert M. Cieri
	362k	Aerial view of the piers at NAS Alameda, circa early July 1969. Ships present include from front to back: Enterprise (CVAN-65), Hancock (CVA-19), Markab (AR-23) with Pictor (AF-54) outboard, and Procyon (AF-61) forward of them, and Coral Sea (CVA-43)	Robert M. Cieri
	108k	Markab (AR-23) Decommissioning Ceremony booklet, 19 December 1969.	Robert M. Cieri