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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Culebra Island (ARG-7)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Zulu - Whiskey
NPZW
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 - World War II Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal


Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 29 October 1943, as SS John F. Goucher, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1830) at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, MD.
  • Launched, 23 November 1943
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission and acquired by the US Navy, 29 November 1943
  • Converted to an Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship at Maryland Drydock Co, Baltimore, MD.
  • Commissioned USS Culebra Island (ARG-7), 19 May 1944, CDR. William E. McClendon, in command
  • During World War II USS Culebra Island was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 15 January 1947, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration, 1 August 1961, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Permanent custody assumed by the Maritime Administration, 1 September 1962
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1962
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 10 December 1973, to Zidell Explorations, Portland, OR., physically delivered, 25 January 1974
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(trial)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 23' (lim)
    Speed 12.5 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 31
    Enlisted 552
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one 3"/50 gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Ship's Service Generators
    three 350Kw 450V A.C.
    two 60Kw 120V D.C.
    Fuel Oil Capacity 19,540Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Machine Corp. vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers 220psi 450°
    single propeller, 2,500shp

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    Size Image Description Contributed By/Source
    Culebra Island 67k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) underway, date and location unknown. Note Culebra Island is painted Camouflage Measure 31, Design 6Ax. Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 79k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Photo by PhoM1C George Beichert
    submitted by Marie Beichert
    Culebra Island 36k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) at anchor off Leyte, Philippine Islands, 1944-45 with USS LST-66 alongside.
    Photo by Vincent Cottrell
    Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 53k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) at anchor off Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, October 1944 with three LSTs alongside including USS LST-474. These three LSTs were damaged by shore batteries at Leyte, each of them lost men and two of them an officer each. Photo by Vincent Cottrell Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 69k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) drydocked in the Philippine Islands, 1944-45. Photo by Vincent Cottrell Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 44k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) drydocked in the Philippine Islands, 1944-45. Photo by Vincent Cottrell Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 44k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) drydocked in the Philippine Islands, 1944-45. Photo by Vincent Cottrell Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 78k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) LCVP #2 on deck. alongside to starboard are two LSM's. The outboard LSM is unidentified, the inboard LSM is USS LSM-217, date and location unknown. Photo by Vincent Cottrell Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 67k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) boats in the water, date and location unknown. Photo by Vincent Cottrell Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 56k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7) First Division, date and location unknown. Vincent Cottrell is standing behind the Sailor holding the monkey. Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 235k USS Culebra Island (ARG-7)'s first anniversary edition of the ships newspaper Fantales with photos of the ships three mascots (left to right Yo, Jocko, and Senorita Padro) on the front page. Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
    Culebra Island 70k Forty-four of USS Culebra Island (ARG-7)/s crew with enough points to return stateside leave the ship for Tacloban, Philippines Islands for transit home. Their sea bags are being loaded into a launch. Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island

    USS Culebra Island (ARG-7)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. McClendon, William Elbert19 May 1944 - ?
    02CDR. Hale, James Charlesno dates
    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 Culebra Island (ARG-7) Miscellaneous Items

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 24 May 2013