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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

ARG-2 Luzon

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



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - 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 - Korean Service Medal (1) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 8 April 1943, as SS Samuel Bowles a Maritime Commission type (EC-2-S-C1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 981) at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, MD.
  • Launched, 14 May 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 24 May 1943, from the Maritime Commission and converted to an Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship at Maryland Drydock Co, Baltimore, MD.
  • Commissioned USS Luzon (ARG-2), 12 October 1943, CDR. Elmer R. Runquist in command
  • During World War II Luzon was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II Luzon performed occupation service in the Far East
  • Decommissioned, 24 June 1947, at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 20 September 1950, CDR. W. F. Christie in command
  • During the Korean War Luzon participated in the following campaign:
  • Decommissioned, 3 June 1960, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1961
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1974
  • Luzon earned one battle star for Korean War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 8,700 t.(fl)
    Length 44' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 23'
    Speed 12 kts,
    Complement 521
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    three single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Luzon 424k Luzon (ARG-2) moored to a buoy in Sasebo harbor, Japan, date unknown. John Wohlwend
    Luzon 31k Luzon (ARG-2) moored to a buoy, circa 1957-58, place unknown. Photo by Donald J. Wagner, SM3, USN USS Gunston Hall
    Luzon 79k Luzon (ARG-2) moored to a buoy at Sasebo, Japan, date unknown. Courtesy Lyle Hildebrand USS Vega web site
    Luzon 85k Luzon (ARG-2) moored to a buoy at Kaohsiung Taiwan in 1959. Photo by Russell Cole ex-ET2 USN
    View the Luzon (ARG-2)
    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 3 August 2007