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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Mona Island (ARG-9)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Bravo - Yankee
 NQBY
Voice Call Sign "Budgie 3"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 10 April 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2634) at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, MD.
  • Launched, 11 May 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and converted to Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship (ARG-9) at Maryland Drydock Co, Baltimore, MD.
  • Commissioned USS Mona Island (ARG-9), 17 October 1944, CDR. Kenneth Ferguson Horne in command
  • During World War II USS Mona Island was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 24 March to 30 June 1945
  • Decommissioned in June 1947, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, at Norfolk
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1962
  • Custody assumed by the Maritime Administration, 24 October 1961, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Permanent custody assumed by the Maritime Administration, 1 September 1962
  • Purchased for the Artificial Fish Reef program, State of Virginia, 27 February 1975
  • Final Disposition, reefed off Virginia's Eastern shore at Wachapreague in 1975
  • USS Mona Island earned one battle star for World War II service
    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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By/Source
    Mona Island 51k Mona Island just after launching at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, MD., 11 May 1944. David Nixon
    Mona Island 135k USS Mona Island (ARG-9) at anchor at Kerama Retto, circa 10 February to 7 July 1945 while repairing landing craft and ships damaged on the invasion beaches of Okinawa. Henry Carr for David Sweeten USS Mona Island, donation of David Sweeten Family.
    Mona Island 191k USS Mona Island (ARG-9) at anchor at either Kerama Retto or Buckner Bay, circa 10 February to 8 October 1945 while repairing landing craft and ships damaged during the invasion of Okinawa. Henry Carr for David Sweeten USS Mona Island, donation of David Sweeten Family.
    Mona Island 191k USS Mona Island (ARG-9) at anchor at either Kerama Retto or Buckner Bay, circa 10 February to October 1945 with a Submarine Chaser alongside. Henry Carr for David Sweeten USS Mona Island, donation of David Sweeten Family.
    Mona Island 227k USS Mona Island (ARG-9) during an air attack at either Kerama Retto or Buckner Bay, circa February to June 1945. Photos by David Sweeten USS Mona Island, contributed by Henry Carr, donation of David Sweeten Family.
    Mona Island 186k
    Mona Island 229k
    Mona Island 66k USS Mona Island (ARG-9) at anchor, probably at Buckner Bay, Okinawa after being damaged by Typhoon Louise, 1945. Photo by Fred Conner MoMM/2 USS Hooper Island, Contributed by Lannis E. Huckabee COL. USA Ret.
    Mona Island 84k USS Mona Island (ARG-9) Department Heads, Okinawa 1945:
    Left to right seated
    Gunnery Officer; Repair Officer, James C. McConahay; Engineer Officer, LCDR Davis
    Left to right standing;
    Navigator & Senior Watch Officer, later Executive Officer, LT. Payne; Communications Officer; Medical Officer, Dr. Orenberger; Supply Officer, LT. Niece.    		 CDR John B. Payne, USNR, Ret.
    Mona Island 195k USS Mona Island (ARG-9) crew photos. Photos by David Sweeten USS Mona Island, contributed by Henry Carr, donation of David Sweeten Family.
    Mona Island 285k
    Mona Island 241k
    Mona Island 96k ALSHIPS msg announcing the entry of the Soviet Union into the War against Japan. CDR John B. Payne, USNR, Ret.

    For more photos and information about USS Mona Island, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • Typhoon "Louise"- 9 October 1945
  • The "Mona Log"
    • Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship (ARG) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 15 July 2011