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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

IX-107 / AKN-5 Zebra

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Charlie - Uniform
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Indus Class Net Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 18 March 1943, as SS Matthew Lyon, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE 535) at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard #1, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 11 April 1943
  • Delivered to the War Shipping Administration for operation under contract by Dichmann, W & P Co.
  • Torpedoed by the Japanese submarine HIJMS I-11, 12 August 1943
  • Acquired by the US Navy and placed in service as Zebra (IX-107), 1 October 1943, at Esprirtu Santo, New Hebrides
  • Redesignated Net Cargo Ship AKN-5, 15 February 1944
  • Commissioned USS Zebra (AKN-107), 27 February 1944, CDR. Robert D. Abernethy, USNR, in command
  • During World War II Zebra was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 28 February to 16 March 1945

  • Decommissioned, 21 January 1946 at Norfolk, VA. and simultaneously returned to the War Shipping Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Flee, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 7 February 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp., 28 March 1972
  • Zebra was awarded one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,500 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.5 kts.
    Complement 288
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion reciprocating steam engine, single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Zebra 81k Zebra (AKN-5) underway, date and location unknown. Zebra's stripes are Measure 32 Design 11F camouflage Joey Nigro-Nilsen for her father Anthony A. Nigro USS Zebra
    Zebra 50k Photo of unknown Zebra (AKN-5) crew member while at sea, date and location unknown. Joey Nigro-Nilsen for her father Anthony A. Nigro USS Zebra
    Zebra 74k Zebra (AKN-5) crew members on the main deck, date and location unknown. Joey Nigro-Nilsen for her father Anthony A. Nigro USS Zebra
    Zebra 66k Zebra (AKN-5) at anchor in Pearl Harbor, T.H., September 1945. James G. Brown for his father Ens. Edgar J. Brown, USS Zebra
    Zebra 97k Zebra (AKN-5) officers circa September 1945
    Front Row sitting, L. to R. Stuhr, Frederick (Supply Officer); Taylor, Sidney (1st. Lt.); Kraker, Urban M.(Navigator); Holly, William G. (CO); Warren, Howland (XO); Boss, Stanley S. (Comm); Maynard, Lawrence P. (Engineering); Smith, Ernest J.
    Back Row standing, L. to R. Brown, Edgar J. (3rd Div); Grube, Robert F. (5th Div); Long, Vincent F. (4th Div); Thompson, Richard (1st Div); Winfield, Holt N.; Dobson, Ralph W.; Morris, William N. (2nd Div); (not shown) Quinn, Luke A. (6th Div)     		James G. Brown for his father Ens. Edgar J. Brown, USS Zebra
    Zebra 96k Zebra (AKN-5) Ships Company on Parade as Milton R. Athey, receives his Purple Heart from Captain Holly. Next to Athey is Ens. Brown. Third Division. James G. Brown for his father Ens. Edgar J. Brown, USS Zebra
    Zebra 68k Zebra (AKN-5) Ships Company on Parade as Milton R. Athey, receives his Purple Heart from Captain Holly. Next to Athey is Ens. Brown. Third Division. James G. Brown for his father Ens. Edgar J. Brown, USS Zebra
    Zebra 156k Ex-Zebra (AKN-5) moored, probably at Union Minerals & Alloys Corp. breaker's yard, date unknown. David Nixon
    View the Zebra IX-107 / AKN-05
    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 19 October 2007