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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Catoctin (AGC-5)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Uniform - Alpha
 NKUA
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 18 August 1944)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle Campaign Service Medal (1)
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Appalachian Class Amphibious Force Command Ship:
  • Laid down, (date unknown), as SS Mary Whitridge, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 295) at Moore Dry Dock Co., Oakland, CA.
  • Launched, 23 January 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 31 August 1943, renamed Catoctin and placed in temporary commission, CDR. H. B. Olsen, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned at her conversion yard in Philadelphia PA., 11 November 1943
  • Recommissioned, USS Catoctin (AGC-5), 24 January 1944, CDR. C. O. Comp in command
  • During World War II USS Catoctin was assigned to both the Europe-Africa-Middle East and the Asiatic-Pacific Theaters and participated in the following campaign:
    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of southern France, 15 August to 25 September 1944

  • Decommissioned, 26 February 1947, at Philadelphia, PA.
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration, 30 December 1959
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping and subsequently scrapped in 1959-60, by Warship Construction Co., South Portland, ME.
  • USS Catoctin received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,240 t.(lt) 13.910 t (fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 24'
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement
    54 Officers
    579 Enlisted
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    ten twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion geared turbine, single propeller, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Catoctin 29k USS Catoctin (AGC-5) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Catoctin 61k USS Catoctin (AGC-5) moored pierside at Norfolk, VA., circa early 1946. Submitted by Christopher Albright for his father Joseph Albright YN3 USS Adirondack
    View the USS Catoctin (AGC-5)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    View Documents/Messages both received and originated aboard USS Catoctin (AGC-5) announcing the end of WWII
    Crew Contact And 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 12 October 2007