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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AK-18 / AKA-1 Arcturus


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



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (4)
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Personnel Awards

Purple Heart, 8-10 September 1943 -Salerno Landing (7 KIA, 4 WIA)
Arcturus Class Attack Cargo Ship
  • Laid down, 26 July 1938, as MV Mormachawk, a Maritime Commission type (C2) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 19) at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, PA. for Moore-McCormack Lines
  • Launched, 18 May 1938
  • Acquired by the Navy, 20 September 1940
  • Converted for Naval Service at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA
  • Commissioned USS Arcturus (AK-18), 26 October 1940, CDR. Russell C. Bartman USN in command
  • During World War II Arcturus was first assigned to the European Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater participating in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    North Africa occupation
    Fedhala, Morocco, 8 November 1942     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, (Hagushi beachhead), 1 to 6 April 1945
    Sicilian occupation
    Scoglitti, 10 to 13 July 1943     		.
    Salerno landings
    Paestum, 8 to 10 September 1943     		.
    Invasion of southern France
    La Nartelle, 15 August 1944     		.

  • Reclassified Attack Cargo Ship (AKA-1), 1 February 1943
  • Decommissioned, 3 April 1946, at Portsmouth, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal
  • Sold, 17 March 1947, by the Maritime Commission for commercial service to Johnson Line (Sweden), registered in Panama with Compania Naviera Puerta del Sur, renamed MV Star Arcturus and placed in service on Johnson Line's Far East route
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in 1969, arrived at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17 May 1969 for dismantling.
  • Arcturus was awarded five battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,480 t. (lt) 14,225 t. (fl.)
    Length 459' 1"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 5"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 267
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    eight single 40mm AA gun mounts
    eighteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion one 2-stroke, 4 cylinder single-acting Doxford Diesel, single propeller, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Arcturus 53k Arcturus (AK-18) underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage is Measure 12(modified). Terry Sanders
    View the Arcturus (AK-18 / AKA-1)
    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 18 January 2008