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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AK-21 / AKA-4 Electra

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Arcturus Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down (date unknown) as MV Meteor, a Maritime Commission type (C2-T) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 127) at Tampa Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Tampa, FL.
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 16 April 1941
  • Launched, 18 November 1941
  • Commissioned USS Electra (AK-21), 18 March 1942, Cdr. J. J. Hughes in command
  • Reclassified Attack Cargo Ship (AKA-4), 1 February 1943
  • Decommissioned, 19 March 1946, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Reacquired by the US Navy, 16 October 1951
  • Recommissioned, 3 May 1952
  • Decommissioned, 13 May 1955
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • Electra earned six battle stars for 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 40mm guns, eighteen 20mm guns
    Propulsion two Nordberg, 9 cylinder diesels, 3165 HP each, connected through clutches to a single shaft, single propeller
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Electra 50k Electra (AKA-4) underway, 7 March 1943, place unknown.
    US Navy photo from ONI Pub. 54-A (unclassified)    		 Lou Sander
    Electra 24k Electra (AKA-4) underway, date and place unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Electra 77k Electra (AKA-4) at anchor with her boats alongside during World Wai II, date and place unknown. Donald Ravey (Webmaster USS Electra pages), Courtesy Lloyd Grady
    Electra 83k Electra (AKA-4) at anchor during World War II, date and place unknown. Donald Ravey (Webmaster USS Electra pages), Courtesy Lloyd Grady
    Electra 76k Electra (AKA-4) underway after recommissioning in 1952, place unknown. Donald Ravey (Webmaster USS Electra pages), Courtesy Gerald Mullet
    View the Electra (AKA-4)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Electra AKA4
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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 31 March 2006