Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AK-24 / AKA-7 Alcyone


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Foxtrot - Alpha - Romeo
 NFAR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon - Navy Unit Commendation - American Defense Medal
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia Clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal
Arcturus Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 12 January 1939, as MV Mormacgull, a Maritime Commission type (C2) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 30), at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, PA.
  • Launched, 28 August 1939
  • Purchased by the Navy, 31 May 1941, from Moore-McCormack Lines
  • Converted for naval service at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
  • Commissioned USS Alcyone (AK-24), 15 June 1941, CDR. D. M. McGurl in command
  • During World War II Alcyone 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 Campaigns
    Sicilian occupation, 5 to 13 July 1943 Gilbert Islands operation
    Makin Island landing, 20 to 24 November 1943
    . Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to mid-February 1944
    . Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 22 July 1944
    . Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 20 to 22 October 1944
    . Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 13 January 1945
    . Manila Bay-Bicol operations
    Zambales-Subic Bay, 29 January 1945
    . 3rd Fleet operations against Japan, 9 July to 2 August 1945

  • Reclassified Attack Cargo Ship (AKA-7), 26 November 1942
  • Decommissioned, 23 July 1946, at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA.
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 24 July 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 August 1946
  • 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 MS Star Alcyone 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
  • Alcyone earned eight battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 14,225 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 1"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 5"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 397
    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 Source/
    Contributed By
    USS Alcyone (AK-24)
    Alcyone 84k Starboard forward quarter view of Alcyone (AK-24) off Mare Island, 2 October 1942, as she enters the shipyard. Alcyone was under repair at Mare Island from 2 October until 4 November 1942. Her camouflage is Measure 12(modified).
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6080-10-42, 10/2/42    		 Darryl Baker
    Alcyone 71k Broadside view of Alcyone (AK-24) off Mare Island, 2 October 1942, as she enters the shipyard for repair. Camouflage is Measure 12(modified).
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6086-10-42, 10/2/42    		 Darryl Baker
    Alcyone 89k Alcyone (AK-24) underway in San Francisco Bay, 4 November 1942
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6850-11-42, 11/4/42.    		 Warren Henrikson QM1/c
    USS Alcyone (AKA-7)
    Alcyone 23k Alcyone (AKA-7), date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Alcyone 51k Alcyone (AKA-7) at Lahaina Roads, Territory of Hawaii, May 1944. Her camouflage is Measure 32 Design 8T.
    US Navy Photo    		 Warren Henrikson QM1/c
    Alcyone 17k Alcyone (AKA-7), date and location unknown. .
    Alcyone 25k Alcyone (AKA-7) underway, 15 May 1943, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Lou Sander
    Commercial Service
    Alcyone 38k ex-Alcyone (AKA-7) in commercial service as the Johnson Line's SS Star Alcyone Ragnar de Sharengrad
    Alcyone 27k ex-Alcyone (AKA-7) in commercial service as the Johnson Line's SS Star Alcyone Johnson Line web site
    View the Alcyone (AK-24 / AKA-7)
    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
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index Back To The Amphibious Cargo Ship (AKA) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 21 September 2007