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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AK-26 / AKA-9 Alhena


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Whiskey - Zulu
 NAWZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - 29 September 1943, October-November 1943, 15-23 June 1944)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal (1)
Personnel Awards

Purple Hearts (29 September 1943 - 4-KIA, 20-WIA, 1-MIA)
Alhena Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 19 June 1940, as SS Robin Kettering, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 74), at Bethlehem Steel Co., Sparrows Point Yard, MD.
  • Launched, 18 January 1941
  • Purchased by the Navy, 31 May 1941, from the Robin Line of the Seas Shipping Co., New York City, N.Y.
  • Commissioned USS Alhena (AK-26), 15 June 1941, at Hoboken, N.J., CDR. Charles B. Hunt in command
  • During World War II Alhena was assigned to both the European and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings
    7 to 9 August 1942     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, January 1945
    Treasury-Bougainville operation
    October to November 1943     		Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 9 March 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 to 23 June 1944     		.

  • Redesignated Attack Cargo Ship (AKA-9), 26 November 1942
  • Decommissioned, 22 May 1946, at Bayonne, N.J.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 August 1946
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 12 September 1946 for lay up in th National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River Group, Jones Point, N,Y.
  • Commercial Service
    Purchased by Seas Shipping Co., 16 October 1947
    Sold in June 1957 by Seas Shipping Co., to Flying Hawk Inc., renamed SS Flying Hawk
    Sold in June 1962 to American Export Lines, later Isbrantsen Lines
    Final Disposition, retired from service and scrapped in 1971
  • Alhena earned five battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,101 t.(lt) 11,154 t.(fl)
    Length 479' 8"
    Beam 66'
    Draft 20' 9" (max)
    Speed 16.6kts.
    Complement 446
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    Propulsion steam turbine, single shaft, 6,300hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Alhena 92k SS Robin Kettering, at Tietjen-Lang Dry Dock Co., Hoboken, NJ, undergoing conversion to Navy ship, Alhena (AK-26), 6 June 1941.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-24236, A US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Alhena 34k Alhena (AKA-9) underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage is Measure 12(modified.
    US Navy photo    		 Lou Sander
    Alhena 143k Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands, 10 November 1944. Small craft gathered around Mindanao (ARG-3) during salvage and rescue efforts shortly after Mount Hood (AE-11) blew up about 350 yards away from Mindanao's port side. Mindanao, and seven motor minesweepers (YMS) moored to her starboard side, were damaged by the blast, as were Alhena (AKA-9), in the photo's top left center, and Oberrender (DE-344), in top right. Note the extensive oil slick, with tracks through it made by small craft.
    US Navy photo # NH 95050 copied from the War Diary, Manus Naval Base, for November 1944.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Alhena 43k Alhena (AKA-9) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy from "All Hands" magazine, February 1950.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Alhena 129k Alhena (AKA-9) wardroom, date unknown. Jack Dyer for his father LCDR Charles J. Dyer USS Alhena
    View the Alhena (AKA-9)
    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
    USS Alhena AKA-9
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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 21 December 2007