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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AK-65 / AKA-16 Aquarius


USS Aquarius (AKA-16 was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (80
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Andromeda Class Attack Cargo Ship
  • Laid down, 28 April 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 205) at Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Kearny, N.J.
  • Reclassified Attack Cargo Ship, (AKA-16), 1 February 1943
  • Launched, 23 July 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 20 August 1943
  • Commissioned USS Aquarius (AKA-16), 21 August 1943, Capt. H. V. Marron, USCG, in command
  • During World War II Aquariuswas assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, Roi and Namur Islands, 31 January to 6 February 1944     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, San Pedro Bay, 20 to 21 October 1944 and mid-November 1944
    Bismarck Archipelago operation
    Emirau Island, 21 March 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 10 January 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 26 July 1944     		Manila Bay-Bicol operation
    Zambales-Subic Bay, 29 to 31January 1945
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, Peleliu, 15 to 22 September 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 9 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 23 May 1946, at Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 12 September 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register in November 1948
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • Aquarius received eight battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,556 t.(lt) 13,900 t.(lt)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 4"
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 247
    Cargo Capacity 4,450 dwt cargo
    Armament
    one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    eighteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Boats
    8 LCMs
    1 LCP(L)
    15 LCVPs
    Propulsion steam turbine, single shaft, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Aquarius 46k Aquarius (AKA-16) and Titania (AKA-13) at Pavuvu, Russell Islands, 28 April 1944, after bringing veterans of the Cape Gloucester Campaign to a rest camp. LCPs in the foreground, are from Wayne (APA-54), and being used as water taxis. Note SC-2 radar antenna mounted atop Aquarius' forward kingposts. Photographed by Fitzgerald
    USMC photo # 86265    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Aquarius 85k Aquarius (AKA-16) and Titania (AKA-13) unload Marine veterans of the Cape Gloucester campaign at a rest camp at Pavuvu, Russell Islands, 28 April 1944.
    US Coast Guard photo # 2271, from the collections of the US Coast Guard Historian's Office.    		 Mike Green
    Titania 46k Aquarius (AKA-16) and Titania (AKA-13) at Pavuvu, Russell Islands, 28 April 1944, after bringing veterans of the Cape Gloucester Campaign to a rest camp there. LCVPs in the left foreground are from Wayne (APA-54). Photographed by Fitzgerald.
    USMC photo # 86251    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Aquarius 49k Aquarius (AKA-16) at anchor, date and place unknown. ,
    View the Aquarius (AKA-16)
    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
    The CG History Page
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office - USS Aquarius AKA-16
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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 28 April 2006