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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AK-64 / AKA-17 Centaurus


USS Centaurus (AKA-17) was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Andromeda Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid done as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract, at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J.
  • Launched, 3 September 1943
  • Commissioned USS Centaurus (AKA-17), 21 October 1943, Captain G. E. McCabe, USCG, in command
  • During WWII Centaurus was assigned to 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, 31 January to 5 February 1944     		Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 28 July 1944
    Eastern New Guinea operations
    Wewak-Aitape operations, 23 April 1944     		Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands - Peleliu, 15 September to 4 October 1944
    Hollandia operation
    April 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 9 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 30 April 1946, at New York City, N.Y.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 11 September 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition fate unknown
  • Centaurus received six battle stars for 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
    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 Contributed
    By
    Centaurus 56k Centaurus (AKA-17) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo         		Coast Guard Historian web site
    View the Centaurus (AKA-17)
    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
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office - USS Centaurus AKA-17
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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 7 July 2006