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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AK- 67 / AKA-18 Cepheus



USS Cepheus (AKA-18) 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 - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1)
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Andromeda Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down (date unknown) 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, 23 October 1943
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 15 December 1943
  • Commissioned USS Cepheus (AKA-18), 16 December 1943, Captain R. B. Hall, USCG, in command
  • During WWII Cepheus was assigned first to the European Theater and then to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Invasion of southern France
    Saint Raphael, 15 to 17 August 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 16 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 22 May 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission
  • Final Disposition, sold (date unknown) for commercial service to the United States Lines, renamed SS Pioneer Sea, fate unknown. SS Pioneer Sea served in the US east-coast to Pacific trade, delivering commercial and military cargo to the Far East via the Panama Canal.
  • Cepheus received two 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 Source
    Cepheus 76k Cepheus (AKA-18) conducting amphibious operations off Honolulu, T.H. in 1945. From the photo diary of Edward R. Mueller, SC/2c USS Cepheus
    View the Cepheus (AKA-18)
    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 Cepheus AKA-18
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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