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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AK-68 / AKA-19 / LKA-19 Thuban


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Quebec - Xray
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (3) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (5-Vietnam, 1-Cuba) - Philippine Liberation Medal (2)
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Andomeda Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 2 February 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 203), at Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Kearny, N.J.
  • Launched, 26 April 1943
  • Commissioned USS Thuban (AKA-19), 10 June 1943, at Brooklyn Navy Yard, N.Y., CDR.. James C. Campbell, USNR, in command
  • During WWII Thuban was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Gilbert Islands operation
    Tarawa landings, Betio Island, 20 to 27 November 1943     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 20 to 23 October 1944
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 12 January 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 to 29 June 1944     		Third Fleet operations against Japan
    August - September 1945
    Tinian capture and occupation
    24 to 28 July 1944     		.

  • Assigned to the Naval Transportation Service (NTS) in 1946
  • Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 1 October 1949, redesignated (T-AKA-19)
  • During the Korean War Thuban participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    18 September to 2 November 1950     		Inchon Landing
    15 to 17 September 1950
    Communist China Aggression
    3 to 18 November 1950     		.

  • Decommissioned in October 1967, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Fleet Reserve, Norfolk Group
  • Redesignated Amphibious Cargo Ship, (LKA-19), 1 January 1969
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1977
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by MARAD, 27 September 1984, fate unknown
  • Thuban received seven battle stars for World War II service and three for Korean War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,556 t.(lt) 13,900 t.(fl)
    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 Contributed
    By
    Thuban 65k Thuban (AKA-19) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1954.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Thuban 108k Aft plan view of Thuban (AKA-19) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 9 August 1946. Thuban was under repair at Mare Island from 14 June to 12 August 1946.
    US Naval Shipyard Mare Island photo # AKA 19 2873-46, 8/9/46    		 Darryl Baker.
    Thuban 108k Forward plan view of Thuban (AKA-19) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 9 August 1946.
    US Naval Shipyard Mare Island photo # AKA 19 2876-46, 8/9/46    		 Darryl Baker.
    Thuban 151k Thuban (AKA-19) getting underway at NOB Norfolk, VA. with the assistance of Tazha (YTM-147) and an unidentified tug, August 1964 © Richard Leonhardt
    View the Thuban (AKA-19)
    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
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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 29 June 2007