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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Medea (AKA-31)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Bravo - Lima
 NTBL
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Artemis Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 5 August 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BE1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1892) at Welsh-Kaiser Co. Providence, R.I.
  • Launched, 30 November 1944
  • Commissioned USS Medea (AKA-31), 10 January 1945, CDR. Wesley A. Sherberth in command
  • During World War II USS Medea was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 10 to 19 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS Medea was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    2 to 11 September 1945
    5 to 11 October 1945
    1 to 15 November 1945
    30 December 1945 to 9 January 1945

  • Decommissioned, 24 April 1946, at New Orleans, LA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 October 1946
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 29 October 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 20 November 1964, to Southern Scrap Material Co. Ltd.
  • USS Medea received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,087 t.(lt) 7,080 t.(fl)
    Length 426'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 16' 9"
    Speed 16.9 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 27
    Enlisted 276
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal. dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity non-refrigerated 110,000 Cu ft. 980 DWT
    Boats
    one LCP(L)
    twelve LCVPs
    two LCMs
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 27
    Enlisted 276
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 9,540 Bbls
    Diesel 365 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Westinghouse turbo-electric engines
    two Wickes boilers, 450psi 750°
    Ship's Service Generators
    two 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    one 150Kw 450V A.C.
    two 250Kw 450V A.C.
    twin propellers, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Medea 86k USS Medea (AKA-31) ship's officers, circa early-1945, location unknown. Front row third from left is Wesley A. Sherberth Commanding Officer, to his left Jack M Sharp MD Chief Medical Officer, Fist from right second row is Adolph J. Merkt Gunnery Officer. Roland Sharp for his father LT Jack Merrill Sharp MC USS Media
    Medea 97k USS Medea (AKA-31) Chief Petty Officers, circa early-1945, location unknown. Roland Sharp for his father LT Jack Merrill Sharp MC USS Media
    Medea 97k USS Medea (AKA-31) ship's officers, circa early-1945, location unknown. LT Jack Merrill Sharp, MC, ship's Medical Officer, top row 4th from left. Commanding Officer CDR. Wesely Sherberth, 3rd from left top row. Roland Sharp for his father LT Jack Merrill Sharp MC USS Media
    Medea 65k USS Medea (AKA-31) probably off Okinawa, circa June 1945. Roland Sharp for his father LT Jack Merrill Sharp MC USS Media
    Medea 104k USS Medea (AKA-31) with her decks crowded with troops, probably upon arrival in San Francisco Bay, CA., circa late 1945 or early 1946.
    US Navy photo # NH 78150 courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1973. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.    		 Fred Weiss
    USS Medea (AKA-31)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Medea Commissioning Program
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 23 September 2011