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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AKA-32 Mellena


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Zulu - Alpha
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
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Artemis Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 25 September 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BE1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1893) at Welsh-Kaiser Co. Providence, R.I.
  • Launched, 11 December 1944
  • Commissioned USS Mellena (AKA-32), 20 January 1945, LCDR. B. C. Modin in command
  • Decommissioned, 11 June 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 3 July 1946
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal
  • Loaned to the California Maritime Academy renamed Training Ship TS Golden Bear
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1971
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,087 t.(lt) 7,080 t.(fl)
    Length 426'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 16'5"
    Speed 16.9 kts.
    Complement 303
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four dual 40mm AA gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 4,450 DWT
    Boats
    one LCP(L)
    twelve LCVP
    eight LCM(3)
    Troop Accommodations 264 Propulsion two turbo-electric engines, twin shafts, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Mellena 126k Bow view of ex-Mellena(AKA-32) as the California Maritime Academy training ship TS Golden Bear moored outboard of Lubbock (APA-197) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 19 August 1946.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 3017-46, 8/19/46    		 Darryl Baker
    Mellena 268k Broadside view of TS Golden Bear in her berth at the California Maritime Academy in South Vallejo, CA. on the Carquinez Strait , 11 May 1947. Note the WWII temporary housing on the hill in the background above the CMA campus.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 928-47, 5/11/47    		 Darryl Baker
    Mellena 75k TS Golden Bear during her 1948 cruise to the Mediterranean where she delivered a sizable cargo of milk to orphanages in Italy, the milk having been donated by agencies within the state of California. CAPT. Joe A. Baker USN Ret. and the California Maritime Academy Historical Archives
    View the Mellena (AKA-32)
    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 17 August 2007