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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Sylvania (AKA-44)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Uniform - Whiskey
 NKUW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
Bottom Rwo - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Artemis Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 25 February 1945, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BE1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1905), at Welsh-Kaiser Co. Providence R.I.
  • Launched, 25 April 1945
  • Commissioned USS Sylvania (AKA-44), 19 May 1945, LCDR. F. O. Bryce, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Sylvania was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater;
    TransRon Twenty-Four, COMO. E. L. Short USN
    TransDiv Seventy-Two, CAPT. H.Y. McCown USN (18)
  • Following World War II USS Sylvania was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 23 to 27 October 1945
  • Decommissioned, 17 December 1946, at Bremerton, WA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1947
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1964
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,087 t.(lt) 7,080 t(fl)
    Length 426'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 16' (lim)
    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
    Cargo capacity 980 DWT
    non-refrigerated 110,000 Cu. ft.
    Boats
    one LCP(L)
    twelve LCVPs
    two LCMs
    Troop Capacity 264
    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 turbo-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    one turbo-drive 150Kw 450V A.C.
    two turbo-drive 250Kw 450V A.C.
    twin propellers, 6,000shp.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Sylvania 29k USS Sylvania (AKA-44), date and location unknown. USS Sylvania web site
    Sylvania 37k USS Sylvania (AKA-44), preparing for the occupation of Japan
    . Note LCM approaching Sylvania from aft port quarter, date and location unknown.    		 USS Sylvania web site
    Sylvania 40k USS Sylvania (AKA-44) underway, date and location unknown. USS Sylvania web site
    Sylvania 97k USS Sylvania (AKA-44) at anchor, probably in San Francisco Bay, CA., circa late 1945.
    US Navy photo # NH 78598 Courtesy of James Russell. From the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    USS Sylvania (AKA-44)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Bryce, F. O.15 May 1945 - 26 February 1946
    02CDR. Simons Jr., Manley Hale26 February 1946 - 17 December 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Sylvania
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 12 April 2013