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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AKA / LKA-54 Algol

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Hotel - Foxtrot

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (5) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba)
Fourth Row - Philippines Liberation Medal (2) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Andromeda Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 10 December 1942, as SS James Barnes, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1153), at Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, CA.

Launched, 17 February 1943

Renamed Algol, 30 August 1943

Placed in reduced commission, 27 November 1943, for transit to Willamette Shipyard, Portland, OR. for completion as an Attack Cargo Ship

Placed in full commission as USS Algol (AKA-54), 21 July 1944, LCDR. Axton T. Jones, USNR, in command

During WWII Algol was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Luzon operation Lingayen Gulf landing, 11 to 15 January 1945	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 10 April 1945

During the Korean War Algol participated in the following campaigns:

**Korean War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
North Korean Aggression 20 September to 1 November 1950	Communist China Spring Offensive 9 to 14 May 1951
Communist China Aggression 15 November to 19 January 1951	Korean Defense Summer0Fall 1952 9 to 13 May 1952 9 to 13 August 1952
First UN Counteroffensive 23 February to 27 March 1951	.

Decommissioned, 2 January 1958

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton, WA. Group

Recommissioned, 17 November 1961, at the Northwest Marine Iron Works at Portland, OR., CAPT. F. L. Edwards in command

Redesignated Amphibious Cargo Ship (LKA-54), 1 January 1969

Decommissioned, 23 July 1970

Returned to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1977

Final Disposition, Removed from the Maritime Administration's James River Reserve Fleet and towed to Eagle Island Marine, Willmington, N.C. where she was prepared to become part of the New Jersey Shark River Artificial Reef. Ex-Algol was sunk on, 22 November 1991

Algol earned two battle stars during World War II and five battle stars for service in the Korean conflict

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 single 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

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
154k	Algol (AKA-54) underway, circa 1944, place unknown. US Navy photo	.
147k	Algol (AKA-54), moored pierside at Norfolk, VA., 30 March 1950. The tug Alamingo (YTB-227) is underway in the foreground. US Navy photo	.
33k	Algol (AKA-54) with ex-*LSM-355* in French service as *L 9011* alongside in Indo-China waters as they transfer anti-Communist refugees US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine December 1954	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
84k	Algol (AKA-54) underway in the VA Capes Op area, July 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
73k	Algol (AKA-54) underway in the VA Capes Op area, July 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
85k	*Algol (AKA-54)* underway in the VA Capes Op area, July 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
114k	Algol (AKA-54) underway in the VA Capes Op area, July 1964. Photo taken from Muliphen (AKA-61)	© Richard Leonhardt
46k	Algol (AKA-54) at anchor, date and location unknown.	Rich Galiano
51k	Algol (AKA-54) at anchor, date and location unknown.	Rich Galiano
42k	Algol (AKA-54) at anchor, date and location unknown.	Rich Galiano
44k	Algol (AKA-54) underway, date and location unknown.	Rich Galiano
44k	Ex-Algol (LKA-54) laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Fort Eustis, VA., date unknown.	Rich Galiano
31k	Ex-Algol (LKA-54) at Eagle Island Marine, Wilmington, N.C. being prepared for sinking as part of the Shark River Artificial Reel off the Coast of New Jersey, circa, November 1991	Rich Galiano
114k	Ex-Algol (LKA-54) ready for sinking as part of the Shark River Artificial Reef off the coast of New Jersey, 22 November 1991. Photo ©Herb Segars.	Rich Galiano
28k	Ex-Algol (LKA-54) ready for sinking as part of the Shark River Artificial Reef off the coast of New Jersey, 22 November 1991.	Rich Galiano