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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Arneb (LKA-56)
ex
USS Arneb (AKA-56) (1944 - 1969)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Hotel - Hotel
NHHH
Tactical Voice Radio Call "Snowball Uncle"

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Antarctic Service Medal (11) - Armed Forces Expansionary Medal (1-Dominican Republic) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)

Andromeda Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:

Laid down as SS Mischief, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1159), at Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, CA.

Launched, 6 July 1943

Acquired by the US Navy, 16 November 1943

Towed to Portland OR. for conversion to an Attack Cargo Ship

Commissioned USS Arneb (AKA-56), 28 April 1944, at Willamette Iron and Steel Co. Portland OR., CDR. Howard R. Shaw in command

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

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Western Caroline Islands operation Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 17to 23 September 1944	Luzon operation Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 18 January 1945
Leyte operation Leyte landings, 20 October and 23 to 24 November 1944	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April 1945

Decommissioned, 16 March 1948, at Philadelphia, PA.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet

Recommissioned, 19 March 1949

Redesignated (LKA-56), 1 January 1969

Decommissioned, 12 August 1971 at Norfolk, VA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 13 August 1971

Returned to the Maritime Administration for disposal

Final Disposition, sold, 1 March 1973, for scrapping to Andy International, Houston, TX.

USS Arneb received four battle stars for her World War II service and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for the recovery mission for Apollo 7

Specifications:
Displacement 6,556 t.(lt) 14,200 t.(lim)
Length 459' 2"
Beam 63'
Draft 26' 4"
Speed 16.5 kts (trial)
Complement

Officers 66

Enlisted 363
Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
Cargo Capacity 4,440 Cu ft., 4,900 DWT
Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

eighteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
Boats

8 LCMs

1 LCP(L)

15 LCVPs
Fuel Capacity NFSO 10,990 Bbls
Propulsion

one General Electric steam turbine

two Foster and Wheeler D-type boilers, 450psi 750°

double General Electric Main Reduction Gear

three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. , single shaft, 6,000shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By / Source
360k	Amidships looking aft plan view of *USS Arneb* (AKA-56)** at Mare Island, 7 February 1946. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 556-46, 2/7/46	Darryl Baker
300k	Forward plan view of *USS Arneb* (AKA-56) at Mare Island, 7 February 1946. USS Haven (AH-12)** is seen at left. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 557-46, 2/7/46	Darryl Baker
91k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56) underway off the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, 22 April 1949. Arneb** was refitted for Arctic operation, which probably explains the gunhouse fitted to her 5"/38 aft. Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for "U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History" by Norman Friedman.	Robert Hurst
14k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56)** underway, circa 1951, location unknown.	Robert Hurst
74k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56) moored to the ice shelf at Kainan Bay, Antarctic as an LCM pushes USNS Greenville Victory (T-AK-237) into position to refuel Arneb** during "Operation Deepfreeze II", in 1957. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1962	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
44k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56) unloading supplies at Hallet during "Operation Deepfreeze II". USCGC Northwind (WAGB-282)** in the background. US Navy photo	Jim Hager
37k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56)** listing to port in order to repair ice damage to her hull, during "Operation Deepfreeze II", 1957. Note the "mike boat" (LCM) lowered over the port side to increase the list. US Navy photo	Jim Hager
42k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56)** listing to port in order to repair ice damage to her hull, during "Operation Deepfreeze II", 1957. US Navy photo	Jim Hager
20k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56)** listing to port in order to repair ice damage to her hull, during "Operation Deepfreeze II", 1957. US Navy photo	.
18k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56) and USCGC Northwind (WAGB-282)** in the pack ice during "Operation Deepfreeze II", 1957 US Navy photo	.
37k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56) and USCGC Northwind (WAGB-282)** trapped between bay ice and land ice after a storm New Year's eve 1956. US Navy photo	Jim Hager
82k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56)**, during "Operation Deepfreeze 1962-63	Kenneth C Uhlir SM2 USS Arneb
139k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56)** underway in the Antarctic icepack during "Operation Deepfreeze", in 1962-63. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1962	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
86k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1963	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
278k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	David Buell
46k	*USS Arneb* (AKA-56)*, 10 December 1969, off loading stores at Little America 1960-61 US Navy photo # 1046469*	Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. 1, pg. 394