Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AKA-58 / AE-31 Chara

Voice Call Sign "Abigail" (50-53)
Andromeda Class Amphibious Cargo Ship
  • Laid down as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract, at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J.
  • Launched, 15 March 1944
  • Commissioned USS Chara (AKA-58), 14 June 1944, Cdr. C. B. Hamblett, USNR, in command
  • Assigned to the Naval Transportation Service (NTS), 1946
  • Transferred to the Military Sea Transportation System (MSTS), 1 October 1949
  • Decommissioned, 21 April 1959
  • Recommissioned, 25 June 1966 as USS Chara (AE-31)
  • Decommissioned, March 1972
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 10 March 1972
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 12 November 1972, to Zidell Explorations, Portland, OR.
  • Chara received four battle stars for World War II service seven battle stars for Korean War service
    AKA 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
    Armament one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount, four twin 40mm gun mounts, eighteen single 20mm gun mounts
    Boats 8 LCMs, 1 LCP(L), 15 LCVPs
    Propulsion steam turbine, single shaft, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Chara 24k Chara (AKA-58) underway, date and place unknown. .
    Chara 14k Chara (AKA-58) underway, date and place unknown. .
    Chara 73k Chara (AKA-58) underway, date and place unknown. Hyperwar US Navy
    in WWII web site
    Chara 58k Chara (AKA-58) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo now in the collections of the NARA Seattle.    		 Tracy White
    Chara 47k Chara (AKA-58) during and underway replenishment with Philippine Sea (CV-47) and Hollister (DD-788), circa early 1950s during the Korean War.
    US Navy photo now in the collections of the NARA Seattle.    		 Tracy White
    View the Chara (AKA-58)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Chara (AKA-58/AE-31) Association
    "AE" Sailors Association
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Cargo Ship (AKA) Photo Index Back To The Ammunition Ship (AE) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 1999 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 17 February 2006