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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AKA / LKA-61 Muliphen

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3 Lebanon, 1Jul53-1Nov58)

Andromeda Class Attack Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 13 May 1944, 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, 26 August 1944

Acquired by the Navy, 21 October 1944

Commissioned USS Muliphen (AKA-61), 23 October 1944, LCDR. Walter W. Williamson in command

During World War II Muliphen (AKA-61) participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima 19 February to 4 March 1945	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto 1 to 10 April 1945

Decommissioned (date unknown)

Redesignated (LKA-61), 1 January 1969

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1977

Returned to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

Final Disposition, sunk as an artificial reef 16.5 miles off Port St Lucie FL., January 1989. Sitting upright, at a depth of 168 feet

Muliphen received two battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 6,458 t.(lt) 14,200 t.(fl.);
Length 459' 2"
Beam 63'
Draft 26' 4"
Speed 16.5 kts.
Complement 429
Cargo Capacity 4,450 dwt
Armament

one single 5"/38 DP gun mount

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
Boats

14 LCVPs

1 LCP(L)

8 LCMs
Propulsion geared turbine, single screw, 6,000shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
72k	Muliphen (AKA-61) underway, date and place unknown. US Navy photo	Richard Leonhardt
77k	Muliphen (AKA-61) underway, prior to 1964, place unknown. US Navy photo	Richard Leonhardt
148k	Painting Muliphen (AKA-61)'s hull, date and place unknown. US Navy Photo from "All Hands" magazine August 1953.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
58k	Muliphen (AKA-61) conducting amphibious exercises off NAB Little Creek, VA., August 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
54k	Muliphen (AKA-61) underway in Hampton Roads, VA., July 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
103k	Muliphen (AKA-61) conducting amphibious exercises off NAB Little Creek, VA., August 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
50k	Muliphen (AKA-61) conducting amphibious exercises off NAB, Little Creek, VA., July 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
123k	Muliphen (AKA-61) moored pierside, NOB Norfolk, VA., July 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
88k	Muliphen (AKA-61) anchored in Hampton Roads, VA., July 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
47k	Muliphen (AKA-61) conducting amphibious exercises off NAB Little Creek, Va., July 1964	© Richard Leonhardt
70k	Muliphen (AKA-61) underway, circa 1954 to 1957, place unknown.	Ronald L Wiant
73k	Muliphen (AKA-61) underway, date and place unknown.	Russ Padden

Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Contributed by Mike Smolinski

View the Muliphen (AKA/LKA-61)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site

Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Muliphen AKA-61 "The Mighty Mule"

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Last Updated 23 June 2006