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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AKA-96 Mathews

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Romeo - Lima
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 - World War II Victory Medal
Second Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Vietnam, 1-Cuba) - Vietnam Service Medal (4) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Andromeda Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 15 September 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract at Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co, Kearney, N.J.
  • Launched, 22 December 1944 Commissioned USS Mathews (AKA-96), 5 March 1945, CDR. C. A. Thorwall, in command
  • Decommissioned, 4 April 1947, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown)
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Reinstated in the Naval Register in 1951
  • Recommissioned, 16 February 1952
  • During the Vietnam War Mathews (AKA-96) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    8 to 13 August 1965
    22 to 27 October 1965    		 Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase III
    30 August to 1 September 1967
    30 September to 1 November 1967
    20 November to 18 December 1967
    11 to 21 January 1968
    Vietnam Counteroffensive
    27 May to 1 June 1966
    11 to 16 June 1966    		 Tet Counteroffensive
    31 January to 4 February 1968

  • Decommissioned, 31 October 1968, at San Diego, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 November 1968
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration
  • Final Disposition sold for scrapping in 1969
  • Mathews (AKA-96) earned four campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    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 DP 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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Mathews 57k Bow in view of Mathews (AKA-96) with Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, CA. in the background, 5 March 1952 shortly after her re-commissioning.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # NY9-12194-3-52, 3/5/52    		 Darryl Baker
    Mathews 74k Broadside view of Mathews (AKA-96) off Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, 5 March 1952 shortly after her re-commissioning.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # NY9-12196-3-52, 3/5/52    		 Darryl Baker
    Mathews 86k Stern view of Mathews (AKA-96) off Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, 5 March 1952 shortly after her re-commissioning.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # NY9-12198-3-52, 3/5/52    		 Darryl Baker
    Mathews 79k Mathews (AKA-96) underway while departing San Diego, date unknown.
    US National Archives photo    		 Jim Worth
    Mathews 70k Mathews (AKA-96) at anchor off the coast of South Vietnam, 1966. Photo by LT. Richard Dawson USS Renville
    Mathews 99k Mathews (AKA-96) moored pierside at San Diego, December 1968 © Richard Leonhardt
    Mathews 106k Mathews (AKA-96) underway, date and location unknown. Ray Reynolds
    View the Mathews (AKA-96)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Reunion Contact Information (1944-46 Only)
    Contact: Robert Richart
    Address: P.O. Box 3033, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
    Phone: (845) 454-5952
    E-mail: Mathews Reunion
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 28 September 2007