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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AKA / LKA-103 Rankin

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Papa - Yankee
Voice Call Sign - "Citrus Delta"

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

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

Tolland Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 31 October 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1702), at North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, N.C.

Launched, 22 December 1944

Acquired by the Navy, 25 January 1945, from the Maritime Commission and ferried to her conversion yard at Charleston, S.C.

Commissioned USS Rankin (AKA-103), 25 February 1945, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C., LCDR. Thomas D. Price in command

During World War II Rankin was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Okinawa Gunto operation

Decommissioned, 21 May 1947, at San Francisco, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet

Recommissioned, 22 March 1952, at Todd Shipyard, Alameda, CA., CAPT. Bernard H. Meyers, in command

Redesignated (LKA-103), 1 January 1969

Decommissioned, 11 May 1971, at Little Creek, VA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1977

Returned to the Maritime Administration

Final Disposition, sunk as an artificial reef 6 miles off Stuart Fl. in 1988. Laying on her starboard side at a depth of 130 feet

Rankin received one battle star for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 8,635 t.(lt) 13,910 t.(fl)
Length 459' 2"
Beam 63'
Draft 26' 4"
Speed 16.5 kts.
Complement Officers 62 Enlisted 333
Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
Boats

fourteen LCVP

eight LCM
Cargo Capacity 380,000 cu ft, (5,275 t.)
Propulsion GE geared turbine drive, 1 propeller, 6,000 shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
136k	Rankin (AKA-103), date and place unknown.	.
33k	Rankin (AKA-103) underway, March 1945.	Louis F. Sander
475k	Amidships plan view of Rankin (AKA-103) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 23 July 1946. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 2628-46, 7/23/46	Darryl Baker
339k	Amidships looking aft plan view of Rankin (AKA-103) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 23 July 1946. Photo taken from Meriwether (APA-203) which is inboard of *Rankin. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 2629-46, 7/23/46*	Darryl Baker
312k	Amidships looking forward plan view of Rankin (AKA-103) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 23 July 1946. Photo taken from Meriwether (APA-203) which is inboard of *Rankin. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 2630-46, 7/23/46*	Darryl Baker
80k	Rankin (AKA-103) underway, circa 1953.	Louis F. Sander Courtesy CDR Peter A. Trinca, USN (Ret.) USS Rankin, 1952-53 Ops Officer
109k	Rankin (AKA-103), July-August 1964, Norfolk, VA Note Kittiwake (ASR-13) in background.	© Richard Leonhardt
54k	Rankin (AKA-103), September 1961, New York.	© Richard Leonhardt
42k	Rankin (AKA-103), July-August 1964, Norfolk, VA.	© Richard Leonhardt
105k	Rankin (AKA-103), July-August 1964, Norfolk, VA.	© Richard Leonhardt
62k	Rankin (AKA-103), September 1961, New York.	© Richard Leonhardt
41k	Rankin (AKA-103), September 1961, New York.	© Richard Leonhardt
67k	Rankin (AKA-103), September 1961, New York.	© Richard Leonhardt
77k	Rankin (AKA-103) underway, circa 1968, place unknown. US Navy photo.	Louis F. Sander