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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Union (LKA-106)
ex
 USS Union (AKA-106) (1945 - 1969)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Charlie - November
NECN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 3-Vietnam)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (6) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (10) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Tolland Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 27 September 1944, as SS North Carolina, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1697), at North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, N.C.
  • Renamed Union and launched, 23 November 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and towed or ferried to her conversion yard at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co., Hoboken, N.J.
  • Commissioned USS Union (AKA-106), 25 April 1945, at Hoboken, N.J., CDR. Hartwell T. Doughty in command
  • During World War II USS Union was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II and the Korean War USS Union was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    10 December to 3 January 194710 December to 3 January 1947
    6 to 25 June 19501 to 16 December 1951
     8 to 15 February 1955

  • During the Korean War USS Union (AKA-106) participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Second Korean Winter
    20 to 22 December 1951
    19 March to 2 April 1952
    30 April 1952    		 Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    1 to 3 May 1952
    21 to 23 May 1952
  • During the Vietnam War USS Union (AKA / LKA-106) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    26 to 30 August 1966
    15 to 25 September 1966
    19 October to 23 November 1966
    4 to 11 January 1967    		 Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    2 to 23 July 1968
    6 to 12 August 1968
    Tet Counteroffensive
    2 to 6 March 1968
    29 March to 1 April 1968    		 Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    8 September to 22 October 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 to 8 April 1968
    29 April to 8 May 1968
    8 to 16 June 1968    		 Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    4 to 11 November 1969
    18 to 21 November 1969

  • Redesignated (LKA-106), 1 January 1969
  • Decommissioned, 5 June 1970
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay. Benecia, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1976
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in September 1977, to National Metals and Steel Corp., Terminal Island, CA.
  • USS Union was awarded two battle stars for Korean service and six campaign stars for her Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,635 t.(lt) 14,160 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Total Accommodations
    Officers 38
    Enlisted 387
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Cargo Capacity 5,275 DWT
    non-refrigerated 380,00 Cu ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Boats
    six LCVP
    eight LCM
    two Gigs
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 10,425 Bbls
    Diesel 805 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric geared turbine
    two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 450psi 750°
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    one propeller, 6,000 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Union 728k USS Union (AKA-106) anchored off Brooklyn, N.Y., 29 April 1945, four days after conversion and commissioning. The ship's decks were still bare of her full complement of LCM and LCVP assault craft.
    Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.    		 Don Wagner
    Union 43k USS Union (AKA-106) at anchor off Brooklyn, N.Y., 29 April 1945 Yves Hubert
    Union 87k USS Union (AKA-106)'s LCVPs circle in the transport area off Inchon, prior to going to the line of departure on the first day of the Inchon Invasion, 15 September 1950. An LST, wearing the side number QO-12, is in the center background.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-423215, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Scott at LBS Products
    Union 72k USS Union (AKA-106) moored pierside at Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan in 1951 Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 38k USS Union (AKA-106) loading SeeBee equipment in 1951, location unknown. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 72k USS Union (AKA-106) moored pierside Naval Station Yokosuka, Japan, February 1952. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 32k USS Union (AKA-106) drydocked at San Francisco 1952. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 90k USS Union (AKA-106) underway off San Diego, date unknown. Don Garner RM3
    Operations Division
    12 March 1951 to 13 July 1953
    Union 91k USS Union (AKA-106) underway off San Diego, date unknown. Don Garner RM3
    Operations Division
    12 March 1951 to 13 July 1953
    Union 101k USS Union (AKA-106) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Union 158k USS Union (AKA-106) during towing exercises with USS Renville (APA-227), location unknown, 1966. Photo by LT. Richard Dawson USS Renville.
    Union 105k USS Union (AKA-106) during towing exercises with USS Renville (APA-227), location unknown, 1966. Photo by LT. Richard Dawson USS Renville.
    Union 206k Shimmering Water surrounds USS Union (LKA-106) and USS Tripoli (LPH-10) berthed together at White Beach Navy pier, Okinawa.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, May 1970, photo by PH2 R. E. Ziel USN.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Union 40k USS Union (AKA-106) pilot house. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 37k USS Union (AKA-106)'s flying bridge. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 17k One of USS Union (AKA-106)'s twin 40mm gun mounts. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 39k USS Union (AKA-106) lowering one of the ship's LCMs over the side. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 35k Two of USS Union (AKA-106)'s "Mike" boats alongside. Photo by Don Garner USS Union
    Union 26k Lowering one of USS Union (AKA-106)'s LCVPs over the side at Sasebo, Japan. Photo by Don Garner USS Union

    For more photos and information about USS Union, see:
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • Commanding Officers
    • Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Cargo Ship (AKA/LKA-106) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 18 November 2011