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NavSource Online: Army Ship Photo Archive

USAT Taku

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Coastal Steamer:
  • Laid down in 1920 as SS Ormes for the Donald Steamship Co. at Todd Shipyards, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Launched in 1920
  • Delivered in Decenber 1920 to the Donald Steamship Co and leased as a banana carrier
  • Acquired in 1939 by the Alaska Transportation Co. re-fitted as a small cargo ship at Todd Shipyard, Harbor Island, Seattle, WA., rename SS Taku
  • Acquired 23 May 1942, by the War Shipping Administration at Seattle, WA. from the Alaska Transportation Co.
  • Allocated, 25 May 1942 as a sub bare bottom charter to the War Department, Transportation Corps.
  • Allocated, 8 August 1945 under a General Agency Agreement to Alaska Transportation Co., at Seattle, WA.
  • Re-delivered, 15 May 1946, to the Alaska Transportation Co., at Seattle
  • Sold in 1946, renamed SS Lloyd Cuarto reflagged Panama
  • Renamed SS Rio Bravo in 1952
  • Renamed Jurandy in 1955
  • Renamed Senhor do Bonfim in 1958
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,362 gross tons
    Length 227'
    Beam 34'
    Draft 24'
    Speed unknown
    Armament unknown
    Complement unknown
    Troopship Passenger Capacity 12
    Cargo Capacity unknown
    Cruise Radius unknown
    Propulsion
    one triple expansion reciprocating steam engine
    single shaft 1,300shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Taku 120k SS Taku probably soon after being acquired and renamed Taku in 1939 by the Alaska Transportation Co. Courtesy Shipscribe.com
    Taku 104k SS Taku probably shown after modification by the Alaska Transportation Co. in 1939-40 for operation in the cold Alaska climate. The forward deckhouse has been enclosed and the wooden bridge replaced with a more substantial steel one. Courtesy Shipscribe.com
    Taku 117k SS Taku just prior to her service in the Army during World War II. She is wearing wartime gray paint and has a light armament.
    Photo from U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center.    		 Courtesy Shipscribe.com
    Taku 138k
    There is no history record for USAT Taku available at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 4 June 2021