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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Muscatine (AK-197)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Oscar - Mike
NEOM

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

Alamosa Class Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 21 December 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2151), at Globe Shipbuilding Co., Superior, WI.

Launched, 16 June 1944

Converted for Naval service at Pennsylvania Shipyards, Inc., Beaumont, TX.

Acquired by the US Navy 3 April 1945

Commissioned USS Muscatine (AK-197), 19 April 1945, at Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, TX., LT. William F. Heyer, USNR in command

During World War II USS Muscatine was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Service Squadron 8

Following World War II USS Muscatine was assigned to Occupation service from 28 October to 12 December 1945

Decommissioned, 7 March 1946, at Baltimore, MD.

Returned to the Maritime Commission, 12 March 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 20 March 1946

Merchant Service

Sold, 25 February 1947, to J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, Den-Norski Dyd Amerika Lines, Bergen, Norway, for $963,862.00. title passed, 24 February 1947, renamed MV Palma

Rebuilt in 1952

Sold in 1953, to Jens Henriksen, D/S A/S Imica, Risor, Norway, renamed MV Avance

Sold in 1968 to General Navigation Co., Inc, Philippine, Manila owners, reflagged Philippines, renamed MV Duke K.L.

Sold in February 1972 to Lee Sing & Co., Hong Kong breakers, cut her down in 1973 and converted her to a lighter

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
Length 338' 6"
Beam 50'
Draft 29' 2" (limiting)
Speed 11.5 kts.

Complement

Officers 15

Enlisted 70

Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.

Cargo Capacity 3,945 DWT

non-refrigerated 227,730 Cu ft

refrigerated 9,830 Cu ft

Armament

one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount

six single 20mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacity Diesel 6,300 Bbls

Propulsion

one Nordberg Diesel TSM6 engine, 1,750shp

two Diesel-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Muscatine (AK-197)
0913019702	132k	*USS Muscatine* (AK-197)** underway, date and location unknown.	Dirk Dijksman
Merchant Service
	155k	Ex-*USS Muscatine* (AK-197)** as the Norwegian-owned MV Palma underway, circa 1947-1952, location unknown.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
0913019703	167k	Ex-*USS Muscatine* (AK-197)** as the Norwegian-owned MV Avance underway, 6 January 1963, location unknown. ©FotoFlite	Dirk Dijksman

USS Muscatine (AK-197)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Heyer, William Frederick, USNR	19 April 1945 - 7 March 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Muscatine (AK-197) War Diary April to November 1945 and History

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index

Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 26 February 2021