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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Ajax (AR-6)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Bravo - Charlie
NWBC
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal (4) - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)


Vulcan Class Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 7 May 1941, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. San Pedro, CA.
  • Launched, 22 August 1942
  • Commissioned USS Ajax (AR-6), 3 October 1943, CDR. John L. Brown in command
  • During World War II USS Ajax was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Ajax was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 25 September to 27 November 1945
  • During the Korean War USS Ajax participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    20 to 22 August 1951
    15 to 16 November 1951
    Korea Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    11 to 13 November 1952
    Second Korean Winter
    3 to 4 April 1952
    Third Korean Winter
    16 to 18 December 1952
    12 to 13 March 1953

  • During the Vietnam War USS Ajax participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    8 to 23 June 1968
    Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 to 11 May 1970
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    26 September to 11 October 1969
    Consolidation I
    25 August to 23 September 1971
    29 October to 21 November 1971
    Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    18 to 30 April 1970
     

  • Decommissioned, 31 December 1986, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 16 May 1989, hulk towed to Pt. Hueneme, CA.
  • USS Ajax earned four battle stars for Korean War service and five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Towed to Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility Bremerton, WA., arrived 13 July 1996
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping to ISL, Brownsville, TX, 23 May 1997, for $127,067.00, Removed, 14 June 1996, Scrapping completed 15 December 1997
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,430 t.(lt), 16,200 t.(fl)
    Length 529' 5"
    Beam 73' 4"
    Draft 23' 4" (lim)
    Speed 19.2 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 54
    Enlisted 1,067
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four .50 cal. machine guns
    Fuel Capacity
    NSFO 25,420 bbls
    Propulsion
    two Allis Chalmers geared steam turbines
    four Babcock and Wilcox 3-drum boilers, 400psi 720°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gears
    six turbo-drive 750Kw 450V A.C. Ship' Service Generators
    two propeller shafts, 11,000shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Ajax
    09250632
    144k
    Namesake
    Ajax - Is a Greek mythological hero, the son of King Telamon and Periboea, and the half-brother of Teucer. He plays an important role, and is portrayed as a towering figure and a warrior of great courage in Homer's Iliad and in the Epic Cycle, a series of epic poems about the Trojan War.
    Achilles tending Patroclus wounded by an arrow, identified by inscriptions on the upper part of the vase. Tondo from a kylix by the Brygos Painter, c. 480 BC. Paris, Louvre. The Brygos Painter was an ancient Greek Attic red-figure vase painter of the Late Archaic period. Together with Onesimos, Douris and Makron, he is among the most important cup painters of his time.
    Robert Hurst
    Ajax
    09250634
    219k USS Ajax (AR-6) underway in the harbor at San Diego, CA., circa 1943-45. Note censor has blacked out antennas. Nicholas Tiberio
    Ajax 138k USS Ajax (AR-6) under way off San Pedro, CA.. 23 November 1943.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # 19-N-55131, a Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.
    Robert Hurst
    Ajax 155k USS Ajax (AR-6) with USS Guadalupe (AO-32) alongside for repair at Ulithi, 9 February 1945. Guadalupe was damaged in a collision with USS Nantahala (AO-60) in January 1945.
    United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-352335, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Mike Green
    Ajax 130k USS Ajax (AR-6) at anchor with USS LCI(L)-604 and an unidentified LCI alongside, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Ajax 61k USS Ajax (AR-6) at anchor, date and location unknown. CAPT. John C. Ruff USN Ret.
    17th and last CO
    Ajax 121k Aboard USS Ajax (AR-6) MRFN Robert W. Tatum cuts a gate valve seat on a horizontal metal lathe., 13 December 1952 at Sasebo, Japan.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-477167, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Bill Gonyo
    Ajax 127k USS Ajax (AR-6) tending destroyers and patrol vessels at Sasebo, Japan, 14 December 1952. Ships nested along her port side include (left to right):
    USS The Sullivans (DD-537);
    USS McGowan (DD-678);
    USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675);
    Korean frigate Imchin (66) ex USS Sausalito (PF-4)
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-478507, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    Ajax 123k USS Ajax (AR-6) tending destroyers and patrol vessels at Sasebo, Japan, 14 December 1952. Ships nested along her port side include (left to right):
    USSThe Sullivans (DD-537);
    USS McGowan (DD-678);
    USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675);

    Korean frigate Imchin (66), ex USS Sausalito (PF-4)
    Nest of five minesweepers in the left distance includes:
    USS Heron (AMS-18);
    USS Curlew (AMS-8);
    USS Mockingbird (AMS-27);
    USS Gull (AMS-16)
    and
    USS Chatterer (AMS-40)
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-478506, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    Ajax 30k USS Ajax (AR-6) at anchor, circa 1955, location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Robert Hurst
    Ajax 83k USS Ajax (AR-6) drydocked at Sasebo, Japan in June 1960.  
    Ajax 59k
    Ajax 70k
    Ajax 78k
    Currituck 90k USS Ajax (AR-6) with; USS Cavalier (APA-37), USS Currituck (AV-7) and USS Boyd (DD-544) alongside at Naval Station Sasebo, Japan, circa 1961-62.
    US Navy photos from the collection of CDR. R.F. Dresel USN, USS Currituck
    Suzanne D. Simpson
    Ajax 102k USS Ajax (AR-6). flagship of Commander Service Squadron THREE, with five Seventh Fleet destroyers alongside, circa 1962.
    The destroyers are (from left to right):
    USS Ernest G. Small (DDR-838);
    USS Rupertus (DD-851);
    USS Trathen (DD-530);
    USS Cowell (DD-547);
    and
    USS Black (DD-666).
    US Navy photo # NH 98069, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
    US Naval Historical Center
    Ajax 850k USS Ajax (AR-6) under way,date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Yakutat 79k USS Ajax (AR-6) with USCGC Yakutat (WHEC-380) alongside at Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippine Islands in August 1967. Photo by Larry Backus
    Ajax/Jamestown 77k USS Ajax (AR-6) with USS Jamestown (AGTR-3) alongside at India Basin, Sasebo, Japan, circa1969-70. William P Jones MD
    ex Medical Officer
    USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)
    Ajax
    09250635
    373k USS Ajax (AR-6) at anchor in the harbor at Kaohsuing, Taiwan with USS Black (DD-666) and USCGC Wachusetts (WHEC-44) alongside, circa 1968-1969. Photo taken by Terry Miller from USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836)
    Ajax 80k USS Ajax (AR-6) moored in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, circa 6 July to 12 October 1980. Alongside are USS Kirk (DE-1087), USS Racine (LST-1191) and USS Frederick (LST-1184). Ken Moss EN3 USS Ajax
    Ajax 95k USS Ajax (AR-6) moored in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, circa 6 July to 12 October 1980. with USS Kirk (DE-1087), USS Racine (LST-1191) and USS Frederick (LST-1184) alongside to port. To starboard is an unidentified submarine. Ken Moss EN3 USS Ajax
    Ajax 77k USS Ajax (AR-6) moored in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, circa 6 July to 12 October 1980, with a submarine alongside. Ken Moss EN3 USS Ajax
    Ajax 291k USS Ajax (AR-6) off San Diego, circa 1984. CAPT. John C. Ruff USN Ret.
    17th and last CO
    and Robert Hurst
    Ajax
    09250633
    129k Post card image of USS Ajax (AR-6) underway, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    Ajax 89k Decommissioned USS Ajax (AR-6) at anchor near Bremerton, WA, date unknown.
    Photo source - Cobatfor (name unknown).
    Robert Hurst
    Ajax 32k ex USS Ajax (AR-6) ready for scrapping, date and location unknown.  
    Ajax 64k ex USS Ajax (AR-6) bronze plaque. Tommy Trampp
    Additional USS Ajax Patches
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Ajax Ajax Ajax

    USS Ajax (AR-6)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Brown, John Louser, USN (USNA 1923)30 October 1943 - 13 December 1944
    02CDR. Weldin, George Carroll, USN13 December 1944 - 6 August 1945
    03CAPT. Grimsley, Eric Miller, USN (USNA 1919)6 August 1945 - 23 April 1946
    04CAPT. Clark, Jeane 'R', USN (USNA 1925) :RADM23 April 1946 - ?
    05CAPT. Gains, Oliver Wallace, USN (USNA 1920)November 1949 - August 1950
    06CAPT. Mason, Ridfield, USN (USNA 1925):RADMAugust 1950 - 4 August 1951
    07CAPT. Smith, Richard Wilder, USN (USNA 1927)4 August 1951 - 1951
    08CAPT. Banks, James Oliver Jr., USN (USNA 1926)1952 - August 1952
    09CAPT. Acker, Frank Clements, USN (USNA 1932)August 1952 - October 1953
    10CAPT. Pitts, Ray Mauer, USN (USNA 1932)October 1953 - 19 March 1955
    11CAPT. Claudius, Herbert Gordon, USN19 March 1955 - 26 September 1956
    12CAPT. Campbell, Herbert John, USN (USNA 1932)26 September 1956 - 10 September 1957
    13CAPT. Blum, Robert, USN 10 September 1957 - May 1959
    14CAPT. Day Jr., Howard Earl, USN (USNA 1934) May 1959 - 17 May 1960
    15CAPT. Blackburn, John Richard, USN (USNA 1939)17 May 1960 - May 1961
    16CAPT. Schelling, Robert Ayres, USN (USNA 1938)May 1961 - August 1962
    17CAPT. Jamison, James Pollock, USN (USNA 1941)1 August 1962 - 5 July 1963
    18CAPT. Baker, William David, USN (USNA 1940)5 July 1963 - 22 August 1964
    19CAPT. Glaes, James Gordon, USN (USNA 1939)22 August 1964 - 10 July 1965
    20CAPT. Sharp, George Hand, USN10 July 1965 - 20 September 1966
    21CAPT. Langer, Chester Robert, USN20 September 1966 - 9 June 1968
    22CAPT. Crawford, Robert Elliott, USN (USNA 1946)9 June 1968 - 29 October 1969
    23CAPT. Coursin, Jack Tannehill, USN29 October 1969 - 31 July 1971
    24CAPT. Zimmerman, Wayne Lee, USN 31 July 1971 - October 1973
    25CAPT. Fullinwider, Peter Lansing, USN (USNA 1949)October 1973 - April 1976
    26CAPT. Stefferud, David Roberts, USNApril 1976 - 29 December 1977
    27CAPT. Seesholtz, John Richard, USN (USNA 1956) :RADM29 December 1977 - 12 January 1980
    28CAPT. Conway, James McNarney, USN (USNA 1955)12 January 1980 - March 1982
    29CAPT. Kerslake, Ronald William, USNMarch 1982 - July 1984
    30CAPT. Zmorzenski, Frank Peter, USNJuly 1984 - September 1986
    31CAPT. Ruff, John Crawford, USN (USNA 1962)September 1986 - 31 December 1986
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo

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

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
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    Last Updated 5 January 2024