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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Majaba (IX-102)
ex
 USS Majaba (AG-43) (1942)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Delta - Foxtrot
 NJDF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (7 November 1942)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
  • Completed in July 1919 as SS Meriden at Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland, OR.
  • Delivered the the United States Shipping Board (USSB)
  • Acquired by the E. K. Wood Lumber Co., in 1923, renamed SS El Capitan
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 23 April 1942, under charter from E.K. Wood Lumber Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Commissioned USS Majaba (AG-43), 23 April 1942
  • During World War II USS Majaba was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Capture and defense of Guadalcanal, 7 November 1942
  • Struck by enemy torpedo off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, 7 November 1942, destroying her engineroom and boilers
  • Decommissioned and placed in service as Majaba (IX-102), 1 July 1943
  • Placed out of service, 14 March 1946, at NOB Subic Bay, Luzon, P.I.and delivered to the WSA
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 March 1946
  • USS Majaba earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sunk at her pier 14 July 1946
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,070 t.
    Length 300'
    Beam 44' 1"
    Draft 17' 11"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Cargo Capacity 13,400 Cu. ft.
    Armament one single 3"/23 gun mount
    Propulsion
    AG-43 unknown, single propeller
    IX-102 non-self propelled
    one Diesel 20Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generator
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service
    Majaba
    094904302    		 123k E. K. Wood Lumber Co. freighter SS El Capitan underway off the northwest coast of the United States, 23 May 1941.
    MARAD photo    		  
    USS Majaba (AG-43)
    Majaba
    094904301    		 123k Offshore USS Majaba (AG-43) is abandoned, boatless, and grounded off the Tenaru River, Guadalcanal. Although far off, there is some visual evidence of plate damage at her engine spaces.
    Frank Scherschel, Life Magazine, 14 Dec 1942. Used for educational and non-commercial purpose.    		 John Chiquoine
    Majaba
    094904303    		 225k USS Majaba (AG-43) survivors, date and location unknown. George Fischer is at the left end of the middle row. Contributed by Scott Straub who's father-in-law George Fischer was a USS Majaba crew member and survivor
    Majaba
    094904305    		 86k IJN HA-11 (Type A Japanese Imperial midget submarine) responsible for torpedoing USS Majaba (AG-43) seen here with two Naval Construction Battalion Seabees standing on her hull at Maravovo Guadalcanal, 7 November 1942.
    Pacific Wrecks    		 Scott Straub
    USS Majaba (AG-43 / IX-102)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Shaw, Matthew, USNR23 April 1942 - 12 August 1942
    02LT. George Jr., Flave Josephus, USNR12 August 1942 - 1 July 1943
    03CDR. Robbins, Francis Leon USN (USNA 1923)15 July 1943 - 15 September 1944
    04CDR. Ridgley, Arthur Robert USNR15 September 1944 - 17 January 1945
    05LCDR. Noland, Roscoe Clifton, USNR17 January 1945 - 22 June 1945
    06CHMACH. Andrews, Roy Charles, USN22 June 1945 - 14 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
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Miscellaneous (AG) Photo Index Back To The Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 29 September 2023