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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Virgo (AE-30)
ex
USS Virgo (AKA-20) (1943 - 1966)

AKA-20 International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Sierra - Foxtrot NXSF

AE-30 International Radio Call Sign:
November - Oscar - India - Lima NOIL

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 (7) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (9) - Vietnam Service Medal (9)
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Andromeda Class Attack Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 9 March 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 204) at Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J.

Launched, 4 June 1943

Commissioned USS Virgo (AKA-20), 10 July 1943 at New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., CDR. Clayton H. McLaughlin in command

During WWII USS Virgo (AKA-20) was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater;
TransRon Eleven, COMO. D. W. Loomis USN (18)
TransDiv Thirty-Three, CAPT. S. M. Haight USN (18) and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Gilbert Islands operation Tarawa - Betio Island, 20 to 29 November 1943	Western Caroline Islands operation Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, Peleliu, 9 to 24 September 1944
Marshall Islands operation Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 4 February 1944	Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 17 February to 2 March 1945
Hollandia operation Aitape Humboldt Bay-Tanahmerah Bay, 21 to 27 April and 1 to 5 May 1944	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 15 May 1945
Marianas operation Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 27 July 1944

Following World War II USS Virgo was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
19 September 1945 to 10 April 1946	27 March to 12 April 1947
16 to 25 May 1947
22 to 29 March 1949
1 to 7 July 1949

During the Korean War USS Virgo (AKA-20) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
North Korean Aggression 18 September to 8 October 1950	Second Korean Winter 30 November to 16 December 1951 29 December 1951 to 10 January 1952 22 January to 3 February 1952 14 to 26 February 1952 10 to 27 March 1952 5 to 12 April 1952
Inchon Landing 15 to 17 September 1950	Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 24 May to 5 June 1952 14 June to 17 July 1952 30 to 31 July 1952
First UN Counteroffensive 15 to 18 March 1951 31 March to 11 April 1951	Third Korean Winter 4 to 22 January 1953 2 to 10 and 18to 24 February 1953 2 to 7 March 1953 22 March to 1 April 1953 13 to 19 and 29 to 30 April 1953
Communist China Spring Offensive 24 April to 6 May 1951 14 to 18 May 1951	Korean Summer-Fall 1953 1 to 5 and 14 to 17 May 1953
UN Summer-Fall Offensive 1 to 21 November 1951

Decommissioned, 3 April 1958

Laid up in Columbia River Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet, Astoria, OR.

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1961

Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria, OR..

Withdrawn from reserve in September 1965

Reinstated in the Naval Register, 1 November 1965 as an Ammunition Ship

Recommissioned USS Virgo (AE-30), 19 August 1966 at Seattle, WA., CAPT. Harold R. MacMillan in command

During the Vietnam War USS Virgo (AE-30) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive 12 February to 2 March 1966 9 March to 6 April 1966	Vietnamese Summer-Fall 1969 9 to 13 and 20 to 23 June 1969 30 June to 15 July 1969 24 July to 8 August 1969 1 to 2 and 9 to 23 September 1969 1 to 16 and 30 to 31 October 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 12 to 15 and 30 to 31 May 1967	Winter-Spring 1970 1 to 12 November 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 1 to 11 June 1967 28 June to 13 July 1967 24 July to 16 August 1967	Sanctuary Counteroffensive 7 to 26 June 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 7 to 17 April 1968 26 April to 6 May 1968 16 to 29 May 1968 12 to 24 June 1968 11 to 24 July 1968 3 to 22 August 1968 9 to 16 September 1968 24 September to 8 October 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 5 to 21 July 1970 27 July to 4 August 1970 14 to 18 August 1970 17 September to 3 October 1970 20 October to 4 November 1970
Tet 69/Counteroffensive 29 May to 8 June 1969

Decommissioned, 18 February 1971, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal

USS Virgo earned seven battle stars for World War II service, nine battle stars for Korean War service, and nine campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Final Disposition sold for scrapping, 19 November 1973 to Taipei Hsieh of Taiwan

AKA Specifications:
Displacement 6,556 t.(lt) 14,200 t.(fl)
Length 459' 3"
Beam 63'
Draft 26' 4"
Speed 16.5 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers 52

Enlisted 421

Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.

Cargo Capacity 4,450 dwt

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 3'/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

eighteen single 20mm AA gun mounts

Boats

eight LCMs

one LCP(L)

fifteen LCVPs

Fuel Capacity 11,010 Bbls

Propulsion

one De Laval steam turbine

two Combustion Engineering "D"-type boilers, 465psi 765°

De Laval double Main Reduction Gears

three turbo-drive 300Kw 120/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller, 6,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source By
USS Virgo (AKA-20)
	70k	*USS Virgo* (AKA-20)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
1016006611	367k	USS LST-66 steams into Tanahmerah Bay, Dutch New Guinea, 23 April 1943, maneuvering past *USS Virgo* (AKA-20). LST-66's deck is jammed to the rails with trucks, jeeps and other motorized equipment. As she steams in to the Bay American amphibious forces spring their smashing invasion of this strategic area. At the right is Virgo** and in the distance other LSTs have hit the beach and dropped their ramps. Refs. USS LST-66, USS John Rodgers and USS Virgo War Diaries, National Archives 205585106 Local Identifier 26-G-218, US Coast Guard photo # 2185 by Sturgis	David Upton
	242k	*USS Virgo* (AKA-20) underway in the attack force of the Invasion of Guam in July 1944, as seen from USS Ringgold (DD-500)**.	Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
	97k	*USS Virgo* (AKA-20)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Tommy Trampp
100202015	283k	Port and starboard side views of *USS Virgo* (AKA-20)** near the US Naval Dry-docks, Hunters Point, San Francisco, CA., 16 December 1944. Note her newly-fitted lattice radar mast. Three of the six early Federal-built units (AKA-17, 19, and 20) had this type of radar mast added between April and December 1944, all at this yard, while the other three received pole masts. This lattice mast was similar to the one fitted in the later Moore-built units but was located further forward and supported the small anti-aircraft fire control director that was mounted on a stand over the bridge in the Moore ships. Her camouflage scheme is measure 32/8T. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo # 19-N-81312 and #19-N-81311, US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green Nicholas Tiberio
. 100202022	452k		Mike Green Nicholas Tiberio
	82k	Stern view of *USS Virgo* (AKA-20) in the Mare Island channel, 29 July 1946. Virgo was under repair at Mare Island from 28 May to 26 July 1946. Ships to the right of Virgo, are per the shipyard logs: USS Missoula (APA-211); USS Magoffin (APA-199); USS Meriwether (APA-203); and USS Lubbock (APA 197)*. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # AKA 20 2751-46 - 7/29/46*	Darryl Baker
	86k	Broadside view of *USS Virgo* (AKA-20)** underway in the Mare Island channel, 29 July 1946. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # AKA 20 2753-46 - 7/29/46	Darryl Baker
	56k	Bow on view of *USS Virgo* (AKA-20)** underway with assistance of an unidentified tug off Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 29 July 1946. Ships in the background are part of the 19th Fleet (Reserve Fleet) moored at Mare Island. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # AKA 20 2756-46 - 7/29/46	Darryl Baker
100202023	249k	*USS Virgo* (AKA-20)** entering San Francisco Bay circa 1946. Marin County shore to the left and Angel Island to the far right in the background. U.S. Navy photo now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum	Darryl Baker
	401k	*USS Virgo* (AKA-20)** underway while inbound on her way into San Diego Bay, circa late 1940s-early 1950s. Photos Oather Morper Ship Photos.	David Buell
	421k
	447k
	113k	*USS Virgo* (AKA-20) transferring cargo to USS Lake Champlain (CVA-39)** while en route to Japan, 8 June 1953 US Navy photo # NH 97301, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center	US Naval Historical Center
	87k	Broadside view of *USS Virgo* (AKA-20) off Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 14 May 1957. Virgo** was under repair at Mare Island from 5 March to 13 May 1957. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # AKA 20 34262-5-57, 5/14/57	Darryl Baker
	495k	*USS Virgo* (AKA-20)** being removed from the Reserve Fleet at Astoria, OR., 19 August 1965 on her way to Seattle for conversion to an ammunition ship. Photo from the archives of the "San Francisco Examiner".	David Buell
USS Virgo (AE-30)
	86k	*USS Virgo* (AE-30)*, Subic Bay PI, 26 August 1970 US Navy Photo NH 97300*, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	42k	*USS Virgo* (AE-30) in the South China Sea being replenished via VertRep by a CH-46 helicopter from USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)**, circa 1969-70	Photo by Dr. W. P. Jones, Medical Officer, USS Niagara Falls
	30k	*USS Virgo* (AE-30) and USS Haleakala (AE-25)** steaming together in the late 1960s, place unknown.	Bill Toohey
	118k	*USS Virgo* (AE-30) as she steams alongside another ship in the Gulf of Tonkin during a replenishment at sea. The sign reads "Damn the Demonstrators Pass the Ammo" a retort to the anti-war demonstrators back in the US. The ship was cruising 60 miles north of the border between South and North Vietnam and 8 miles off the coast of North Vietnam. The Virgo** was carrying ammunition for destroyers which were shelling the coast of North Vietnam. AP Wirephoto.	Tommy Trampp
	243k	*USS Virgo* (AE-30)** underway in harbor, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	1061k	*USS Virgo* (AE-30)** moored pierside at Naval Station Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippines in 1969.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	337k	Bow on and port quarter views of *USS Virgo* (AE-30)** departing NAD Concord, CA. in 1970. US Navy photos.	Mike Smolinski
	326k		Mike Smolinski
	95k	*USS Virgo* (AE-30)** ship's plaque, features an insignia design adopted in 1966. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo #: NH 76172-KN (Color).	Robert Hurst

For more photos and information about USS Virgo, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
MARAD Vessel History Database
USS Virgo's 1957 Seventh Fleet Deployment, slide show contributed by Marc Schenck for his father LTjg. Bernard Schenck USS Virgo

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. McLaughlin, Clayton H.	16 July 1943 - 10 August 1944	AKA-20
02	LCDR. Randall, Herbert E.	10 August 1944 - 13 December 1945	AKA-20
03	LCDR. Lermond, Joseph W.	13 December 1945 - 16 January 1946	AKA-20
04	CAPT. Bennett, Laurence, USN	16 January 1946 - 16 August 1946	AKA-20
05	CAPT. McCready Jr., George Thomas	16 August 1946 - 17 October 1948	AKA-20
06	CAPT. Kaitner, William E.	17 October 1948 - 14 November 1948	AKA-20
07	CAPT. Legg, Charles Alston	14 November 1948 - 4 February 1950	AKA-20
08	CAPT. Ross, Philip Harold	4 February 1950 - 14 July 1951	AKA-20
09	CAPT. Sampson, Norman John	14 July 1951 - 5 September 1952	AKA-20
10	CAPT. Outerson, William	5 September 1952 - 5 November 1953	AKA-20
11	CAPT. Haskins, Enrique D'Hamel :RADM	5 November 1953 - 1 February 1955	AKA-20
12	CAPT. Becker, Charles H.	1 February 1955 - March 1956	AKA-20
13	CAPT. Rhymes Jr., Cassius Douglas	March 1956 - 18 April 1957	AKA-20
14	CAPT. Logsdon, Earl William	18 April 1957 - 8 May 1958	AKA-20
	Decommissioned	8 May 1958 - 9 August 1966
15	CAPT. MacMillan, Harold Robert	9 August 1966 - 27 May 1967	AE-30
16	CAPT. Carrier Jr., William, USN (USNA 1945)	27 May 1967 - 29 June 1968	AE-30
17	CAPT. Kaplan, Alan Joel	29 June 1968 - 16 August 1969	AE-30
18	CAPT. Roulstone, Don Jon	16 August 1969 - 14 January 1971	AE-30
19	LCDR. Parks Jr., William Hutchinson	14 January 1971 - 18 February 1971	AE-30


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 9 June 2023

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Virgo (AE-30)ex USS Virgo (AKA-20) (1943 - 1966)

USS Virgo (AE-30)
ex
USS Virgo (AKA-20) (1943 - 1966)