NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Alhena 1944

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
AK26, 11.1942- AKA9	Alhena (ex-Robin Kettering)	4343	Bethlehem, Sparrows Point	6.1940	18.1.1941	6.1941	stricken 8.1946

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	7101
Displacement full, t	11154
Length, m	146.2
Breadth, m	20.1
Draught, m	6.30
No of shafts	1
Machinery	Bethlehem geared steam turbine, 2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Power, h. p.	6300
Max speed, kts	16.6
Fuel, t	oil 2360
Endurance, nm(kts)	11000(12)
Armament	1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 10.18
Military load	15 - 16 LCVP, 8 LCM(3), cargo, troops by 1945: 6 LCM(6), 2 LCM(3), 10 LCVP, 1 LCPL, 4885t of cargo, 162 marines
Complement	446

Graphics

Project history

USN military transport vessels were sectioned into two groups: АР for transportation of troops and АК for carriage of goods and technics. The majority of them were built on the basis of standard types С2, С3 and С4 and differed from usual cargo ships a little.

For delivery of troops and cargoes directly to a beaching place assault landing transport ships (АРА and АКА) served, which main difference from АК and АР consisted that they were extra equipped with disembarkation craft of LCVP, LCM and LCP (L) types; with their help delivery of people and cargoes to beach also was effected.

Originally similar ships were not outlined in own subclass and were registered as АР and АК. In February, 1943 reorganisation was done and assault transports have received indexation АРА and АКА.

Two ships of Doyen class, projected even on the eve of war for landing operations in Caribbean basin, became the first American assault military transports. The overwhelming majority of remaining АРА and АКА has been converted from merchant cargo and cargo-passenger vessels or constructed in hulls of standard cargo vessels built by the big series in days of war. An exception were specially projected as assault transports Gilliam (АРА) and Artemis (АКА) classes.

Besides the large landing transport ships of АРА and АКА classes, small landing parties and subversive groups were landed by fast landing transports (APD) converted from become outdated Wickes and Clemson classes destroyers and destroyer escorts of Buckley and Rudderow classes.

Alhena was built in standard type C2 mod. hull.

Modernizations

by 1945 ship was presumably armed with 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 18 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar

1/1946: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 4 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 18 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar

Naval service

No significant events.