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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT
ARCTURUS amphibious cargo ships (1939 / 1940 - 1941)


Photo



Alchiba 1942

Ships


No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
AK18, 2.1943- AKA1 Arcturus (ex-Mormachawk) 176 Sun SB, Chester // Philadelphia N Yd 7.1938 18.5.1939 7.1939 // 10.1940 stricken 6.1946
AK23, 2.1943- AKA6 Alchiba (ex-Mormacdove) 178 Sun SB, Chester // Boston N Yd 8.1938 6.7.1939 9.1939 // 8.1941 stricken 2.1946
AK24, 11.1942- AKA7 Alcyone (ex-Mormacgull) 179 Sun SB, Chester // Boston N Yd 1.1939 28.8.1939 10.1939 // 6.1941 stricken 8.1946
AK25, 2.1943- AKA8 Algorab (ex-Mormacwren) 177 Sun SB, Chester // Boston N Yd 8.1938 15.6.1939 8.1939 // 6.1941 stricken 12.1945
AK28, 2.1943- AKA11 Betelgeuse (ex-Mormaclark) 180 Sun SB, Chester // Brewer Drydock 3.1939 18.7.1939 11.1939 // 6.1941 stricken 3.1946


Technical data


Displacement standard, t7293
Displacement full, t

13910

Length, m

140.0

Breadth, m

19.2

Draught, m

8.00

No of shafts1
Machinery

AKA1: 1 Sun Nordberg diesel

AKA6-8, 11: 1 Sun Doxford diesel

Power, h. p.6000
Max speed, kts

16.5

Fuel, t

diesel oil 1790

Endurance, nm(kts) 
Armament

1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20, 4 x 1 - 12.7/90

Military load

15 - 16 LCVP, 8 LCM(3), 4410t of cargo, 112 marines

by 1945: 6 LCM(6), 2 LCM(3), 9 LCVP, 2 LCPL, 4410t of cargo, 112 marines

Complement267-397


Standard scale images


<i>Arcturus </i>1944
Arcturus 1944


Graphics


<i>Alchiba</i> 1942
Alchiba 1942


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.

Arcturus class ships were ex-cargo vessels for Moore-McCormack Lines, were purchased by Navy on stocks. Standard type C2.

Modernizations

by 1945 all ships were armed with 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 2 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 16 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, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 16 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar

Naval service

No significant events.