NAVYPEDIA

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, t	7293
Displacement full, t	13910
Length, m	140.0
Breadth, m	19.2
Draught, m	8.00
No of shafts	1
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
Complement	267-397

Standard scale images

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.

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.