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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT
PROCYON amphibious cargo ships (1941 - 1942)


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Oberon 1943

Ships


No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
AK19, 2.1943- AKA2 Procyon (ex-Sweepstakes) 36 Tampa SB 1/1940 14.11.1940 8.1941 stricken 4.1946
AK20, 2.1943- AKA3 Bellatrix (ex-Raven) 39 Tampa SB 1940 15.8.1941 2.1942 stricken 5.1946, reinstated 8.1951, stricken 6.1960, reinstated 3.1963, to Peru 7.1963 (Independencia)
AK21, 2.1943- AKA4 Electra (ex-Meteor) 40 Tampa SB 1940 18.11.1940 3.1942 stricken 1946, reinstated 10.1951, BU 1973
AK53, 2.1943- AKA12, 1.1969- LKA12 Libra (ex-Jean Lykes) 181 Federal, Kearny 1941 12.11.1941 5.1942 stricken 1.1977
AK55, 2.1943- AKA13, 10.1949- T-AKA13 Titania (ex-Harry Culbreath) 183 Federal, Kearny 10.1941 28.2.1942 5.1942 Military Sealift Command 10.1949, stricken 7.1961
AK56, 2.1943- AKA14, 10.1949- T-AKA14 Oberon (ex-Delalba) 184 Federal, Kearny 2.1942 28.3.1942 6.1942 Military Sealift Command 10.1949, stricken 7.1960


Technical data


Displacement standard, t

7476 - 8045

Displacement full, t

13910

Length, m

140.0 - 143.0

Breadth, m

19.2

Draught, m

7.80

No of shafts

1

Machinery

AKA2-4: 1 Nordberg diesel

AKA12-14: 1 set General Electric geared steam turbines, 2 Foster-Wheeler boilers

Power, h. p.

6000

Max speed, kts

16.5

Fuel, t

AKA2-4: diesel oil 1790

AKA12-14: oil 2130

Endurance, nm(kts)

AKA2-4: 22600(12)

AKA12-14: 18180(12)

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), cargo, troops

by 1945, AKA2-4: 6 LCM(6), 2 LCM(3), 10 LCVP, 1 LCPL, 4515 t of cargo, 54 marines

by 1945, AKA12-14: 6 LCM(6), 3 LCM(3), 10 LCVP, 1 LCPL, 4605t of cargo, 190 marines

Electronic equipmentprobably SC radar
Complement

412



Graphics


<i>Oberon</i> 1943
Oberon 1943


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.

Procyon class ships were built in standard C2 type hulls.

Modernizations

by 1945, AKA2-4 were armed with: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20, 18 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar

by 1945 AKA12-14 were 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, AKA2-4: 1 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 4 x 1 - 76/50 Mk 20/21, 18 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, SC or SF or SL or SN or SO or SU radar

1/1946, AKA12-14: 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.