NAVYPEDIA

Photo

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 equipment	probably SC radar
Complement	412

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.

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.