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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Celeno (AK-76)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Kilo - Uniform
 NYKU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - Guadalcanal, 16 June 1943) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Crater Class Cargo Ship
  • Laid down, 3 November 1942, as SS Redfield Proctor, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 439), at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No. 2, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 12 December 1942
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 19 December 1942
  • Commissioned, USS Celeno (AK-76), 2 January 1943, LCDR. Niles E. Lanphere, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Celeno was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Consolidation of Solomon Islands
    Consolidation of southern Solomon Islands, 16 June 1943     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 18 April to 27 June 1945
    Bismarck Archipelago operation
    Admiralty Island landings, 24 to 28 March 1944     		 

  • Following World War II USS Celeno was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 26 to 27 November 1945
  • Decommissioned, 1 March 1946, at San Francisco, CA., and returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal, name reverted to SS Redfield Proctor
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 20 March 1946
  • USS Celeno earned three battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 14 March 1961, National Steel and Shipbuilding, San Diego, CA., Removed 6 June 1961, Scrapping completed, 4 August 1961
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.8 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 18
    Enlisted 189
    Troop Accommodation
    Officers 52
    Enlisted 991
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Cargo Capacity 4,470 DWT
    non-refrigerated 400,000 Cu ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    six single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    NSFO 7,285 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Joshua-Hendy vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 230psi 450°
    Ship's Service Generators
     three recip-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
     one turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Orion 243k USS Celeno (AK-76) moored at Mare Island Navy Yard, 23 November 1943, across from USS Orion (AS-18). Orion was completing her post commissioning overhaul.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo File name: AS 18 7821-43, US Navy, 11/23/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Celeno 130k Forward plan view of USS Celeno (AK-76) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 26 November 1943. The stern of USS Chincoteague (AVP 24) is in the background.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 7865-43.         		Darryl Baker
    Celeno 75k Stern view of USS Celeno (AK-76) departing Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 27 November 1943.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 7878-43.         		Darryl Baker
    Celeno 85k Broadside view of USS Celeno (AK-76) off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 27 November 1943. Celeno was in overhaul at the shipyard from 4 September until 30 December 1943.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 7880-43.         		Darryl Baker
    Celeno 60k Bows on view of USS Celeno (AK-76) departing Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 27 November 1943.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 7882-43.         		Darryl Baker
    USS Celeno (AK-76)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Lanphere, Niles Edward, USNR2 January 1943 - 13 October 1943
    02LCDR. Breed, Horace Herbert, USNR13 October 1943 - 9 November 1943
    03LCDR. Gately, John Paul, USNR9 November 1943 - 18 January 1945
    04LCDR. Haines Jr., Arthur Stephen18 January 1945 - 1 March 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 24 May 2024