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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Albireo (AK-90)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Golf - Delta
NKGD

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS Albireo (AK-90) was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II

Crater Class Cargo Ship:

Laid down, date unknown, as SS John G. Nicolay, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 525), at Permanente Metals Corp. Yard No.1, Richmond, CA.

Launched, 25 February 1943

Acquired by the US Navy, 9 March 1943

Converted for Naval service at Matson Navigation Co., San Francisco, CA.

Commissioned, USS Albireo (AK-90), 29 March 1943, at San Francisco, LCDR. Edward M. Benton, USCGR, in command

During World War II USS Albireo was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Following World War II USS Albireo was assigned to Occupation service from 3 November 1945 to 25 March 1946

Decommissioned, 5 July 1946, at Norfolk, VA.

Returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal, name reverted to SS John G. Nicolay

Struck from the Naval Register, 31 July 1946

Merchant History

Sold in August 1947, to Southern Steamships (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg - renamed SS President Steyn, re-flagged South African

Sold in 1949 to Northern Steamships (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg

Sold in 1951 to Cia Nav Hidalgo SA, Panama RP, renamed SS Hidalgo, re-flagged Liberian

Sold in 1954 to Blue Bay SS Corp., renamed SS Ocean Sailor, flagged Liberian

Final Disposition, sold to Japanese breakers, arrived Kure 10 April 1967

Specifications:
Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
Length 441' 6"
Beam 56' 11"
Draft 28' 4"
Speed 12.5 kts.

Complement

Officers 16

Enlisted 190

Cargo Capacity 7,750 DWT

non-refrigerated 412,211 Cu ft

Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount

two 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 & Wilcox header-type boilers, 220psi 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
USS Albireo (AK-90)
80-G-172886	158k	Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for the cargo ship *USS Albireo* (AK-90)*, a Liberty (EC-2) ship. This plan, approved by Captain Torvald A. Solberg, USN, is dated 27 May 1944. It shows the ship's starboard and port sides and superstructure ends. US National Archives photo #'s 80-G-172886* and 80-G-172887, now in the collections of the National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
80-G-172887	180k		US Naval History and Heritage Command
	82k	Broadside view of *USS Albireo* (AK-90)** moored at the Matson Navigation Co., piers in San Francisco, CA. for conversion to Naval service, 30 March 1943. US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2129-3-43, 3/30/43.	Darryl Baker
	82k	Forward plan view of *USS Albireo* (AK-90)** moored at the Matson Navigation Co., piers in San Francisco, CA. for conversion to Naval service, 30 March 1943. US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2130-3-43, 3/30/43.	Darryl Baker
	90k	Broadside view of *USS Albireo* (AK-90)** off San Francisco, CA., 30 March 1943. US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2157-3-43, 3/30/43.	Darryl Baker
	72k	Bow on view of *USS Albireo* (AK-90)** off San Francisco, CA., 30 March 1943. US Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2160-3-43, 3/30/43.	Darryl Baker
Merchant Service
©A. Duncan	313k	Ex-Albireo (AK-90) in merchant service as the South African flagged SS President Steyn arriving at Capetown, South Africa, circa 1947-51.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	53k	Ex-Albireo (AK-90) in merchant service as the Liberian flagged SS Hidalgo underway, circa 1951-54.	David Nixon
©B.Rohbrecht	260k	Ex-Albireo (AK-90) in merchant service as the Liberian flagged SS Ocean Sailor circa 1954-67.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
©World Ship Society	266k		Gerhard Mueller-Debus
0913009011	199k	SS Ocean Sailor getting underway probably in the harbor at Vancouver, B.C., Canada with a cargo of lumber, circa 1954-67. ©foreign	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
0913009012	148k	SS Ocean Sailor loading a cargo of lumber at Vancouver, B.C., Canada, circa 1954-67. ©W. Frost	Gerhard Mueller-Debus