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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Cor Caroli (AK-91)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Golf - Golf
 NKGG
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal

USS Cor Caroli (AK-91) was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, date unknown, as SS Betsy Ross, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 476) at Permanente Metals Corp. Yard No. 2, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 19 March 1943
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 31 March 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Cor Caroli (AK-91), 16 April 1943, LCDR. James A. Lewis, USCGR, in command
  • During World War II USS Cor Caroli was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 27 July to 15 August 1944

  • Decommissioned, 30 November 1945, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 2 December 1945 for disposal, name reverted to SS Betsy Ross
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 December 1945
  • USS Cor Caroli earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, transferred to the state of South Carolina, 26 May 1975, reefed, 16 miles off Hilton Head, S.C.
    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 400,000 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
    Cor Caroli 105k Aft plan view of USS Cor Caroli (AK-91) at San Francisco, CA., 1 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2240-3-43, 4/1/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Cor Caroli 127k Amidships looking forward plan view of USS Cor Caroli (AK-91) at San Francisco, CA., 1 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2241-3-43, 4/1/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Cor Caroli 93k Amidships plan view of USS Cor Caroli (AK-91) at San Francisco, CA., 1 April 1943. Note the Betsy Ross name board still in place.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2242-3-43, 4/1/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Cor Caroli 94k Amidship plan view of USS Cor Caroli (AK-91), before conversion, while moored pierside at San Francisco, CA., 19 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2779-43, 4/19/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Cor Caroli 83k Forward plan view of USS Cor Caroli (AK-91) while moored pierside at San Francisco, CA., 19 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2781-43, 4/19/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Cor Caroli 84k Aft plan view of USS Cor Caroli (AK-91) while moored pierside at San Francisco, CA., 22 April 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 2918-43, 4/22/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Cor Caroli 51k USS Cor Caroli (AK-91), stern view, underway off San Francisco, CA., 1 May 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3171-43, 5/1/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Cor Caroli 57k USS Cor Caroli (AK-91), broadside view, underway off San Francisco, CA., 1 May 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3173-43, 5/1/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Cor Caroli 60k USS Cor Caroli (AK-91) bow on view, underway off San Francisco, CA., 1 May 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3173-43, 5/1/43    		 Darryl Baker
    Cor Caroli 57k Ex-Cor Caroli (AK-91) nested with other hulks ready for disposal, circa 1978, place unknown. David Nixon
    USS Cor Caroli (AK-91)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Lewis, James A., USCGR16 April 1943 - April 1944
    02CDR. Wev, Oscar Cottman Buckingham, USCGApril 1944 - 1 September 1944
    03LCDR. Morton, Fred E., USCGR1 September 1944 - 6 October 1945
    04LCDR. Hoag, Chester S., USCG6 October 1945 - 30 November 1945
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 26 September 2015