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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Flagler (AK-181)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Kilo - Uniform
NEKU

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

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

Alamosa Class Cargo Ship:

Laid down in 1944 as a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2377) at Kaiser Cargo Inc., Richmond, CA.

Launched, 24 March 1945

Commissioned USS Flagler (AK-181), 18 May 1945, LT. Paul S. Smith, USNR, in command

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

Following World War II USS Flagler was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 17 to 20 September 1945

Grounded during Typhoon "Louise" on 9 October 1945, at Okinawa

Decommissioned, 24 December 1945, at Okinawa

Struck from the Naval Register, 7 February 1946

Returned to the Maritime Commission for lay up at Subic Bay, 29 March 1946

Sold, 3 March 1948 to the Asia Development Corp.

Final Disposition, scrapped at Shanghai in 1949

Specifications:
Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
Length 338' 6"
Beam 50'
Draft 21' 1"
Speed 11.5kts

Complement

Officers 15

Enlisted 70

Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.

Cargo Capacity 3,945 DWT

non-refrigerated 227,730 Cu. ft.

refrigerated 9,830 Cu. ft.

Armament

one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount

six single 20mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacity Diesel 6,300 Bbls

Propulsion

one Nordberg Diesel TSM6 engine

two Diesel-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller, 1,700shp

Size	Image Description	Source
106k	Invitation to the commissioning ceremony of *USS Flagler* (AK-181)** at Kaiser Cargo Shipyard No. 4, Richmond, CA.	Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler
291k	*USS Flagler* (AK-181)** commissioning ceremony at Kaiser Cargo Shipyard No. 4, Richmond, CA., 18 May 1945.	Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler
110k	*USS Flagler* (AK-181)** loading cargo, date and location unknown.	Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler
121k	*USS Flagler* (AK-181)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler
79k	*USS Flagler* (AK-181)** under way in heavy seas after encountering her first typhoon, date and location unknown. Note life raft missing.	Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler
571k	Chicago Tribune column by Tom Skilling with some storm details about "Typhoon Louise," the typhoon that grounded *USS Flagler* (AK-181)** at Okinawa.	Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler
120k	*USS Flagler* (AK-181)** grounded at Okinawa after Typhoon Louise passed over Buckner Bay in October 1945.	Donn Cuson
84k	*USS Flagler* (AK-181)** grounded at Buckner Bay, Okinawa in October 1945. Photos by LT. R E Dobkins, the ship's engineering officer.	Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler
94k		Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler
126k	*USS Flagler* (AK-181)** in drydock after being refloated at Okinawa, date unknown. Photos by LT. R E Dobkins, the ship's engineering officer.	Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler
102k
92k
02k
97k
90k	LT. R E Dobkins *USS Flagler* (AK-181)** Engineering Officer and his black gang. Richard Haffner is the sailor far right back row.	Richard Haffner EM2/c USS Flagler

USS Flagler (AK-181)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Smith, Paul Sanner, USNR	18 May 1945 - 24 December 1945


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 9 December 2016