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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Mona Island (ARG-9)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Bravo - Yankee NQBY
Voice Call Sign "Budgie 3"

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:

Laid down, 10 April 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2634) at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, MD.

Launched, 11 May 1944

Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and converted to Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship (ARG-9) at Maryland Drydock Co, Baltimore, MD.

Commissioned USS Mona Island (ARG-9), 17 October 1944, CDR. Kenneth F. Horne, USN in command

During World War II USS Mona Island was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 10 May to 30 June 1945

Following World War II USS Mona Island was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September to 19 October 1945

Decommissioned, 30 October 1947, at Norfolk, VA.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, at Norfolk

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1962

USS Mona Island earned one battle star for World War II service

Custody assumed by the Maritime Administration, 24 October 1961, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.

Permanent custody assumed by the Maritime Administration, 1 September 1962

Purchased for the Artificial Fish Reef program, State of Virginia, 27 March 1974, removed from the Reserve Fleet, 27 February 1975

Final Disposition, reefed off Virginia's Eastern shore at Parramore Reef, Wachapreague Island, VA., 20 August 1975, 37° 32.6 N 75° 26.3 W.

Specifications:
Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(trial)
Length 441' 6"
Beam 56' 11"
Draft 23' (lim)
Speed 12.5 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers 31

Enlisted 552

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

one 3"/50 gun mount

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts

twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts

Ship's Service Generators

three 350Kw 450V A.C.

two 60Kw 120V D.C.

Fuel Oil Capacity 19,540Bbls

Propulsion

one General Machine Corp. vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engine

two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers 220psi 450°

single propeller, 2,500shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By/Source
51k	*Mona Island* just after launching at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, MD., 11 May 1944.	David Nixon
65k	USS Mona Island in the anchorage at Ulithi between 5 and 13 March 1945. She appears to be serving as a tender to PCE ad YMS vessels. Photo by AR Chiquoine taken from USS Harrison (DD-573)	John Chiquoine
135k	*USS Mona Island* (ARG-9)** at anchor at Kerama Retto, between 10 April and and 7 July 1945 while repairing landing craft and ships damaged on the invasion beaches of Okinawa.	Henry Carr for David Sweeten USS Mona Island, donation of David Sweeten Family.
191k	*USS Mona Island* (ARG-9)** at anchor at either Kerama Retto or Buckner Bay, between 10 April and 8 October 1945 while repairing landing craft and ships damaged during the invasion of Okinawa.	Henry Carr for David Sweeten USS Mona Island, donation of David Sweeten Family.
191k	*USS Mona Island* (ARG-9)** at anchor at either Kerama Retto or Buckner Bay, between 10 April and 8 October 1945 with a Submarine Chaser alongside.	Henry Carr for David Sweeten USS Mona Island, donation of David Sweeten Family.
227k	*USS Mona Island* (ARG-9)** during an air attack at either Kerama Retto or Buckner Bay, between April and July 1945.	Photos by David Sweeten USS Mona Island, contributed by Henry Carr, donation of David Sweeten Family.
186k
229k
66k	*USS Mona Island* (ARG-9)** at anchor, at Buckner Bay, Okinawa after being damaged by Typhoon Louise, 1945.	Photo by Fred Conner MoMM/2 USS Hooper Island, Contributed by Lannis E. Huckabee COL. USA Ret.
84k	*USS Mona Island* (ARG-9)** Department Heads, Okinawa 1945: Left to right seated Gunnery Officer; Repair Officer, James C. McConahay; Engineer Officer, LCDR Davis Left to right standing; Navigator & Senior Watch Officer, later Executive Officer, LT. Payne; Communications Officer; Medical Officer, Dr. Orenberger; Supply Officer, LT. Niece.	CDR John B. Payne, USNR, Ret.
195k	*USS Mona Island* (ARG-9)** crew photos.	Photos by David Sweeten USS Mona Island, contributed by Henry Carr, donation of David Sweeten Family.
285k
241k
96k	*ALSHIPS* msg announcing the entry of the Soviet Union into the War against Japan.	CDR John B. Payne, USNR, Ret.

For more photos and information about USS Mona Island, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
Typhoon "Louise"- 9 October 1945
The "Mona Log"

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Horne, Kenneth Ferguson, USN	17 October 1944 - 21 August 1945
02	CDR. Baskett, David Todd, USNR	21 August 1945 - 17 October 1945
03	CAPT. Lustie, Alvin Oscar, USNR	17 October 1945 - 20 November 1945
04	CAPT. Blake, Ernest, USN (USNA 1927) :RADM	20 November 1945 - 18 December 1946
05	LCDR. Tibbets, Richard Herbert, USN	18 December 1946 - 30 October 1947
06	CAPT. O'Brien, William John, USN (USNA 1925)	November 1948 - August 1950


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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Last Updated 26 July 2019