Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Chengho (IX-52)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Tango - Victor
 NETV
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (Pearl Harbor) - American Defense Service Medal (with bronze star in lieu of Fleet clasp)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Chinese Motorized Junk Yacht:
  • Laid down in 1939, at the King Shipways, Hong Kong BCC, for Mrs. Anne Archbold
  • Launched in October 1939, at Hong Kong BCC
  • After delivery to her owner the yacht, Cheng Ho's first cruise as was a plant collecting expedition to the Spice Islands terminating at Hawaii
  • Acquired by the US Navy for one dollar from Mrs. Anne Archbold (New York Times, 14 July 1941)
  • Placed in service as Chengho (IX-52), 23 July 1941, assigned to 14th Naval District
  • On 7 December 1941, Chengho was at the Section Base, Bishop's Point
  • Chengho served at Pearl Harbor as a picket boat and as an inshore patrol boat throughout World War II
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 25 February 1946
  • Turned over to the War Shipping Administration for disposal
  • Sold to the Cheng-Ho Trading and Exploring Co., date unknown
  • Last known sighting was in 1990, Cheng Ho was a derelict pulled up onto a beach of the harbor at Papeete, Tahiti
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • Chengho earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 175 t. (limiting)
    Length 94'
    Beam 23' 4"
    Draft 11'
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Armament
    one single 3"/23 cal dual purpose gun mount
    Propulsion
    two Superior Diesel engines
    two Diesel-drive 7.5Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    two propellers, 200shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Cheng Ho 98k Chengho (IX-52) probably moored pierside at Honolulu, T.H. circa July 1941 soon after her acquisition by the Navy. She was a replica of a 15th-century Chinese junk that had been used in scientific expeditions.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, photo No. 19-N-25051 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. Courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Cheng Ho 236k Chengho (IX-52) moored pierside at Honolulu, T.H., date unknown.
    US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 Jon Burdett
    Chengho (IX-52)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Miscellaneous Ship (IX) 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 15 June 2012