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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Duplin (AKA-87)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Juliet - Tango
 NHJT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe, Africa, Middle East Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Achernar Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 18 August 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1401) at North Carolina Shipbuilding Corp. Wilmington, N.C.
  • Launched, 17 October 1944
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 30 October 1944, from the Maritime Commission, and towed to her conversion yard, Key Highway Plant, Bethlehem Steel Plant, Baltimore, MD.
  • Commissioned USS Duplin (AKA-87), 15 May 1945, at Baltimore, MD., CDR. Herbert B. Fluck, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Duplin was assigned initially to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and subsequently to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Duplin was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    1 to 10 November 1945
    13 January to 8 February 1946

  • Decommissioned, 21 May 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 5 June 1946
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 23 May 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Merchant Service
    Sold, 23 June 1947, to A.H. Bull and Co., renamed SS Kathryn
     Sold, 18 September 1962, (US Marshal's sale) to National Maritime Leasing Co.
     Sold, 11 April 1963, to Dearborn Shipping Corp., renamed SS Dearborn
     Sold, 18 September 1963, to Rio Grande Transport Inc., renamed SS Rio Grande
     Maritime Administration (title exchange), 27 October 1964
     Chartered by Bulk Transport Inc., 27 October 1964
     Leased under General Agency Agreement, 20 October 1965, to Bulk Transport Inc., (MSC operations)
  • Laid up, 28 September 1967, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 6 January 1971, to American Ship Dismantlers, delivered, 20 January 1971
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,556 t.(lt) 14,100 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 38
    Enlisted 387
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Cargo Capacity 5,275 DWT
    non-refrigerated 380,000 Cu ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    eighteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Boats
    eight LCMs
    one LCP(L)
    fifteen LCVPs
    Fuel Capacity
    NSFO 10,425 Bbls
    Diesel 805 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric steam turbine
    two Foster Wheeler header-type boilers, 450psi, 750°
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Duplin 255k USS Duplin (AKA-87) under way, 11 June 1945, probably proceeding to assigned anchorage with other amphibious ships. The nearest ship in the left background is USS Myers (APD-105).
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 107743    		 Mike Green
    Duplin 151k USS Duplin (AKA-87) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 78560. Courtesy of Mr. James Russell.    		 Mike Green
    Duplin 19k USS Duplin (AKA-87) moored pierside, date and location unknown. Russ Padden courtesy Tom Crew
    USS Duplin (AKA-87)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Fluck, Herbert Byron, USNR15 May 1945 - 21 May 1946
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Duplin (AKA-87) War Diaries May 1945 to November 1945, Ship's History and Action Report
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    AKA 87 USS Duplin
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Cargo Ship (AKA) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 8 January 2021