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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Draco (AK-79)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Quebec - Quebec
NYQQ

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal

Crater Class Cargo Ship

Laid down in 1942 as SS John M. Palmer, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 453) at Permanente Metals Corp.,Richmond, CA.

Launched, 19 January 1943

Acquired by the US Navy, 31 January 1943

Commissioned, USS Draco (AK-79), 16 February 1943, LCDR. Earle L. Evey, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Draco was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Marianas operation Capture and occupation of Guam, 27 July to 9 August 1944	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 to 30 June 1945

Decommissioned, 28 November 1945, at Tacoma, WA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 19 December 1945

USS Draco earned two battle stars for World War II service

Returned to the Maritime Commission, 27 July 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria, OR.

Laid up, 22 July 1947, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.

Merchant Service

Sold, 9 August 1947, to Southern Steamship Proprietary Ltd., reflagged South African, renamed SS President Kruger

Resold in 1951, renamed SS Riviera

Resold in 1953, renamed SS Effie

Renamed SS President Pretorius in 1958

Final Disposition, scrapped in April 1968, at Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Specifications:
Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(fl)
Length 441' 6"
Beam 56' 11"
Draft 28' 4"
Speed 12.5 kts (trial)

Complement

Officers 18

Enlisted 188

Troop Accommodation

Officers 52

Enlisted 991

Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.

Cargo Capacity 7,800 DWT

non-refrigerated 400,000 Cu ft.

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 and 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
USS Draco (AK-79)
	329k	Starboard broadside view of *USS Draco* (AK-79)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Ed Zajkowski
	93k	*USS Draco* (AK-79)** underway in Puget Sound in August 1945. US Navy photo.	Robert Hurst
Merchant Service
	380k	Ex-*USS Draco* (AK-79)** in merchant service as SS President Kruger, under way, date and location unknown. Photo © Alex Duncan.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	293k	Ex-*USS Draco* (AK-79)** in merchant service as SS President Pretorius, under way, circa early-1960s, location unknown.	Gerhard Mueller-Debus

USS Draco (AK-79)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Evey, Earle Llewllyn	16 February 1943 - 26 September 1944
02	LCDR. Drysdale Jr., Robert Maxwell	26 September 1944 - 28 November 1945


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
MARAD Vessel History Database

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 25 May 2018