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

USS Lyra (AK-101)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Mike - Kilo
 NBMK
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Crater Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 25 April 1943, as SS Cyrus Hamlin, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE 1555) at Permanente Metal Corp., Yard No. 1, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 28 May 1943
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 10 June 1943
  • Converted for Naval service at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Commissioned, USS Lyra (AK-101), 22 July 1943, LCDR. James H. Henderson in command
  • During World War II USS Lyra was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 3 May 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 8 May 1946, for disposal, name reverted to SS Cyrus Hamlin
  • Sold by the Maritime Commission for mercantile service
  • Merchant Service
    Sold in 1947 to A. G. Pappadakis of Piraeus Greece, renamed SS Virginia
    Sold in 1951 to Freighters & Tankers Agency Corp, New York, name retained
    Sold in 1953 to J. J. Culucundis, Piraeus and Freighters & Tankers Agency Corp, New York, name retained.
    Sold in 1954 to J. J. Culucundis, Piraeus and A G Pappadakis & Co Ltd, London, name retained.
    Sold in 1964 to Amedeo - Marfrontera Cia Nav. SA, Panama RP - Greek flag, (managed Carpanayoti & Co Ltd, London)
    Final Disposition, sold to Taiwan breakers, arrived Kaohsiung 3 April 1967
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 12.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 19
    Enlisted 236
    Cargo Capacity 7,750 DWT
    non-refrigerated 380,209 Cu ft
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    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
     one turbo-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
     three recip-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Lyra (AK-101)
    Lyra 74k USS Lyra (AK-101) (aft plan view) moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA., 12 June 1943 before being converted for Naval Service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4326-43, 6/12/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 66k USS Lyra (AK-101) (forward plan view) moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA., 12 June 1943 before being converted for Naval Service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4327-43, 6/12/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 84k USS Lyra (AK-101) (aft plan view) moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA., 28 July 1943 after conversion for Naval Service. Circled items are alterations made to make Lyra suitable for Naval Service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5438-43, 7/28/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 110k USS Lyra (AK-101) (amidship and aft plan view) moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., San Francisco, CA., 28 July 1943 after conversion for Naval Service.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5441-43, 7/28/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 69k USS Lyra (AK-101) (stern view) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, 4 August 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5667-43, 8/4/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 74k USS Lyra (AK-101) (broadside view) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, 4 August 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5669-43, 8/4/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 76k USS Lyra (AK-101) (bows on view) at anchor in San Francisco Bay, 4 August 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5671-43, 8/4/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 94k USS Lyra (AK-101) (stern view) off San Francisco, 11 December 1943
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8226-43, 11/124/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Lyra 72k USS Lyra (AK-101) (bows on view) off San Francisco, 11 December 1943
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 8230-43, 11/124/43.    		 Darryl Baker
    Merchant Service
    Lyra 53k Ex-Lyra (AK-101) in merchant service as the Greek flagged SS Virginia underway, date unknown. David Nixon
    USS Lyra (AK-101)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Henderson, James Hugh22 July 1943 - 4 March 1944
    02LCDR. Baker, Harry Borden4 March 1944 - 3 May 1946
    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
    Back To
    The Main Photo Index    		 Back To
    The Service Force Ship Type Index    		 Back To
    The Cargo Ship (AK) 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 13 June 2014