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

USAT Fairfield
ex
 USS Fairfield (AK-178) (1945 - 1946)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Kilo - Echo
 NEKE
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War r II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal
Alamosa Class Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down in 1944 as a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2374), at Kaiser Cargo Inc., Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 6 February 1945
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 28 March 1945, and commissioned USS Fairfield (AK-178), the same day, LT. Charles R. Snyder, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Fairfield (AK-178) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 11 January 1946, at Yokosuka, Japan
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 5 February 1946, custody transferred to the US Army the same day
  • Commissioned USAT Fairfield, date unknown, manned by a Japanese crew.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 12 April 1946
  • Final Disposition, USAT Fairfield ran aground on the north coast of Babuyan Island, about 70 miles north of the north tip of Luzon, Philippines, 18 December 1946. She was declared a total loss, 29 April 1947.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,382 t.(lt) 7,450 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 6"
    Beam 50'
    Draft 21' 1"
    Speed 11.5kts
    Complement
    Officers 15
    Enlisted 70
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity 3,945 DWT
    non-refrigerated 227,730 Cu. ft.
    refrigerated 9,830 Cu. ft.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    six single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 6,300 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Nordberg Diesel TSM6 engine
    two Diesel-drive 250Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,700shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Fairfield 234k Christening by Mrs. Henry W. Creeger Jr., Kaiser employee from Fairfield, Ohio and launching of Fairfield (AK-178), 6 February 1945, at Kaiser Cargo Inc., Richmond, CA. Dale Hargrave
    USS Fairfield (AK-178)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Snyder, Charles Robert, USNR28 March 1945 - 11 January 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    A History by CAPT. Douglas Stahl USN, - Rescue of USAT Fairfield and USS LSM-432 crews
    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 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 10 March 2023