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 Acubens (AKS-5)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Zulu - Yankee NIZY

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

Acubens Class General Stores Issue Ship:

Laid down as SS Jean Louis, 25 November 1943, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1935) at Delta Shipbuilding Co., New Orleans, LA.

Launched, 8 January 1944

Acquired by the US Navy, 9 February 1944

Completed as a General Stores Issue Ship at Todd-Johnson Dry Docks, Inc., New Orleans, LA.

Commissioned USS Acubens (AKS-5), 15 July 1944, CDR. Edward B. Ellis USNR in command

During World War II USS Acubens was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Decommissioned, 11 March 1946, at Pearl Harbor

All ships of the Acubens class were meant to be used as Bikini Assets, in 'C' test and were kept at Pearl Harbor until a decision was made in 1947 to transfer custody of these ships to the Maritime Commission

Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown

Transferred, 20 June 1947, to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay Group, Benecia, CA.

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 22 September 1964, to Schintzer Steel Products Co., Portland, OR. (PD-X-676 dated 31 August 1964), $150,250.00, in a three ship deal, delivered, 19 October 1964

Specifications:
Displacement 5,240 t.(lt) 14,550 t.(fl)
Length 441' 6"
Beam 56' 11"
Draft 28' 4"
Speed 12.5 kts.

Complement

Officers 17

Enlisted 176

Cargo Capacities 5,900DWT

Non-refrigerated 220,166 Cu ft

Refrigerated 21,800 Cu ft

Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

Fuel Capacities

NSFO 13,475 Bbls

Diesel 695 Bbls

Propulsion

one Iron Fireman vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine

two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 220psi 450°

two turbo-drive 150Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller, 2,500shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
	264k	*USS Acubens* (AKS-5)** commissioning ceremony, 15 July 1944, at Todd-Johnson Dry Docks, Inc., New Orleans, LA. Ship's doctor LT. Raoul Laurent Drapeau, MD (MC) USNR far left front row. US Navy photos from the collection of the Drapeau family	Raoul Drapeau
	309k
	307k
	100k	*USS Acubens* (AKS-5)** probably the commanding officer inspecting boat crews, date and location unknown. Note the ship's mascot dog in the background. Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family	Raoul Drapeau
	48k	*USS Acubens* (AKS-5)** under way in Hampton Roads, 14 August 1944. Note the ship's Measure 32 pattern camouflage and her "Liberty Ship" lines. US National Archives photo # 80-G-248504, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives	US Naval Historical Center
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM photo #19-N-71993	100k	*USS Acubens* (AKS-5)** under way off Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 14 August 1944. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM photo #19-N-71993, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM photo #19-N-71994	106k		Mike Green
	119k	*USS Acubens* (AKS-5)** under way, probably at Port Moresby, or Hollandia, New Guinea, circa December 1944-January 1945.	Randell Summerville
	114k	*USS Acubens* (AKS-5)** anchored off San Francisco, CA. in San Francisco Bay, circa December 1945 US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 78143, courtesy Donald McPherson, Corte Madera, CA., 1973.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	205k	LT. Raoul Laurent Drapeau (MC), *USS Acubens* (AKS-5), transferring via highline to USS Clark (DD-361)** during a medical emergency, date and location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family	Raoul Drapeau
	192k	LT. Raoul Laurent Drapeau (MC) returns safely to *USS Acubens* (AKS-5) after being highlined to USS Clark (DD-361)** to treat a patient, date and location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family	Raoul Drapeau
	136k	*USS Acubens* (AKS-5)** "Crossing the Line" (crossing the equator) initiation of the ships pollywogs, date and location on the equator unknown. Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family	Raoul Drapeau
	94k		Raoul Drapeau
	41k	*USS Acubens* (AKS-5)** at anchor, date and location unknown. Photo from the collection of the Drapeau family	Raoul Drapeau