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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Ajax (AR-6)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Bravo - Charlie NWBC

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal (4) - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Vulcan Class Repair Ship:

Laid down, 7 May 1941, at Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Corp. San Pedro, CA.

Launched, 22 August 1942

Commissioned USS Ajax (AR-6), 3 October 1943, CDR. John L. Brown in command

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

Following World War II USS Ajax was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 25 September to 27 November 1945

During the Korean War USS Ajax participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
UN Summer-Fall Offensive 20 to 22 August 1951 15 to 16 November 1951	Korea Defense Summer-Fall 1952 11 to 13 November 1952
Second Korean Winter 3 to 4 April 1952	Third Korean Winter 16 to 18 December 1952 12 to 13 March 1953

During the Vietnam War USS Ajax participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 8 to 23 June 1968	Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1 to 11 May 1970
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 26 September to 11 October 1969	Consolidation I 25 August to 23 September 1971 29 October to 21 November 1971
Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 18 to 30 April 1970

Decommissioned, 31 December 1986, at San Diego, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet

Struck from the Naval Register, 16 May 1989, hulk towed to Pt. Hueneme, CA.

USS Ajax earned four battle stars for Korean War service and five campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Towed to Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility Bremerton, WA., arrived 13 July 1996

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping to ISL, Brownsville, TX, 23 May 1997, for $127,067.00, Removed, 14 June 1996, Scrapping completed 15 December 1997

Specifications:
Displacement 9,430 t.(lt), 16,200 t.(fl)
Length 529' 5"
Beam 73' 4"
Draft 23' 4" (lim)
Speed 19.2 kts.

Complement

Officers 54

Enlisted 1,067

Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.

Armament

four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

four .50 cal. machine guns

Fuel Capacity

NSFO 25,420 bbls

Propulsion

two Allis Chalmers geared steam turbines

four Babcock and Wilcox 3-drum boilers, 400psi 720°

double Falk Main Reduction Gears

six turbo-drive 750Kw 450V A.C. Ship' Service Generators

two propeller shafts, 11,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
09250632	144k	*Namesake* Ajax - Is a Greek mythological hero, the son of King Telamon and Periboea, and the half-brother of Teucer. He plays an important role, and is portrayed as a towering figure and a warrior of great courage in Homer's Iliad and in the Epic Cycle, a series of epic poems about the Trojan War. Achilles tending Patroclus wounded by an arrow, identified by inscriptions on the upper part of the vase. Tondo from a kylix by the Brygos Painter, c. 480 BC. Paris, Louvre. The Brygos Painter was an ancient Greek Attic red-figure vase painter of the Late Archaic period. Together with Onesimos, Douris and Makron, he is among the most important cup painters of his time.	Robert Hurst
09250634	219k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6)** underway in the harbor at San Diego, CA., circa 1943-45. Note censor has blacked out antennas.	Nicholas Tiberio
	138k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6)** under way off San Pedro, CA.. 23 November 1943. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # 19-N-55131, a Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.	Robert Hurst
	155k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6) with USS Guadalupe (AO-32) alongside for repair at Ulithi, 9 February 1945. Guadalupe was damaged in a collision with USS Nantahala (AO-60)** in January 1945. United States National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-352335, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Mike Green
	130k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6)** at anchor with USS LCI(L)-604 and an unidentified LCI alongside, date and place unknown. US Navy photo from DANFS.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	61k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6)** at anchor, date and location unknown.	CAPT. John C. Ruff USN Ret. 17th and last CO
	121k	Aboard *USS Ajax* (AR-6)** MRFN Robert W. Tatum cuts a gate valve seat on a horizontal metal lathe., 13 December 1952 at Sasebo, Japan. US National Archives photo # 80-G-477167, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Bill Gonyo
	127k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6) tending destroyers and patrol vessels at Sasebo, Japan, 14 December 1952. Ships nested along her port side include (left to right): USS The Sullivans (DD-537)*; USS McGowan* (DD-678); USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675); Korean frigate Imchin (66) ex *USS Sausalito* (PF-4)** US National Archives photo # 80-G-478507, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the National Archives.	US Naval Historical Center
	123k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6) tending destroyers and patrol vessels at Sasebo, Japan, 14 December 1952. Ships nested along her port side include (left to right): USSThe Sullivans (DD-537)*; USS McGowan* (DD-678); USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675); Korean frigate Imchin (66), ex *USS Sausalito* (PF-4) Nest of five minesweepers in the left distance includes: USS Heron (AMS-18)*; USS Curlew* (AMS-8); USS Mockingbird (AMS-27); USS Gull (AMS-16) and *USS Chatterer* (AMS-40)** US National Archives photo # 80-G-478506, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the National Archives.	US Naval Historical Center
	30k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6)** at anchor, circa 1955, location unknown. US Navy photo	Robert Hurst
	83k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6)** drydocked at Sasebo, Japan in June 1960.
	59k
	70k
	78k
	90k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6) with; USS Cavalier (APA-37), USS Currituck (AV-7) and USS Boyd (DD-544)** alongside at Naval Station Sasebo, Japan, circa 1961-62. US Navy photos from the collection of CDR. R.F. Dresel USN, USS Currituck	Suzanne D. Simpson
	102k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6). flagship of Commander Service Squadron THREE, with five Seventh Fleet destroyers alongside, circa 1962. The destroyers are (from left to right): USS Ernest G. Small (DDR-838)*; USS Rupertus* (DD-851); USS Trathen (DD-530); USS Cowell (DD-547); and *USS Black* (DD-666)*. US Navy photo # NH 98069*, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	850k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6)** under way,date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	79k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6) with USCGC Yakutat (WHEC-380)** alongside at Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippine Islands in August 1967.	Photo by Larry Backus
	77k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6) with USS Jamestown (AGTR-3)** alongside at India Basin, Sasebo, Japan, circa1969-70.	William P Jones MD ex Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)
09250635	373k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6) at anchor in the harbor at Kaohsuing, Taiwan with USS Black (DD-666) and USCGC Wachusetts (WHEC-44)** alongside, circa 1968-1969.	Photo taken by Terry Miller from *USS George K. MacKenzie* (DD-836)**
	80k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6) moored in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, circa 6 July to 12 October 1980. Alongside are USS Kirk (DE-1087), USS Racine (LST-1191) and USS Frederick (LST-1184)**.	Ken Moss EN3 USS Ajax
	95k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6) moored in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, circa 6 July to 12 October 1980. with USS Kirk (DE-1087), USS Racine (LST-1191) and USS Frederick (LST-1184)** alongside to port. To starboard is an unidentified submarine.	Ken Moss EN3 USS Ajax
	77k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6)** moored in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, circa 6 July to 12 October 1980, with a submarine alongside.	Ken Moss EN3 USS Ajax
	291k	*USS Ajax* (AR-6)** off San Diego, circa 1984.	CAPT. John C. Ruff USN Ret. 17th and last CO and Robert Hurst
09250633	129k	Post card image of *USS Ajax* (AR-6)** underway, date and location unknown.	Tommy Trampp
	89k	Decommissioned *USS Ajax* (AR-6)** at anchor near Bremerton, WA, date unknown. Photo source - Cobatfor (name unknown).	Robert Hurst
	32k	ex *USS Ajax* (AR-6)** ready for scrapping, date and location unknown.
	64k	ex *USS Ajax* (AR-6)** bronze plaque.	Tommy Trampp

Additional USS Ajax Patches Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Ajax (AR-6)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Brown, John Louser, USN (USNA 1923)	30 October 1943 - 13 December 1944
02	CDR. Weldin, George Carroll, USN	13 December 1944 - 6 August 1945
03	CAPT. Grimsley, Eric Miller, USN (USNA 1919)	6 August 1945 - 23 April 1946
04	CAPT. Clark, Jeane 'R', USN (USNA 1925) :RADM	23 April 1946 - ?
05	CAPT. Gains, Oliver Wallace, USN (USNA 1920)	November 1949 - August 1950
06	CAPT. Mason, Ridfield, USN (USNA 1925):RADM	August 1950 - 4 August 1951
07	CAPT. Smith, Richard Wilder, USN (USNA 1927)	4 August 1951 - 1951
08	CAPT. Banks, James Oliver Jr., USN (USNA 1926)	1952 - August 1952
09	CAPT. Acker, Frank Clements, USN (USNA 1932)	August 1952 - October 1953
10	CAPT. Pitts, Ray Mauer, USN (USNA 1932)	October 1953 - 19 March 1955
11	CAPT. Claudius, Herbert Gordon, USN	19 March 1955 - 26 September 1956
12	CAPT. Campbell, Herbert John, USN (USNA 1932)	26 September 1956 - 10 September 1957
13	CAPT. Blum, Robert, USN	10 September 1957 - May 1959
14	CAPT. Day Jr., Howard Earl, USN (USNA 1934)	May 1959 - 17 May 1960
15	CAPT. Blackburn, John Richard, USN (USNA 1939)	17 May 1960 - May 1961
16	CAPT. Schelling, Robert Ayres, USN (USNA 1938)	May 1961 - August 1962
17	CAPT. Jamison, James Pollock, USN (USNA 1941)	1 August 1962 - 5 July 1963
18	CAPT. Baker, William David, USN (USNA 1940)	5 July 1963 - 22 August 1964
19	CAPT. Glaes, James Gordon, USN (USNA 1939)	22 August 1964 - 10 July 1965
20	CAPT. Sharp, George Hand, USN	10 July 1965 - 20 September 1966
21	CAPT. Langer, Chester Robert, USN	20 September 1966 - 9 June 1968
22	CAPT. Crawford, Robert Elliott, USN (USNA 1946)	9 June 1968 - 29 October 1969
23	CAPT. Coursin, Jack Tannehill, USN	29 October 1969 - 31 July 1971
24	CAPT. Zimmerman, Wayne Lee, USN	31 July 1971 - October 1973
25	CAPT. Fullinwider, Peter Lansing, USN (USNA 1949)	October 1973 - April 1976
26	CAPT. Stefferud, David Roberts, USN	April 1976 - 29 December 1977
27	CAPT. Seesholtz, John Richard, USN (USNA 1956) :RADM	29 December 1977 - 12 January 1980
28	CAPT. Conway, James McNarney, USN (USNA 1955)	12 January 1980 - March 1982
29	CAPT. Kerslake, Ronald William, USN	March 1982 - July 1984
30	CAPT. Zmorzenski, Frank Peter, USN	July 1984 - September 1986
31	CAPT. Ruff, John Crawford, USN (USNA 1962)	September 1986 - 31 December 1986


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo

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

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
MARAD Vessel History Data Base

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Last Updated 5 January 2024