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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Culebra Island (ARG-7)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Zulu - Whiskey NPZW

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 II Victory Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal

Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:

Laid down, 29 October 1943, as SS John F. Goucher, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 1830) at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, MD.

Launched, 23 November 1943

Delivered to the Maritime Commission and acquired by the US Navy, 29 November 1943

Converted to an Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship at Maryland Drydock Co, Baltimore, MD.

Commissioned USS Culebra Island (ARG-7), 19 May 1944, CDR. William E. McClendon, USN in command

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

Placed in commission in reserve, 30 November 1946, at San Diego, CA.

Decommmission, 15 January 1947

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet

Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration, 1 August 1961, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Permanent custody assumed by the Maritime Administration, 1 September 1962

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1962

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 10 December 1973, to Zidell Explorations, Portland, OR., physically delivered, 25 January 1974

Specifications:
Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(trial)
Length 441' 6"
Beam 56' 11"
Draft 23' (lim)
Speed 12.5 kts. (trial)

Complement

Officers 31

Enlisted 552

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

one 3"/50 gun mount

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts

twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts

Ship's Service Generators

three 350Kw 450V A.C.

two 60Kw 120V D.C.

Fuel Oil Capacity 19,540Bbls

Propulsion

one General Machine Corp. vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engine

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

single propeller, 2,500shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By/Source
67k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7) underway, date and location unknown. Note Culebra Island** is painted Camouflage Measure 31, Design 6Ax.	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
79k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Photo by PhoM1C George Beichert submitted by Marie Beichert
36k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)** at anchor off Leyte, Philippine Islands, 1944-45 with USS LST-66 alongside. Photo by Vincent Cottrell	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
53k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)** at anchor off Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, October 1944 with three LSTs alongside including USS LST-474. These three LSTs were damaged by shore batteries at Leyte, each of them lost men and two of them an officer each. Photo by Vincent Cottrell	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
69k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)** drydocked in the Philippine Islands, 1944-45. Photo by Vincent Cottrell	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
44k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)** drydocked in the Philippine Islands, 1944-45. Photo by Vincent Cottrell	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
44k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)** drydocked in the Philippine Islands, 1944-45. Photo by Vincent Cottrell	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
78k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)** LCVP #2 on deck. alongside to starboard are two LSM's. The outboard LSM is unidentified, the inboard LSM is USS LSM-217, date and location unknown. Photo by Vincent Cottrell	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
67k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)** boats in the water, date and location unknown. Photo by Vincent Cottrell	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
56k	*USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)** First Division, date and location unknown. Vincent Cottrell is standing behind the Sailor holding the monkey.	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island
70k	Forty-four of *USS Culebra Island* (ARG-7)**/s crew with enough points to return stateside leave the ship for Tacloban, Philippines Islands for transit home. Their sea bags are being loaded into a launch.	Daniel Cottrell in honor of his father Vincent Cottrell, Coxswain, USNR USS Culebra Island

USS Culebra Island (ARG-7)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. McClendon, William Elbert, USN	19 May 1944 - 21 August 1946
02	LCDR. Hayden, Paul George, USNR	21 August 1946 - 18 December 1946
03	LT. Hale, James Charles, USN	18 December 1946 - 15 January 1947


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
Miscellaneous Items
Ship's Newspaper "Fantails"

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 16 October 2020