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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Lost to enemy action, 30 December 1944

USS Porcupine (IX-126)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Kilo - Hotel
 NJKH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (30 December 1944) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (7-KIA, 8-WIA, 30 December 1944)
Armadillo Class Mobile Station Tanker:
  • Laid down, 11 October 1943, as SS Leif Ericson, a Maritime Commission type (Z-ET1-S-C3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE Hull 1930) at Delta Shipbuilding Corp., New Orleans, LA.
  • Launched, 24 November 1943
  • Accepted by the US Navy 29 December 1943
  • Commissioned USS Porcupine (IX-126), 30 December 1943, LT. Daniel M. Paul USN in command
  • During World War II USS Porcupine was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific heater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Luzon operation, 27 to 30 December 1944
  • Final Disposition, lost to enemy action, 30 December 1944 at Mangarin Bay, Leyte, P.I.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 January 1945
  • USS Porcupine earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,665 t.(lt)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 28' 4"
    Speed 11 kts.
    Complement 79
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    two 220 PSI boilers
    one triple-expansion reciprocating engine
    single 4 blade, 18' 6" propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    United States Maritime Commission
    Gemsbok
    094611702    		 140k United States Maritime Commission Tanker Design Z-ET-1-S-C3.
    US National Archives photo thanks to Auke Visser's Famous T-Tanker Pages     		 
    USS Porcupine (IX-126)
    Porcupine
    094612603    		 742k
    Namesake
    Porcupine - are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Porcupine 79k USS Porcupine (IX-126) at anchor, 17 October 1944, in the Southwest Pacific.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-295412 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com    		 Mike Green
    Porcupine 21k USS Porcupine (IX-126), filled with aviation fuel, is struck by a kamikaze plane about 1549, 30 December 1944, off White Beach, Mangarin Bay, Leyte, PI. Porcupine was attacked by five Japanese Vals. The successful attacker dropped a bomb on Porcupine, then crashed into the ship, killing seven of her crew and wounding eight others. Attempts to stop the resulting fire from reaching the aviation fuel failed. Porcupine burned to the water line. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret, courtesy
    USS Bush (DD-529) web site
    USS Porcupine (IX-126)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    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 Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Miscellaneous Ship (IX) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 16 July 2021