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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Algorab (AKA-8)
ex
 USS Algorab (AK-25) (1941 - 1943)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Bravo - Oscar
 NIBO
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (2- retroactive 30 June 1943, 6 April 1945-Okinawa) - American Defense Service Medal (with "A" device) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal
Arcturus Class Cargo Ship
  • Laid down, 10 August 1938, as SS Mormacwren, a Maritime Commission type (C2) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 20), at Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Chester, PA. for Moore-McCormack Lines
  • Launched, 15 June 1939
  • Acquired by the Navy, 6 June 1941
  • Commissioned USS Algorab (AK-25), 15 June 1941, at Boston, MA., CDR. Thomas B. Inglis in command
  • During World War II USS Algorab served in both the Europe-Africa-Middle East and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    North African Occupation
    Algerian-Morocco landings, 8 to 11 November 1942     		Consolidation of the Solomon Islands
    Consolidation of the southern Solomon Islands, 16 June 1943
      New Georgian Group operation
    New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu occupation, 30 June 1943
      Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 9 April 1945
    Hit by Japanese Kamikaze, 6 April 1945

  • Redesignated Attack Cargo Ship AKA-8, 1 February 1943
  • Decommissioned, 3 December 1945, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 December 1945
  • USS Algorab earned four battle stars for World War II service
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 30 June 1946, for disposal
  • Merchant Service
    Sold, 24 June 1947, to Pillsbury & Martignoni agents for Wallem & Co. Hong Kong (PD-X-315 dtd 10 February 1947), officially delivered and accepted, 24 June 1947, physically withdrawn, 11 September 1947
    Sold in 1948 to Cie. Maritime Belge, renamed MV Mongala, reflagged Belgian
     Sold in 1964 to P.G. Callimanopulus, renamed MV Hellenic Sailor, reflagged Greek
     Renamed MV Aloha in June 1973
     Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 23 December 1973, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,480 t. (lt) 14,225 t. (fl.)
    Length 459' 1"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 5"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 46
    Enlisted 351
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity 4,700 DWT
    Non-refrigerated 304,968 Cu. ft.
    Refrigerated 14,300 Cu. ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    eighteen 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 8,950 Bbls.
    Propulsion
    one Sun Doxford Diesel engine
    four Diesel-drive Ships's Service Generator, 230Kw, 120V/240V D.C.
    single propeller, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service Moore McCormack Lines
    Polaris
    09061116    		 344k Sunship yard's aerial scenes, 10 July 1939. The first, third, and fourth hull are C2 ships being completed for Moore-McCormack Lines as
    Donald McKay [USS Polaris (AF-11)],
    Mormachawk [USS Arctucus (AKA-1)], and
    Mormacwren [USS Algorab (AKA-8)]. The shipways in view has sister
    Mormacdove [USS Alchiba (AKA-6)]. The second vessel is Winkler, operated by Atlantic Oil Shipping. Over the next two years, the C2’s were acquired by the Navy and became USS Polaris, USS Arcturus, USS Algorab, and USS Alchiba. Winkler was torpedoed and lost three years later while straggling from the Belfast to New York convoy ON-166, 23 February1943. 19 men were lost and survivors landed at St John, Nova Scotia.
    Dallin collection photos, Hagley Museum. 11766, 11775, and 11778 Used for educational and non-commercial purpose.    		 John Chiquoine
    Polaris
    09061117    		 393k
    Polaris
    09061118    		 352k
    USS Algorab (AK-25)
    Algorab
    100200809     		46k
    Namesake
    Algorab s a star in the constellation Corvi. It is a double star, 3.1 and 8.5 magnitude, pale yellow and purple, on the right wing of the Raven.
    Constellations of Words    		 Tommy Trampp
    Algorab
    100200806
    19-N-24304     		144k USS Algorab (AK-25) near Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA., 30 June 1941.
    US National Archives Photo #'s 19-N-24304 and 19-N-24305, US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collections of the US Navy History and Heritage Command.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Algorab
    100200807
    19-N-24305     		136k
    Algorab 210k USS Algorab (AK-25) near Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 6 December 1942. Ron Reeves
    USS Algorab (AKA-8)
    Algorab 273k USS Algorab (AKA-8) at anchor, date and location unknown. James Farrell for his father James M. Farrell SM2/c USS Algorab.
    Algorab 76k USS Algorab (AKA-8) at anchor, probably at San Francisco in late 1945 or early 1946, in the final configuration of the class.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 78541, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    Merchant Service Hellenic Lines
    Algorab 102k Ex-USS Algorab (AKA-8) in mercantile service as the Hellenic Lines, freighter SS Hellenic Sailor underway, circa 1960s, location unknown. Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Algorab 82k Hellenic Lines, freighter SS Hellenic Sailor in South African waters, circa 1970. Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    USS Algorab (AK-25 / AKA-8)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Inglis, Thomas Browning, USN (USNA 1917 :RADM15 June 1941 - 18 March 1942
    02CDR. Lannom, Joseph Robert, CDR, US (USNA 1919)18 March 1942 - 21 January 1941
    03LCDR. Jorgenson, Herman, USNR21 January 1944 - 12 March 1944
    04CDR. Wiedorn, Paul Holister, USN12 March 1944 - 30 August 1944
    05CDR. Green, Thomas Chandler, USN (USNA 1927)30 August 1944 - 3 December 1945
    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
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    USS Algorab (AK-25) War Diary 2 June 1942 to 31 January 1943
    USS Algorab (AKA-8) War Diary 1 February 1943 to 19 October 1945
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 10 January 2025