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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Libra (AKA-12) (LKA-12)
ex
USS Libra (AK-53) (1942 - 1943)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Quebec - Whiskey
NAQW

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)

Arcturus Class Cargo Ship

Laid down as MV Jean Lykes a Maritime Commissions type (C2-F) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 130) at Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. Kearny, N.J. for Lykes Bros. Steamship Co.

Launched, 12 November 1941

Acquired by the Navy, 30 December 1941

Commissioned USS Libra (AK-53), 3 May 1942, CDR. W. B. Fletcher in command

During WWII USS Libra was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings, 7 to 9 August 1942	New Georgia Group operation New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu occupation, 30 June 1944
Capture and defense of Guadalcanal, August 1942	Marianas operation Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 July 1944
Guadalcanal, 11 to 13 November 1942	Luzon operation Lingayen Gulf landings, 11 January 1945
Consolidation of Solomon Islands, July 1943	Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February 1945
Treasury-Bougainville operation, 1 and 8 November 1943	.

Reclassified Attack Cargo Ship (AKA-12), 1 February 1943

Decommissioned, 12 April 1948, at Boston, MA.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet

Recommissioned, 28 August 1950

Decommissioned, 6 October 1955, at Charleston S.C.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Charleston Group

Transferred to the Maritime Administration and reassigned to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.

Redesignated Amphibious Transport (LKA-12), 1 January 1969

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1977

Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall , VA.

Withdrawn from reserve by the Navy, 20 January 1984, for stripping

Returned to the Reserve Fleet, 31 July 1984, after stripping was completed

Final Disposition, fate unknown

USS Libra received nine battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 5,185 t.(lt) 10,713 t.(fl)
Length 459' 2"
Beam 63'
Draft 25' 10"
Speed 15.5 kts.
Complement 267
Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

eighteen single 20mm gun mounts
Boats

one LCP(L)

eight LCM(3)

sixteen LCVP
Propulsion one 2-stroke, 4 cylinder single-acting Doxford Diesel, single propeller, 6,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Libra (AK-53)
	134k	*USS Libra* (AK-53)** working cargo in the port of Wellington, N.Z, in July 1942 while preparing for the upcoming Guadalcanal campaign, in September 1942. US National Archives photo	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	101k	*USS Libra* (AK-53)** working cargo at the Aotea Quay in the port of Wellington, N.Z, in July 1942 while preparing for the upcoming Guadalcanal campaign, in September 1942. US National Archives photo	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	125k	*USS Libra* (AK-53)** working cargo at the Aotea Quay in the port of Wellington, N.Z, in July 1942 while preparing for the upcoming Guadalcanal campaign, in September 1942. US National Archives photo	Gerhard Mueller-Debus
USS Libra (AKA-12)
	135k	Forward plan view of *USS Libra* (AKA-12) at Mare Island, 12 December 1946. Libra was under repairs at the yard from 11 October to 13 December 1946. The stern of either USS Buck (DD-761) or USS Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752) is visible forward of Libra*. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3976-46*.	Darryl Baker
	67k	Bow on view of *USS Libra* (AKA-12)** at Mare Island, 12 December 1946. The tug Awatobi (YTB 264) is alongside. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3997-46.	Darryl Baker
	55k	Stern view of *USS Libra* (AKA-12)** off Mare Island, 12 December 1946. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 3998-46.	Darryl Baker
	35k	Broadside view of *USS Libra* (AKA-12)** off Mare Island, 12 December 1946. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4001-46.	Darryl Baker
	87k	*USS Libra* (AKA-12)*, underway in Hampton Roads, VA. 11 August 1952. Photo by PH3 W.T. Sanders, of Fleet Camera Party 11. US Navy photo # NH 97856* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center