Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Rankin (LKA-103)
ex
 USS Rankin (AKA-103) (1945 - 1969)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Papa - Yankee
 NEPY
Voice Call Sign - "Citrus Delta"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuba) - China Service Medal (extended)
Third Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Fourth Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 1-Vietnam)
Tolland Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 31 October 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1702), at North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, N.C.
  • Launched, 22 December 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy, 25 January 1945, from the Maritime Commission and ferried to her conversion yard at Charleston, S.C.
  • Commissioned USS Rankin (AKA-103), 25 February 1945, at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C., LCDR. Thomas D. Price in command
  • During World War II USS Rankin was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, June 1945
  • Decommissioned, 21 May 1947, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 22 March 1952, at Todd Shipyard, Alameda, CA., CAPT. Bernard H. Meyers, in command
  • Redesignated (LKA-103), 1 January 1969
  • Decommissioned, 11 May 1971, at Little Creek, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1977
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration
  • Final Disposition, sunk as an artificial reef 6 miles off Stuart Fl. in 1988. Laying on her starboard side at a depth of 130 feet
  • USS Rankin received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,635 t.(lt) 14,160 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 26' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 38
    Enlisted 387
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Boats
    fourteen LCVP
    eight LCM
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Cargo Capacity 380,000 cu ft, non-refrigerated, 5,275 DWT
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 10,425 bbls
    Diesel 805 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric geared turbine
    two Foster and Wheeler boilers, 450psi 750°
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    one propeller, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Rankin 136k USS Rankin (AKA-103), date and location unknown. .
    Rankin 33k USS Rankin (AKA-103) underway, March 1945. Louis F. Sander
    Rankin 475k Amidships plan view of USS Rankin (AKA-103) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 23 July 1946.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 2628-46, 7/23/46    		 Darryl Baker
    Rankin 339k Amidships looking aft plan view of USS Rankin (AKA-103) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 23 July 1946. Photo taken from USS Meriwether (APA-203) which is inboard of Rankin.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 2629-46, 7/23/46    		 Darryl Baker
    Rankin 312k Amidships looking forward plan view of USS Rankin (AKA-103) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 23 July 1946. Photo taken from USS Meriwether (APA-203) which is inboard of Rankin.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 2630-46, 7/23/46    		 Darryl Baker
    Rankin 80k USS Rankin (AKA-103) underway, circa 1953. Louis F. Sander
    Courtesy CDR Peter A. Trinca, USN (Ret.)
    USS Rankin, 1952-53 Ops Officer
    Rankin 54k USS Rankin (AKA-103), September 1961, New York. © Richard Leonhardt
    Rankin 62k USS Rankin (AKA-103), September 1961, New York. © Richard Leonhardt
    Rankin 41k USS Rankin (AKA-103), September 1961, New York. © Richard Leonhardt
    Rankin 67k USS Rankin (AKA-103), September 1961, New York. © Richard Leonhardt
    Rankin 109k USS Rankin (AKA-103), July-August 1964, Norfolk, VA
    Note USS Kittiwake (ASR-13) in background.    		 © Richard Leonhardt
    Rankin 42k USS Rankin (AKA-103), July-August 1964, Norfolk, VA. © Richard Leonhardt
    Rankin 105k USS Rankin (AKA-103), July-August 1964, Norfolk, VA. © Richard Leonhardt
    Rankin 77k USS Rankin (AKA-103) underway, circa 1968, place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Louis F. Sander

    For more photos and information about USS Rankin, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • Ex-USS Rankin (AKA/LKA-103) prior to being sunk as an artificial reef at Stuart, Fl.
  • Commanding Officers
    • Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Rankin (AKA-103)
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Cargo Ship (AKA/LKA) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 28 August 2009