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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

US Army Tanker
Y-54

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Design 294 Harbor Tanker
  • Built by John H. Mathis Co., Camden, NJ (YN 160)
  • Laid down, date unknown
  • Launched, 23 October 1944
  • Delivered to the US Army Transportation Corps as Y 53, January 1945
  • Delivered by the War Department to the WSA (War Shipping Administration), 11 July 1945
  • Loaned to the Soviet Union at San Francisco, CA, 11 July 1945
  • Placed in service as Танкер 4 (Tanker No. 4)
  • Assigned to Soviet Pacific Fleet, 17 January 1946
  • Renamed Нерча (Nercha), 30 May 1949
  • Final disposition, scrapped or scuttled, 11 November 1960
    Specifications:
    Displacement 633 tons
    Length 180'
    Beam 30'
    Draft 14'
    Speed 9 kts
    Complement 23 (including gun crew of 6)
    Armament two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 280,000 gallons
    Propulsion two Clark Bros. 4-cyl diesel engines
    twin screws, 700hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Y-54
    302005401    		 232k Progress photo during construction of Y 54 at John H. Mathis Co., 12 October 1944.
    Mathis Collection, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA    		 Dave Wright
    Y-54
    302005402    		 231k Bow view of Y 54 on the ways at John H. Mathis Co., the day of her launching, 23 October 1944.
    Mathis Collection, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA    		 Dave Wright
    Y-54
    302005403    		 171k Stern view of Y 54 on the ways at John H. Mathis Co., the day of her launching, 23 October 1944.
    Mathis Collection, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA    		 Dave Wright
    Y-54
    302005404    		 271k General view of Y 54 on the ways at John H. Mathis Co., the day of her launching, 23 October 1944.
    Mathis Collection, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA    		 Dave Wright
    Y-54
    302005405    		 220k Y 54 enters the water for the first time, 12 October 1944. Note the lights illuminating the ways, as the launch took place at dusk.
    Mathis Collection, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA    		 Dave Wright
    Y-54
    302005406    		 239k Y 53 outfitting at John H.Mathis Co., 03 December 1944. She now carries her armament and appears ready for service.
    Mathis Collection, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA    		 Dave Wright
    There is no history record available for Y-54 at NavSource
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The US Army Ship Index Back To The US Army Coastal Tanker Index
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    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 16 June 2023