USS Algol (AKA-54)

USS "Algol" (AKA-54) was an sclass|Andromeda|attack cargo ship. She was the first ship of the United States Navy by this name, after Algol, a fixed star in the constellation Perseus. "Algol" served as a commissioned ship for 22 years and 1 month. She was laid down on 10 December 1942, as "James Barnes", a Maritime Commission type C2-S-B1 hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1157), at Moore Drydock Company, in Oakland, California. She was launched on 17 February, 1943, renamed "Algol" on 30 August 1943, and placed in reduced commission on 27 November 1943 for transit to Willamette Shipyard in Portland, Oregon, for completion as an attack cargo ship. She was decommissioned at Portland on 3 December 1943, and recommissioned USS "Algol" (AKA-54) on 21 July 1944 at Willamette Shipyard.

"Algol" decommissioned on 2 January 1958, and was laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton, Washington group. She was recommissioned on 17 November 1961 at Portland, Oregon, and redesignated Amphibious Cargo Ship (LKA-54) on 1 January 1969. She was decommissioned again on 23 July 1970, and returned to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Virginia, near Fort Eustus.

She was struck from the Navy Vessel Register on 1 January 1977. "Algol" was sunk as part of New Jersey's Shark River artificial reef on 18 November 1991.

"Algol" earned two battle stars during World War II and five battle stars for service in the Korean conflict.

References

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/02054.htm NavSource Online: AKA / LKA-54 "Algol"]
* [http://www.ussalgolaka54.org/ USS "Algol" web site]
* [http://unitpages.military.com/unitpages/unit.do?id=200313 Military.com: USS "Algol"]
* [http://ussrankin.org/id352.htm 51 Years of AKAs]