# Andromeda-class attack cargo ship

The Andromeda-class attack cargo ships were a class of amphibious cargo ship built by Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Kearny, New Jersey, and Moore Dry Dock Co., in Oakland, California, during World War II. Like all attack cargo ships, they were designed to carry combat loaded military cargo and landing craft, and to use the latter to land weapons, supplies, and troops on enemy shores during amphibious operations.
All these ships were built on the same standard hull design, but there were some differences from ship to ship. The armament varied, as did that of the other ships of the day. During 1944–1945, the 5"/38 was recognized as the best gun for the dual role of antiaircraft and naval gunfire support, and the 40 mm was seen as the best antiaircraft gun. The older 20 mm and .50 caliber guns had been recognized to be of limited value, and were being phased out, though they appeared on some of these ships. The 20 mm guns were later removed from all of them, but it is not clear just when this happened.
The complement varied as well, but the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships figures sometimes seem to confuse ship's company with embarked troops in determining a ship's complement.

## Ships

List of Andromeda-class ships :
| Name | Hull no. | MC hull | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm. | Decomm. | Fate |
| Andromeda | AKA-15 | 199 | FSBD | 22 Sep 1942 | 22 Dec 1942 | 2 Apr 1943 | 1 May 1956 | stricken 1 July 1960 sold in 1971 |
| Aquarius | AKA-16 | 205 | FSBD | 28 Apr 1943 | 23 Jul 1943 | 21 Aug 1943 | 23 May 1946 | stricken 13 Nov 1946 sold 12 Feb 1947 |
| Centaurus | AKA-17 | | FSBD | | 3 Sep 1943 | 21 Oct 1943 | 30 Apr 1946 | returned to the Maritime Commission 11 Sep 1946 transferred to United States Lines 24 Feb 1947 |
| Cepheus | AKA-18 | | FSBD | | 23 Oct 1943 | 16 Dec 1943 | 22 May 1946 | returned to the Maritime Commission 1946 |
| Thuban | AKA-19 | 203 | FSBD | 2 Feb 1943 | 26 Apr 1943 | 10 Jun 1943 | Oct 1967 | reclassified as amphibious cargo ship, redesignated LKA-19 1 Jan 1969 remained in National Defense Reserve Fleet into Oct 1979 |
| Virgo | AKA-20 | 204 | FSBD | 9 Mar 1943 | 4 Jun 1943 | 16 Jul 1943 | 1 Jul 1961 | redesignated AE-30 1 Nov 1965 stricken 18 Feb 1971 sold for scrapping 19 Nov 1973 |
| Virgo | AKA-20 | 204 | FSBD | 9 Mar 1943 | 4 Jun 1943 | 19 Aug 1966 | 18 Feb 1971 | redesignated AE-30 1 Nov 1965 stricken 18 Feb 1971 sold for scrapping 19 Nov 1973 |
| Achernar | AKA-53 | | FSBD | 6 Sep 1943 | 3 Dec 1943 | 31 Jan 1944 | 1 Jul 1963 | transferred to Spanish Navy as Castilla (TA-21) 2 Feb 1965 scrapped in 1982 |
| Achernar | AKA-53 | | FSBD | 6 Sep 1943 | 3 Dec 1943 | 1 Sep 1961 | 1 Jul 1963 | transferred to Spanish Navy as Castilla (TA-21) 2 Feb 1965 scrapped in 1982 |
| Algol (ex-James Barnes) | AKA-54 | 1153 | MDD | 10 Dec 1942 | 17 Feb 1943 | 27 Nov 1943 | 3 Dec 1943 | reclassified LKA-54 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Jan 1977 sunk as artificial reef 18 Nov 1991 |
| Algol (ex-James Barnes) | AKA-54 | 1153 | MDD | 10 Dec 1942 | 17 Feb 1943 | 21 Jul 1944 | 2 Jan 1958 | reclassified LKA-54 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Jan 1977 sunk as artificial reef 18 Nov 1991 |
| Algol (ex-James Barnes) | AKA-54 | 1153 | MDD | 10 Dec 1942 | 17 Feb 1943 | 17 Nov 1961 | 23 Jul 1970 | reclassified LKA-54 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Jan 1977 sunk as artificial reef 18 Nov 1991 |
| Alshain | AKA-55 | 209 | FSBD | 29 Oct 1943 | 26 Jan 1944 | 1 Apr 1944 | 14 Jan 1956 | reclassified USNS Alshain (T-AKA-55) 1 Oct 1949 stricken 1 Jul 1960 sold for scrap 16 Feb 1978 |
| Arneb (ex-Mischief) | AKA-56 | 1159 | MDD | | 6 Jul 1943 | 22 Apr 1944 | 16 Mar 1948 | reclassified LKA-56 1 Jan 1969 stricken 13 Aug 1971 sold for scrap 1 Mar 1973 |
| Arneb (ex-Mischief) | AKA-56 | 1159 | MDD | | 6 Jul 1943 | 19 Mar 1949 | 12 Aug 1971 | reclassified LKA-56 1 Jan 1969 stricken 13 Aug 1971 sold for scrap 1 Mar 1973 |
| Capricornus (ex-Spitfire) | AKA-57 | | MDD | | 14 Aug 1943 | 31 May 1944 | 30 Mar 1948 | reclassified LKA-57 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Jan 1977 scrapped 1985 |
| Capricornus (ex-Spitfire) | AKA-57 | | MDD | | 14 Aug 1943 | 12 Oct 1950 | 10 Feb 1970 | reclassified LKA-57 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Jan 1977 scrapped 1985 |
| Chara | AKA-58 | | FSBD | | 15 Mar 1944 | 14 Jun 1944 | 21 Apr 1959 | reclassified AE-31, 25 Jun 1966 stricken 10 Mar 1972 sold for scrap 12 Nov 1972 |
| Chara | AKA-58 | | FSBD | | 15 Mar 1944 | 25 Jun 1966 | Mar 1972 | reclassified AE-31, 25 Jun 1966 stricken 10 Mar 1972 sold for scrap 12 Nov 1972 |
| Diphda | AKA-59 | | FSBD | | 11 May 1944 | 8 Jul 1944 | 11 May 1956 | placed in reserve 11 May 1956 |
| Leo | AKA-60 | | FSBD | 17 Mar 1944 | 29 Jul 1944 | 30 Aug 1944 | 11 Feb 1955 | stricken 1 Jul 1960 sold for scrap 19 Jul 1976 |
| Muliphen | AKA-61 | | FSBD | 13 May 1944 | 26 Aug 1944 | 23 Oct 1944 | 28 Aug 1970 | reclassified LKA-61 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Jan 1977 sunk as an artificial reef off Fort Pierce, Florida, 21 Jan 1989 |
| Sheliak | AKA-62 | 214 | FSBD | 19 Jun 1944 | 17 Oct 1944 | 1 Dec 1944 | 10 May 1946 | stricken 21 May 1946 sold into commercial service 1948 scrapped 1969 |
| Theenim | AKA-63 | 215 | FSBD | 18 Jul 1944 | 31 Oct 1944 | 22 Dec 1944 | 10 May 1946 | stricken 12 May 1946 scrapped 1970 |
| Uvalde | AKA-88 | 1188 | MDD | 27 Mar 1944 | 20 May 1944 | 18 Aug 1944 | 1957 | stricken 1 Jul 1960, reinstated 1 Sep 1961 stricken 1 Dec 1968 sold for scrap 1969 |
| Uvalde | AKA-88 | 1188 | MDD | 27 Mar 1944 | 20 May 1944 | 18 Nov 1961 | 1 Dec 1968 | stricken 1 Jul 1960, reinstated 1 Sep 1961 stricken 1 Dec 1968 sold for scrap 1969 |
| Warrick | AKA-89 | 1189 | MDD | 7 Apr 1944 | 29 May 1944 | 30 Aug 1944 | 3 Dec 1957 | stricken 1 Jul 1961 sunk as a target ship 28 May 1971 |
| Whiteside | AKA-90 | 1190 | MDD | 22 Apr 1944 | 12 Jun 1944 | 11 Sep 1944 | 30 Jan 1958 | stricken 1 Jul 1961 sunk as a target ship 1971 |
| Whitley | AKA-91 | 1191 | MDD | 2 May 1944 | 22 Jun 1944 | 21 Sep 1944 | 16 Aug 1955 | stricken 1 Jul 1960, reinstated 1 Dec 1961 loaned to Italy Feb 1962, renamed Etna (A 5328) stricken and sold to Italy 1 May 1973 scrapped Jul 1979 |
| Wyandot | AKA-92 | 1192 | MDD | 6 May 1944 | 28 Jun 1944 | 30 Sep 1944 | 10 Jul 1959 | reclassified T-AKA-92 Mar 1963 sold for scrap 5 Nov 1987 |
| Wyandot | AKA-92 | 1192 | MDD | 6 May 1944 | 28 Jun 1944 | Nov 1961 | 31 Oct 1975 | reclassified T-AKA-92 Mar 1963 sold for scrap 5 Nov 1987 |
| Yancey | AKA-93 | 1193 | MDD | 22 May 1944 | 8 Jul 1944 | 11 Oct 1944 | Mar 1958 | redesignated as LKA-93 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Jan 1977 sunk as artificial reef off Morehead City, NC, 1990 |
| Yancey | AKA-93 | 1193 | MDD | 22 May 1944 | 8 Jul 1944 | 17 Nov 1961 | 20 Jan 1971 | redesignated as LKA-93 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Jan 1977 sunk as artificial reef off Morehead City, NC, 1990 |
| Winston | AKA-94 | 216 | FSBD | 10 Jul 1944 | 30 Nov 1944 | 19 Jan 1945 | 1 Feb 1957 | reclassified LKA-94 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Sep 1976 sold for scrap 15 Nov 1979 |
| Winston | AKA-94 | 216 | FSBD | 10 Jul 1944 | 30 Nov 1944 | 24 Nov 1961 | Nov 1969 | reclassified LKA-94 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Sep 1976 sold for scrap 15 Nov 1979 |
| Marquette | AKA-95 | | FSBD | | 29 Apr 1945 | 20 Jun 1945 | 19 Jul 1955 | turned over to the Maritime Commission, placed in National Defense Reserve Fleet 9 Jan 1960 scrapped 1972 |
| Mathews | AKA-96 | | FSBD | 15 Sep 1944 | 22 Dec 1944 | 15 Mar 1945 | 4 Apr 1947 | stricken 1 Nov 1968 sold for scrap 1969 |
| Mathews | AKA-96 | | FSBD | 15 Sep 1944 | 22 Dec 1944 | 16 Feb 1952 | 31 Oct 1968 | stricken 1 Nov 1968 sold for scrap 1969 |
| Merrick | AKA-97 | 219 | FSBD | 19 Oct 1944 | 28 Jan 1945 | 31 Mar 1945 | 26 Jun 1946 | reclassified LKA–97 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Sep 1976 withdrawn from reserve, traded to States Marine Lines 19 Dec 1979 scrapped 13 Mar 1980 |
| Merrick | AKA-97 | 219 | FSBD | 19 Oct 1944 | 28 Jan 1945 | 19 Jan 1952 | 17 Sep 1969 | reclassified LKA–97 1 Jan 1969 stricken 1 Sep 1976 withdrawn from reserve, traded to States Marine Lines 19 Dec 1979 scrapped 13 Mar 1980 |
| Montague | AKA-98 | | FSBD | | 12 Feb 1945 | 12 Apr 1945 | 22 Nov 1955 | sold for scrapping 12 Mar 1971 |
| Rolette | AKA-99 | | FSBD | 2 Dec 1944 | 11 Mar 1945 | 27 Apr 1945 | late 1945 | stricken 23 Apr 1947, reinstated 13 Aug 1951 stricken 1 Jul 1960 scrapped 1978 |
| Rolette | AKA-99 | | FSBD | 2 Dec 1944 | 11 Mar 1945 | 23 Feb 1952 | 1 May 1956 | stricken 23 Apr 1947, reinstated 13 Aug 1951 stricken 1 Jul 1960 scrapped 1978 |
| Oglethorpe | AKA-100 | | FSBD | 26 Dec 1944 | 15 Apr 1945 | 6 Jun 1945 | 1968 | stricken 1 Nov 1968 |
| Sedgwick | AKA-110 | | | — | — | — | — | canceled before keel laid 27 Aug 1945 |
| Whitfield | AKA-111 | 2898 | FSBD | — | — | — | — | canceled before keel laid 27 Aug 1945 |