ARCTURUS AKA 1

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Arcturus Class Attack Cargo Ship
Keel Laid July 26 1938 as Maritime Commission type (C2) hull (MC Hull 19)
Launched May 18 1938 as MORMACHAWK
Operated by Moore-McCormack Lines
Acquired by U.S. Navy September 20 1940


1. USS ARCTURUS AK-18
   Commissioned Cargo Ship (AK) October 26 1940
   
   
2. USS ARCTURUS AKA-1
   Reclassified Attack Cargo Ship (AKA) February 1 1943
   Decommissioned April 3 1946
   
   Struck from Naval Register June 5 1946
   Transferred to Maritime Commission for disposal
   
   
3. STAR ARCTURUS (Panamanian Registry)
   Sold March 17 1947 to Johnson Line (Sweden) registered in Panama with Compania Naviera Puerta del Sur
   
   Sold 1969 for scrap

 

Naval Covers

This section lists active links to the pages displaying covers associated with the ship. There should be a separate set of pages for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Covers should be presented in chronological order (or as best as can be determined).

Since a ship may have many covers, they may be split among many pages so it doesn't take forever for the pages to load. Each page link should be accompanied by a date range for covers on that page.

1. Covers Page 1    (1940-46)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
>>> If you have a better example for any of the postmarks, please feel free to replace the existing example.

 

Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Date From to Date To	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

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Post Office Established November 20 1940 - Disestablished March 30 1946

 

Locy Type FDPS 3 Dec 1, 1940 "FIRST DAY / CANCELLATION"

1940-12-01

As AK-18
First Day Postal Service

 

Locy Type FDPS 3 Dec 1, 1940 "FIRST DAY / CANCELLATION"

1940-12-01

As AK-18
First Day of Postal Service
Walter Czubay

 

Locy Type 3 (A-BTB) "NOB NORFOLK / VA"

1940-12-19

As AK-18
Ted Harrington

 

Locy Type 3 (A-BTB)

1941-02-12

As AK-18

 

Locy Type 3z (TTT)

1941-10-27

As AK-18

 

Locy Type 3z (TTT)

1944-02-27

As AKA-1

 

Locy Type 9v

1940-12-31

As AK-18
Favor strike on block of stamps

 

Locy Type 9efw

1940-12-14

As AK-18
Favor strike on block of stamps

 

Locy Type 9x

1940-12-14

As AK-18
Favor strike on block of stamps

 

Locy Type P (9v, name removed)

1945-04-27 to 1945-05-06

As AKA-1
Mark from back of cover

 

Locy Type LDPS 3 Mar 27, 1946

1946-03-27

As AKA-1
Last Day Postal Service

 

Other Information

ARCTURUS was awarded five battle stars for her World War II service
* North Africa occupation
Fedhala, Morocco, November 8-11 1942
* Sicilian occupation
Scoglitti, July 9-15 1943
* Salerno landings
Paestum, September 9-21 1943
* Invasion of Southern France
La Nartelle, August 15 to September 25 1944
* Okinawa Gunto operation
Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, (Hagushi beachhead), April 1-14 1945

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons...
Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - China Service Medal (extended) - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (4) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

Personnel Awards...
Purple Heart, September 8-10 1943 - Salerno Landing (7 KIA, 4 WIA)

NAMESAKE - Named for the principal star of the northern constellation Bootes

 

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If you have images or information to add to this page, then either contact the Curator or edit this page yourself and add it. See Editing Ship Pages for detailed information on editing this page.

 

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