USS Ara (AK-136)

USS Ara (AK-136)


Career (US)
Ordered: as SS Daniel Boone
EC2-S-C1 hull, MCE hull 69
Laid down: 17 July 1941
Launched: 14 January 1942
Acquired: 3 December 1943
Commissioned: 4 January 1944
Decommissioned: 26 November 1945
Struck: 5 December 1945
Fate: scrapped in 1972
General characteristics
Displacement: 4,023 t.(lt) 11,565 t.(fl)
Length: 441 ft 6 in (134.57 m)
Beam: 56 ft 11 in (17.35 m)
Draught: 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
Propulsion: reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950shp
Speed: 12 kts.
Complement: 206
Armament: one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount; two dual 40mm AA gun mounts; eight single 20mm AA gun mounts

USS Ara (AK-136) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II, named after the constellation Ara. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone. Ara was laid down on 17 July 1941 as the liberty ship SS Daniel Boone by the California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, California; launched on 14 January 1942; sponsored by Mrs. J. K. Doolan; acquired by the Navy under a bare-boat charter on 3 December 1943; renamed Ara (AK-136); and commissioned on 4 January 1944, Lt. Comdr. W. B. Hudgins in command.

Read more about USS Ara (AK-136):  World War II, Post-war Decommissioning, Military Awards and Honors