Ajax (AR 6) - Naval Cruise Book

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' ..I i ' %,-ii| The USS AJAX was commissioned on 30 October 1943. Her sea trial was cut short and she was sent to Pearl Harbor. Arriving in Pearl Harbor on 16 December 1943. she attracted considerable attention since she was the first of the new fleet repair ships to join the Pacific Fleet. The plank owners of AJAX. AJAXs first CO. CDR. John Brown.

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I fan The fourth and present AJAX (AR-6) is the second of the VULCAN class fleet of Repair Ships. In her beginning AJAX had 18 officers and 700 men in her Repair Department along with an estimated crew of 2,500 for those were days of hot bunking, hammocks, and sleeping where one worked. Since 1943, well over 20.000 men have served aboard the AJAX. Laying of AJAX ' S keel. 7 May 1941. by the Los Angeles Ship Building and Drydock Corporation at San Pedro. California. s anil loys i re the Tin limit? iluttlt rtffl active %ot : ii ' H : -.■■ Vm.y.-.n ' .i- r l«n I)rp irli £u rpuratmn , coroiallg inbitte [im to be ymtnt at Op [aiming at tip It. S. £. Ajnx for tlj» llnitrh Stntfi Naiij daluroaQ. Aiiou ! 22, 1912 6:30 p. tn San Jlrtro. Ca I.MIII.1 P ™.p, m» 3. «. ■ Nm i r ■ ■ i » UN V - : i T ' -» «H . ■ ; ' ,- ■ ■ : v r -| t a - The OSS W IX 15 launched on 22 Aug.. 1942. San Pedro. Ca.

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After completing her Pearl Harbor assignments the AJAX departed on 26 January for FUNAFUTI, Ellice Islands. She crossed the equator for the first time enroute on 29 January and International Date Line on 31 January, with the traditional ceremonies on both occasions. Over 1000 men were initiated into the Domain of Neptunus Rex and into the Realm of the of the Golden Dragon by the small number of their shipmates who had previously crossed the two lines. Initiation of Pollywogs. Original insignia drawn by a Walt Disney artist. (JSS AJAX first Birthday program. During AJAX ' s early adventure in the South Pacific, rumors were circulating in San Pedro that she had been sunk by a Japanese submarine as was the case with the oiler Missisiniwa. The rumors even had the strike pinned down to frame 41, starboard side. The rumors had it that there were few survivors and those who did survive were given Navy Crosses and spot promotions. The following is a quote from a letter written 19 July 1944 by Capt. John L. Brown, the first Commanding Officer of AJAX. Nothing of evil or horror has befallen us, all have been doing a magnificent job, all are well and all pray for the time when we will return to those whom we miss dearly. I am proud to be the Commanding Officer of each and everyone on board this ship. On 13 June 1944 AJAX sailed for Eniwetok with other units of SERVRON 10 to set up an advance repair base. She worked on battleships, cruisers an auxiliary ships through August. At one time during this period AJAX was assigned extensive jobs on 19 cruisers and 9 battleships. The oiler Missisiniwa sinking as seen from AJAX.