Sheliak (AKA 62) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 5 text:

I w 1 ,M I I 1 H + N I e E J E . 1 .

Page 4 text:

k '. 'wefiffg 'y-ij I 3 1 '53 Iii .2211 jx. .. .I 'ii ,ty ' .E :jk 1 151, .491 L14 .LL ' 'J , 'ici 4 .Jr nz? , rd? , if HQ .nal 79529 .--2:1 gil ,, ..- ,I-f fi A .if il 't ii 'A Q . Q .14 'fi i 4 x M LS K. f? '.n K 'r : 1 -x N ,Q 1 f. l WP X RA '

Page 6 text:

I 5 lx N XX? Z SlXQ ffW X17 5 kk. XX ,WZ Z f 1,-I WMI ff ' N .- 'sv XXX N N RQSQ If A I if If l 'fall lx ,gif f I ,, ,v J pl L lg MEL-. X ,,' , ,Nl , X 'rj ll. ,i y Q . , f A Xi- ' W ' , T M j fl - 1 llllltll'. l'Q'llf r :sill , ll i' l -- N ...s lol ln sei .l li I 15 1- -fl! lxmzilll E 5- l , I -- l 4- -e .f L.--1 l in .. 9 1- nn. . .rl I jg-ull .- m 52 -i . 'Sill Sill? All per- -!!ll f re lm? - '.f'ff-15 iffy ,ia-22 l f if IA ,Ax my , Eiiiig- ll -4'-?J-'l.- 'I Q ,qQlrj.fV.l, ff,,fi'-gf Zicli-ef?-'iiiggm i , g2::.:'!i -. .Ez t rails--if-.1 ,1-if ' a iggieil-Qi -ff 'FJ ,iz--viii liaiiiiisi. Eiiiag-5-iii' as , 1 fs -T52 'wf if-:fe.. .'f- kgaegaasafiaf ' 5. f 14 g-c2!Y '-Ag-: '1 Eaeiessag -,X Q ' g?p e'f T-'-t ,f ,fibre 'Q' E -5552 FEDERAL SHIPYARDS- KEARNY ,NEW JERSEY A ' -'c0EW4r.s'a4f- Sliding Down the Ways LAUNCHING AT FEDERAL SHIPYARDS q The war against japan introduced a new stratagem into -modern warfare which re- quired both speed and maneuverability in such ships as formed the nucleus of its theme: amphibious. Design and construc- tion of assault cargo vessels were prime factors in consideration of this stratagem and much of success in war can be di- rectly attributed to these ships. Expressly conceived to function in the last phase of land-sea attack upon the N ipponese homeland, the USS Sheliak grew from blueprints into a C-2 hull cap- able of nineteen knots flank speed and ex- tending 451 feet from stem to stern. Paced by turbines which generated a force of nearly 7000 horsepower, the She- Ziale voyaged close to 40,000 miles in pre- cise fulfillment. of Fleet orders ranging anywhere from the Far East and Okinawa to California and home. h Realizing the importance of surprise in forward area attacks, it is a tribute to the AKA to reveal that over and above incle- ment weather and rough seas this amphib- ious unit zig-zagged beyond enemy de- fenses often enough to create confusion and skillfully enough to accelerate the conquest and unconditional surrender of Japan. . 2 . But the conclusion of World War II does in no way render the AKA as obso- lete. Rather does it now become apparent that these same ships which once spear- headed the island invasions across the Pacific can today be utilized commercially and to equal advantage in promulgating peacetime- trade between the nations of the world. Stripped of its lighting power and amphibious character, the assault cargo can readily become straight cargo and in so doing facilitate the ever-increas- ing demands rising from the war toward internationalism. '