Arcturus-class attack cargo ship
Arcturus-class attack cargo ships were US Navy vessels built during World War II to carry military cargo and landing craft for amphibious operations. They were created by converting existing ships at three shipyards: Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Chester, Pennsylvania (five ships), Tampa Shipbuilding Co. in Tampa, Florida (three), and Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. in Kearny, New Jersey (three). Eleven ships were completed in the class.
USS Arcturus, the class namesake, served from 1940 to 1955. These ships all used a standard hull design (Type C2) but varied in armament and crew.
Key measurements for the Arcturus-class ships: displacement about 14,225 tons; length 459 feet 1 inch; beam 63 feet; draft 26 feet 5 inches; top speed 16.5 knots; crew around 267 (numbers vary with embarked troops).
Armament commonly included one 5-inch, 38-caliber dual-purpose gun and four twin 40 mm anti-aircraft mounts. Some ships carried 20 mm and .50 caliber guns earlier in the war, but the 20 mm guns were phased out as they proved less effective.
Role: these ships carried combat-loaded cargo and landing craft, then used the landing craft to deliver weapons, supplies, and troops to enemy shores during amphibious landings. While built on the same hull, individual ships differed in weapons and crew, reflecting wartime needs.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:47 (CET).