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I've often wondered about the good old AKL-31 that used to bring us supplies and mail, as well as deliver us to and from the island of Kume Shima.  In searching for info on the net, I was surprised at the info available.  Aside from the official data offered by the various military and ship building sites, there are images available from personal sites as well.

Having taken a few voyages on the AKL-31, I decided to see what I could find on it's history.  I was curious on several rumors I'd heard. And in researching the data, was surprised in some of what I found.  But first, here is an intro on the AKL Series.  

There were about 45 of them built and commissioned during World War II.  

The USS Pueblo that was captured by North Korea in 1968 was an AKL, the AKL-44.  And the ship used in the filming of the movie Mister Roberts was the AKL-14.  Though it was based in Hawaii, it was filmed in Midway.  Sister ships AKL-30 and AKL-34 both sank in typhoons off Okinawa.  An identical ship called the FS-290 (no AKL designator) also sank in a typhoon off Okinawa.  The AKL designator is the U.S. Navy's classification for an Auxiliary, Light Cargo supply ship.  The FS is the Army's designator when they were first laid down (built)  The AKL-31 was previously the FS-407.  Full designation at birth was T-FS-407, and became T-AKL-31 when acquired by the Navy.  The T designator is not normally used.  The design for the first AKL-1 was assigned a class name Camano, after an island off the Washington coast.  Many of the AKL's also have a name, usually a place name, but about half the AKL's do not have assigned names, such as the AKL-31.  All AKL's are considered of the Camano class after the first one built.

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AKL-31

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Discovered info from an old salty dog out there that the small platform area above the captains cabin (or pilot house) is actually known as the flying bridge, also called the monkey bridge.  I also learned that it's subject to the most violent sway and pitch of anywhere on the ship. There is a story on the net from a sailor who sailed many a rough sea and was only seasick once, on an AKL.  Said it was the roughest ride in his career on the sea.

I once spent 12 hours on the Monkey Bridge during a typhoon, guess that makes me a salty dog  ........ or a monkey .  The sea actually looked similar, but much worse than the image you see below.

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While searching for additional info, I've come across several interesting links (below) you might enjoy.  I guess you can tell I'm trying to make up for being absent from the forum for so long now. Like when I was Lost at Sea, you all probably declared me lost again.

Here's a link to a site that lists the assigned names to some, if not most, of the various AKL's.  I've listed them as well just below the URL.  I have no idea as to why certain numbers within the series of 45 are not listed.  Perhaps because they remained with the FS designator.

http://www.modelshipbuilding.com/wjamphibs.htm

Camano Class Light Cargo Ship (AKL-1 thru 45): AKL-1 Camano, AKL-2 Deal, AKL-3 Elba, AKL-4 Errol, AKL-5 Estero, AKL-6 Jekyl, AKL-8 Rogue, AKL-9 Ryer, AKL-10 Sharps, AKL-12 Mark, AKL-14 Hewell, AKL-17 New Bedford Reclassified IX-308, AKL-25 Banner Reclassified AGER-1, AKL-28 Brule, AKL-29, AKL-31, AKL-34, AKL-37 Alcyone, AKL-38 Alhena, AKL-39 Almaack, AKL-40 Deimos, AKL-42 Renate, AKL-43, AKL-44 Pueblo Reclassified AGER-2, AKL-45 Palm Beach Reclassified AGER-3, T-AKL-398 Redbud

This next link does show most, including unnamed ones and those struck from the Naval Registry.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/14/14idx.htm

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This next site has a few images of the AKL-31 which was renamed the Robert De Brum in 1975.

http://libweb.hawaii.edu/digicoll/ttp/ttp_htms/3441.html

Reel 3441

M/V ROBERT DE BRUM; NAVY PHOTOS OF NEW CREW BOARDING AT OKINAWA, SHIP TRANSFER; 1975 PHOTOS OF REPAIRS NEEDED IN MAJURO. WEILBACHER INSPECTING. 1975

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This next site has some blueprint images.

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~slowbell/trough27_1.jpg

Blueprints for the AKL Series.

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This next site had many good images to view.  You have to search for them though.

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~slowbell/trough27-2_2wm.jpg

The above image is a great side view blueprint (large).

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There's a book on them authored by George Alton.  Good info on this site too.

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~slowbell/trough27-1.htm

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J.P. O'Brien

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