Haskell-class attack transports (APA) were amphibious assault ships of the United States Navy created in 1944. They were designed to transport 1,500 troops and their combat equipment, and land them on hostile shores with the ships' integral landing craft.
The Haskells were very active in the World War II Pacific Theater of Operations, landing Marines and Army troops and transporting casualties at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Ships of the class were among the first Allied ships to enter Tokyo Bay at the end of World War II, landing the first occupation troops at Yokosuka. After the end of World War II, most participated in Operation Magic Carpet, the massive sealift of US personnel back to the United States. A few of the Haskell class were reactivated for the Korean War, with some staying in service into the Vietnam War.
The VC2-S-AP5 design was intended for the transport and assault landing of over 1,500 troops and their heavy combat equipment. During Operation Magic Carpet, up to 1,900 personnel per ship were carried homeward.[Note 1]
The Haskells carried 25 landing craft to deliver the troops and equipment right onto the beach. The 23 main boats were the 36-foot (11 m)-long LCVP. The LCVP was designed to carry 36 equipped troops. The other two landing craft were the 50-foot (15 m)-long LCM (3), capable of carrying 60 troops or 30 tons (27 t) of cargo, or the 56-foot (17 m) LCM (6).[1] They also carried one gig.
USS St. Mary's in San Francisco Bay, California, in late 1945 or early 1946. She is returning troops from the western Pacific to the United States as part of Operation Magic Carpet. Note the long homeward bound pennant trailing from her after mast, and the sign on shore (in the right distance) stating "Welcome Home, Well Done."
Haskell-class attack transports included APA-117, USS Haskell, the lead ship, through APA-247, the never completed USS Mecklenburg. The hulls for APA-181 through APA-186 were repurposed to be hospital ships before they were named. Ultimately those hospital ships were built on larger C4 plan and the six VC2 hulls were built in a merchant configuration.[2] APA-240 through APA-247 were named, but cancelled in 1945 when the war ended. With the special exception of USS Marvin H. McIntyre, the Haskell-class ships were all named after counties of the United States.
Fate
Most of the Haskell-class ships were mothballed in 1946, with only a few remaining in service. Many of the Haskell class were scrapped in 1973–75.[3] A few were converted into Missile Range Instrumentation Ships.
USS Gage, the last remaining ship in the Haskell configuration, was scrapped in 2009 at ESCO Marine, in Brownsville, Tx.[4]
USS Hinsdale(APA-120) had Kamikaze attack damage on 1 April 1945 at Okinawa. Over 15 men were killed. The extensive engine room damage was later repaired.
USS La Grange(APA-124) on 13 August 1945 damaged in last kamikaze attack of WW2, 21 sailors killed and 89 wounded.
USS Colbert(APA-145) had mine damage on 17 September 1945, off Okinawa, this caused the death of three men and damaged the ship extensively.
USS Telfair(APA-210) on 2 April 1945 was hit by kamikaze attack, the plane hit the side of the ship then dropped into the sea. She was later repaired.
In fiction
The 1956 movie Away All Boats presents operations on an attack transport. It was based on a popular novel of the same name, written by an officer who served on one during World War 2.[5]
The opening chapters of the novel "Cinderella Liberty" were set on the APA USS Begonia.
US Naval Historical Center Photo Library – APA List by Hull Number
Ship Model and Blueprints for Haskell class
March 04, 2023
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Haskell class attack transports APA were amphibious assault ships of the United States Navy created in 1944 They were designed to transport 1 500 troops and their combat equipment and land them on hostile shores with the ships integral landing craft USS Noble a ship of the Haskell class in 1956Class overviewNameHaskell classBuildersCalifornia Shipbuilding Oregon Shipbuilding Permanente Metals Kaiser ShipbuildingPreceded byGilliam classSucceeded byPaul Revere classBuilt1944 1945In commission11 September 1944 29 October 1945Planned131Completed117Cancelled14General characteristicsTypeAttack transportDisplacement6 873 tons lt 14 837 t fl Length455 ft 139 m Beam62 ft 19 m Draft24 ft 7 m Propulsion1 geared turbine Westinghouse Joshua Hendy or Allis Chalmers 2 header type boilers Babcock amp Wilcox or Combustion Engineering 1 propeller designed 8 500 shp 6 338 kW Speed18 19 knots 33 35 km h 21 22 mph Boats amp landing craft carried2 LCM 12 LCVP 3 LCPLCapacityTroops 86 officers 1 475 enlisted Cargo 150 000 cu ft 2 900 tonsComplement56 officers 480 enlistedArmament1 5 38 dual purpose gun 4 twin 40mm guns 10 single 20mm guns late armament add 1 40mm quad mountThe Haskells were very active in the World War II Pacific Theater of Operations landing Marines and Army troops and transporting casualties at Iwo Jima and Okinawa Ships of the class were among the first Allied ships to enter Tokyo Bay at the end of World War II landing the first occupation troops at Yokosuka After the end of World War II most participated in Operation Magic Carpet the massive sealift of US personnel back to the United States A few of the Haskell class were reactivated for the Korean War with some staying in service into the Vietnam War The Haskell class Maritime Commission standard type VC2 S AP5 is a sub type of the World War II Victory ship design 117 were launched in 1944 and 1945 with 14 more being finished as another VC2 type or canceled Built by the War Shipping Administration under the Emergency Shipbuilding program Contents 1 Design 2 Ships of the Haskell class 3 Fate 4 Notable incidents 5 In fiction 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksDesign EditThe VC2 S AP5 design was intended for the transport and assault landing of over 1 500 troops and their heavy combat equipment During Operation Magic Carpet up to 1 900 personnel per ship were carried homeward Note 1 The Haskells carried 25 landing craft to deliver the troops and equipment right onto the beach The 23 main boats were the 36 foot 11 m long LCVP The LCVP was designed to carry 36 equipped troops The other two landing craft were the 50 foot 15 m long LCM 3 capable of carrying 60 troops or 30 tons 27 t of cargo or the 56 foot 17 m LCM 6 1 They also carried one gig The Haskell class ships were armed with one 5 38 caliber gun twelve Bofors 40 mm L 60 guns one quad mount four dual mounts and ten Oerlikon 20 mm guns Ships of the Haskell class EditMain article List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships Haskell class USS St Mary s in San Francisco Bay California in late 1945 or early 1946 She is returning troops from the western Pacific to the United States as part of Operation Magic Carpet Note the long homeward bound pennant trailing from her after mast and the sign on shore in the right distance stating Welcome Home Well Done Haskell class attack transports included APA 117 USS Haskell the lead ship through APA 247 the never completed USS Mecklenburg The hulls for APA 181 through APA 186 were repurposed to be hospital ships before they were named Ultimately those hospital ships were built on larger C4 plan and the six VC2 hulls were built in a merchant configuration 2 APA 240 through APA 247 were named but cancelled in 1945 when the war ended With the special exception of USS Marvin H McIntyre the Haskell class ships were all named after counties of the United States Fate EditMost of the Haskell class ships were mothballed in 1946 with only a few remaining in service Many of the Haskell class were scrapped in 1973 75 3 A few were converted into Missile Range Instrumentation Ships USS Gage the last remaining ship in the Haskell configuration was scrapped in 2009 at ESCO Marine in Brownsville Tx 4 USS Sherburne which was converted and renamed USS Range Sentinel lasted until she was scrapped in 2012 SS Rutland Victory was sold to a private company and sank on February 13 1976 600 miles East of Tokyo Japan USS Rutland lowering an LCM off Iwo Jima in 1945Notable incidents EditUSS Hinsdale APA 120 had Kamikaze attack damage on 1 April 1945 at Okinawa Over 15 men were killed The extensive engine room damage was later repaired USS La Grange APA 124 on 13 August 1945 damaged in last kamikaze attack of WW2 21 sailors killed and 89 wounded USS Colbert APA 145 had mine damage on 17 September 1945 off Okinawa this caused the death of three men and damaged the ship extensively USS Telfair APA 210 on 2 April 1945 was hit by kamikaze attack the plane hit the side of the ship then dropped into the sea She was later repaired In fiction EditThe 1956 movie Away All Boats presents operations on an attack transport It was based on a popular novel of the same name written by an officer who served on one during World War 2 5 The opening chapters of the novel Cinderella Liberty were set on the APA USS Begonia See also EditVictory ship Gilliam class attack transportNotes Edit See USS RutlandReferences EditClass information in Hazegray DANFS APA 125 page MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet Current Inventory Archived 2010 12 02 at the Wayback Machine USS Lanier APA 125 Deck Log September 1945 Friedman Norman 2002 U S Amphibious Ships and Craft Naval Institute Press p 190 ISBN 978 1 55750 250 6 Retrieved 2009 07 13 Sister Ship Display Archived from the original on 2011 07 21 Retrieved 2006 09 23 PMARS is currently down for maintainence sic Archived from the original on 2012 03 04 Retrieved 2010 08 16 AWAY ALL BOATSExternal links EditUS Naval Historical Center Photo Library APA List by Hull Number MARAD Records for Haskell class Ship Model and Blueprints for Haskell class Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Haskell class attack transport amp oldid 1130108937, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
