Caswell cleared Bayonne, New Jersey, on 16 January 1945 for the Panama Canal and Guadalcanal, arriving on 14 February. A month of training preceded her departure combat-loaded for the Okinawa beaches. Sailing with the Northern Attack Force, Caswell arrived for the initial landings on 1 April, and remained off the beaches for the next week, landing cargo to support the 6th Marines in their rapid advance across the Motobu Peninsula. The skillful work of her men made an important contribution to this success, and she cleared Okinawa on 9 April for overhaul and replenishment at Pearl Harbor.
Post-war activities, 1945–1946edit
Returning to the West Coast, Caswell loaded cargo for Okinawa, where she arrived on 5 August to begin a series of cargo and troop movements throughout the Far East, calling at ports in the Philippines, China, and Japan until 7 December, when she cleared Sasebo for San Diego. Between 23 February and 2 May 1946, Caswell carried cargo from San Francisco to China.
Decommissioningedit
Returning to Norfolk, Virginia, she was decommissioned on 19 June 1946. Caswell was returned to the Maritime Commission two days later.
Civilian service and fateedit
Ex-USS Caswell was sold on 23 June 1947 to the South Atlantic Steamship Line and renamed SS Southwind and served under that name for about 12 years. She was sold to United States Lines sometime in 1955 and later renamed by that company SS American Surveyor (18 May 1961). After a little more than two years, she was returned to the Maritime Administration for layup in the James River Group of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. On 10 August 1973 she was sold to Northern Metal Company for 'non-transportation use' and (presumably) scrapped shortly thereafter.
Awardsedit
Caswell received one battle star for World War II service.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Caswell (AKA-72).
Photo gallery of USS Caswell at NavSource Naval History
January 01, 1970
caswell, world, patrol, vessel, herman, caswell, 2311, tolland, class, attack, cargo, ship, service, with, united, states, navy, from, 1944, 1946, sold, into, commercial, service, scrapped, 1973, history, united, states, name, namesakecaswell, county, north, c. For the World War I patrol vessel see USS Herman S Caswell SP 2311 USS Caswell AKA 72 was a Tolland class attack cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 She was sold into commercial service and was scrapped in 1973 History United States NameUSS Caswell NamesakeCaswell County North Carolina BuilderNorth Carolina Shipbuilding Company Wilmington North Carolina Launched24 October 1944 Acquired27 November 1944 Commissioned13 December 1944 Decommissioned19 June 1946 RenamedSS Southwind SS American Surveyor Honors andawards1 battle star World War II FateSold into merchant service 23 June 1947 Sold for scrapping 10 August 1973 General characteristics Class and typeTolland class attack cargo ship Displacement6 318 long tons 6 419 t Length459 ft 2 in 139 95 m Beam63 ft 19 m Draft26 ft 4 in 8 03 m PropulsionGE geared turbine drive single propeller 6 000 hp 4 474 kW Speed16 5 knots 30 6 km h 19 0 mph Range17 000 miles Boats amp landing craft carried14 LCVP 8 LCM Capacity380 000 ft3 11 000 m 5 275 tons Complement395 Armament1 5 38 caliber gun 4 twin 40 mm guns 16 20 mm guns Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1944 1945 1 2 Post war activities 1945 1946 1 3 Decommissioning 1 4 Civilian service and fate 2 Awards 3 References 4 External linksHistory editCaswell a Type C2 S AJ3 ship was named after Caswell County North Carolina She was launched on 24 October 1944 by North Carolina Shipbuilding Co Wilmington North Carolina under a Maritime Commission contract sponsored by Mrs W H Williamson acquired by the Navy on 27 November 1944 and commissioned on 13 December 1944 World War II 1944 1945 edit Caswell cleared Bayonne New Jersey on 16 January 1945 for the Panama Canal and Guadalcanal arriving on 14 February A month of training preceded her departure combat loaded for the Okinawa beaches Sailing with the Northern Attack Force Caswell arrived for the initial landings on 1 April and remained off the beaches for the next week landing cargo to support the 6th Marines in their rapid advance across the Motobu Peninsula The skillful work of her men made an important contribution to this success and she cleared Okinawa on 9 April for overhaul and replenishment at Pearl Harbor Post war activities 1945 1946 edit Returning to the West Coast Caswell loaded cargo for Okinawa where she arrived on 5 August to begin a series of cargo and troop movements throughout the Far East calling at ports in the Philippines China and Japan until 7 December when she cleared Sasebo for San Diego Between 23 February and 2 May 1946 Caswell carried cargo from San Francisco to China Decommissioning edit Returning to Norfolk Virginia she was decommissioned on 19 June 1946 Caswell was returned to the Maritime Commission two days later Civilian service and fate edit Ex USS Caswell was sold on 23 June 1947 to the South Atlantic Steamship Line and renamed SS Southwind and served under that name for about 12 years She was sold to United States Lines sometime in 1955 and later renamed by that company SS American Surveyor 18 May 1961 After a little more than two years she was returned to the Maritime Administration for layup in the James River Group of the National Defense Reserve Fleet On 10 August 1973 she was sold to Northern Metal Company for non transportation use and presumably scrapped shortly thereafter Awards editCaswell received one battle star for World War II service References edit nbsp This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here Ship History at NavSourceExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Caswell AKA 72 Photo gallery of USS Caswell at NavSource Naval History 51 Years of AKAs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Caswell amp oldid 1148202722, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
