Pickens was built under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 658), was laid down by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Vancouver, Washington, 22 April 1944; launched 21 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Howard Denhart; delivered to the Navy and commissioned 18 September 1944.
World War IIedit
Following shakedown, Pickens steamed west, engaged in amphibious training in Hawaiian waters, and on 27 January 1945, got underway for the western Pacific Ocean with elements of the 4th Marine Division embarked. A unit of TransDiv 45, she arrived off Iwo Jima on the morning of 19 February. Despite cold weather and high seas, she stood off the assault beach, 0730–1800, to land 2nd Battalion 25th Marines and their assigned Shore Party D Co. 133 Naval Construction Battalion. Retiring at night, she returned daily to continue offloading cargo and to take on casualties. On 28 February 1945, she got underway for Saipan, thence to Guam to disembark her casualty passengers.
For the next month Pickens, with 2nd Division Marines embarked, rehearsed for Operation Iceberg. On 27 March 1945, she departed the Marianas and on 1 April participated in the diversionary landings on Okinawa’s southeastern coast, during which she assumed duties of Division Commander (TransDiv 44) after USS Hinsdale (APA-120) was kamikazed. She effected the rescue of survivors from that APA, LST-884, and LST-724. On 2 April, she repeated the feint, then swung around to the stand-by area where she remained until 9 April. Pickens then returned to Saipan, and on 14 April debarked her troops.
On 4 June 1945, Pickens sailed for Noumea, whence she carried cargo back to the Marianas before heading back to California and availability. Arriving at San Francisco, California, 3 August, she completed availability after the end of the war and at the end of the month joined others of her type in carrying occupation troops to the Far East and bringing back veterans. She completed “Operation Magic Carpet" duty at San Francisco 7 January 1946, then got underway for the U.S. East Coast and inactivation.
Decommissioning and fateedit
Decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia, 12 April 1946, she was redelivered to the United States Maritime Commission 18 April; and on 1 May her name was struck from the Navy List. Through 1970, she remained with the National Defense Reserve Fleet, laid up at the James River, Virginia berthing area in Lee Hall, Virginia. She was sold for scrapping to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp. on 9 April 1973 (PD-X-956, dated 5 March 1973) for $111,500.00., and was delivered on 7 September 1973.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Pickens (APA-190).
NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - USS Pickens (APA-190)
January 01, 1970
pickens, haskell, class, attack, transport, service, with, united, states, navy, from, 1944, 1946, scrapped, 1973, history, united, states, name, namesakepickens, county, alabama, pickens, county, georgia, pickens, county, south, carolina, orderedas, type, hul. USS Pickens APA 190 was a Haskell class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 She was scrapped in 1973 History United States NameUSS Pickens NamesakePickens County Alabama Pickens County Georgia Pickens County South Carolina Orderedas type VC2 S AP5 MCV hull 658 Laid down22 April 1944 Launched21 July 1944 Acquired18 September 1944 Commissioned18 September 1944 Decommissioned12 April 1946 Stricken1 May 1946 FateSold for scrapping 9 April 1973 General characteristics Displacement14 833 full load Length455 ft 0 in 138 68 m Beam62 ft 0 in 18 90 m Draught28 ft 1 in 8 56 m Speed17 knots Capacity150 000 cu ft 2 900 tons Complement56 Officers 480 Enlisted Armamentone 5 in 130 mm gun mount twelve 40 mm gun mounts ten 20 mm gun mountsThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources USS Pickens news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Decommissioning and fate 2 Awards 3 References 4 External linksHistory editPickens was built under Maritime Commission contract MCV hull 658 was laid down by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co Vancouver Washington 22 April 1944 launched 21 July 1944 sponsored by Mrs Howard Denhart delivered to the Navy and commissioned 18 September 1944 World War II edit Following shakedown Pickens steamed west engaged in amphibious training in Hawaiian waters and on 27 January 1945 got underway for the western Pacific Ocean with elements of the 4th Marine Division embarked A unit of TransDiv 45 she arrived off Iwo Jima on the morning of 19 February Despite cold weather and high seas she stood off the assault beach 0730 1800 to land 2nd Battalion 25th Marines and their assigned Shore Party D Co 133 Naval Construction Battalion Retiring at night she returned daily to continue offloading cargo and to take on casualties On 28 February 1945 she got underway for Saipan thence to Guam to disembark her casualty passengers For the next month Pickens with 2nd Division Marines embarked rehearsed for Operation Iceberg On 27 March 1945 she departed the Marianas and on 1 April participated in the diversionary landings on Okinawa s southeastern coast during which she assumed duties of Division Commander TransDiv 44 after USS Hinsdale APA 120 was kamikazed She effected the rescue of survivors from that APA LST 884 and LST 724 On 2 April she repeated the feint then swung around to the stand by area where she remained until 9 April Pickens then returned to Saipan and on 14 April debarked her troops On 4 June 1945 Pickens sailed for Noumea whence she carried cargo back to the Marianas before heading back to California and availability Arriving at San Francisco California 3 August she completed availability after the end of the war and at the end of the month joined others of her type in carrying occupation troops to the Far East and bringing back veterans She completed Operation Magic Carpet duty at San Francisco 7 January 1946 then got underway for the U S East Coast and inactivation Decommissioning and fate edit Decommissioned at Norfolk Virginia 12 April 1946 she was redelivered to the United States Maritime Commission 18 April and on 1 May her name was struck from the Navy List Through 1970 she remained with the National Defense Reserve Fleet laid up at the James River Virginia berthing area in Lee Hall Virginia She was sold for scrapping to Union Minerals amp Alloys Corp on 9 April 1973 PD X 956 dated 5 March 1973 for 111 500 00 and was delivered on 7 September 1973 Awards editPickens earned two battle stars during World War II References editThis article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Pickens APA 190 NavSource Online Amphibious Photo Archive USS Pickens APA 190 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Pickens amp oldid 1148625581, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
