Haskell class attack transport

"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 conflict, with some staying in service into the Vietnam War.

The "Haskell"-class design, Maritime Commission standard type VC2-S-AP5, is a sub‑type of the World War II Victory ship design. 117 "Haskell"-class ships were launched in 1944 and 1945, with 14 more being cancelled.

Design

The VC2-S-AP5 design was intended for the transport and landing of over 1,500 troops and their heavy combat equipment. During Operation Magic Carpet, up to 1,900 personnel per ship were caried homeward. [see USS|Rutland|APA-192]

The "Haskells" carried 25 landing craft to deliver the troops and equipment right onto the beach. The 23 main boats were the 36 feet (11 m) long, LCVP. They were designed to carry 36 equipped troops. The other 2 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 (17m) LCM (6). [cite book|title=USS|Lanier|APA-125 Deck Log, September 1945] They also carried one gig.

The "Haskell" class ships were armed with one 5"/38 caliber gun, twelve Bofors 40 mm guns (one quad mount, four dual mounts), and ten Oerlikon 20 mm guns.

hips of the "Haskell" class

"Haskell" class attack transports included APA-117, USS|Haskell|APA-117|6, the lead ship, through APA-247, the never completed USS|Mecklenburg|APA-247|6. APA-181 through APA-186 were never named and cancelled in 1944. APA-240 through APA-247 were named, but cancelled in 1945 when the war ended. With the special exception of the USS|Marvin H. McIntyre|APA-129|6, the "Haskell"-class ships were all named after counties of the United States.

:"See List of "Haskell"-class attack transports."

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. [cite web |url= http://www.pmars.imsg.com/sistership.asp?Ship=2951 |title= Sister Ship Display |accessdate= 2006-09-23] A few were converted into Missile Range Instrumentation Ships.

As of the 29 February 2008 MARAD inventory, there are only two ships built as "Haskell"-class left in the inventory, both in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at James River, Virginia:
* The USS|Gage|APA-168|6, the last remaining ship in the "Haskell" configuration. "Gage" was pending review upon whether or not she will become a museum ship, [http://www.apaproject.org/] . As of the 29 February 2008 MARAD Inventory, her official status had changed from "Disposal" to "Historic Hold".
* The USS|Sherburne|APA-205|6, which was converted to USS|Range Sentinel|AGM-22|6. Her status is listed as "Historic Review"

ee also

References

* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/amphib/apa125.txt Class information in Hazegray/DANFS APA-125 page]
* [http://www.marad.dot.gov/offices/ship/Current_Inventory.pdf MARAD National Defense Reserve Fleet "Current Inventory"]

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/shusn-no/apa-no.htm US Naval Historical Center Photo Library - APA List by Hull Number]
* [http://www.pmars.imsg.com/sistership.asp?Ship=2214 MARAD Records for "Haskell" class]
* [http://www.dobrinkman.net/lowndes/ship.htm Ship Model and Blueprints for "Haskell" class]