USS Catskill (LSV-1)

The USS "Catskill" (LSV-1) was a vehicle landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. The lead ship of her class, she was named for the Catskill Mountains in southeastern New York State, and the second U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Originally classified as "AP-106"; laid down, 12 July 1941 under Maritime Commission Contract (MC hull 106); reclassified to "CM-6" on 1 May 1943; and to "LSV-1" 21 April 1944. She was launched 19 May 1942 by Willamette Iron and Steel Corporation of Portland, Oreg.; sponsored by Mrs. J. G. McPherson; and commissioned 30 June 1944 with Captain R. W. Chambers, USNR, in command. "Catskill" sailed from San Diego 12 August 1944 for Hawaii, where she embarked marines, and proceeded by way of Eniwetok for Manus, where she joined the transport group of the Southern Attack Force for the assault on Leyte. This group sailed 14 October for the return to the Philippines, and entered Leyte Gulf without event, anchoring off Dulag 20 October to launch the initial attack. Smooth execution of brilliant plans resulted in a highly successful landing, and "Catskill" completed her offloading and was able to retire in the afternoon of 22 October, before the commencement of the epic Battle for Leyte Gulf. "Catskill" returned to New Guinea, then sailed to Morotai, where from 5 to 10 November 1944 she loaded troops and cargo under almost continuous enemy air raids. As her convoy proceeded north with these reinforcements for Leyte, it came under enemy air attack on 13 November, and "Catskill's" gunners aided in splashing one of the Japanese aircraft. Unloading in Leyte Gulf took place on 14 November, and "Catskill" got underway at once for Manus, and New Guinea, where she took part in special training. Returning to Manus 21 December 1944, "Catskill" sailed 10 days later with the Lingayen Attack Force, which came under air attack, although not in "Catskill's" sector, as it made its final approach. On 9 January 1945 the landings were successfully made on beaches so difficult that the Japanese had considered an amphibious assault there impossible. The force was under repeated air attack. "Catskill" nevertheless accomplished her part of the landing skillfully, and cleared Lingayen for Leyte 10 January. Anchoring 2 days later, she loaded Army troops and cargo for the first reinforcement of Lingayen 27 January. Arriving in the Solomon Islands 11 February 1945 "Catskill" began intensive training for the Okinawa operation. On 21 March, she anchored in Ulithi, staging area for the massive assault which was to come, and on 27 March got underway for the initial assault on 1 April, in which she landed units of the 6th Marines. That night, she moved out to sea, and for the next 4 days, returned to the beachhead area daily to complete her unloading of men and cargo. Returning to Saipan 9 April, "Catskill" continued on to San Francisco, arriving 13 May. Between 16 May and 14 June 1945 "Catskill" made a voyage from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor carrying vehicles and general cargo, and steamed to Pearl Harbor once again. She loaded troops there for Eniwetok, Saipan, and Guam, and after carrying out this assignment, proceeded to Manila, arriving 5 July. Here she remained until 20 September, when she sailed laden with Army troops for the occupation of Japan. "Catskill" anchored in Wakayama Bay 25 September, and cleared Japan 1 October for the Philippines, where she embarked homeward-bound servicemen. She arrived in San Francisco 27 October, and sailed again 10 November on the first of two more voyages to bring troops home from Guam, Ulithi, Peleliu, and Eniwetok. On 10 February 1946 "Catskill" arrived at San Diego, where she was placed out of commission in reserve 30 August 1946. Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group, "Catskill" was reclassified as mine countermeasures support ship "MCS-1" on 18 October 1956. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 July 1961, she was reinstated 1 June 1964. Converted to an MCS in FY 1964 at Boland Machine Manufacuring Company of New Orleans, Louisiana from 25 June 1964 to 8 September 1967, USS "Catskill" (MCS-1) was recommissioned 6 October 1967. During the Vietnam War "Catskill" participated in the following campaigns:

* Tet 69/Counteroffensive (5 to 11 May 1969)
* Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 (9 to 18 June 1969)
* Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 (14 March to 12 April 1970)
* Sanctuary Counteroffensive (28 to 30 June 1970)
* Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII (1 July 1970)

Decommissioned in December, 1970 at the Naval Shipyard in Long Beach, California, "Catskill" was struck from the Naval Register (date unknown) and believed to have been scrapped.

"Catskill" received three battle stars for World War II service and five campaign stars for Vietnam War service.

References

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* cite web|title=AP-106 / CM-6 / LSV-1 / MCS-1 "Catskill"|work=Amphibious Photo Archive
url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/17/1701.htm|accessdate=April 28|accessyear=2007