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USS Allendale (APA-127)
Encyclopedia
USS Allendale (APA-127) was a Haskell-class
attack transport
of the US Navy. She was built and used during World War II
. She was of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship
design type. Allendale was named for Allendale County, South Carolina
.
The new attack transport was assigned to Transport Division 57, Transport Squadron 19, Pacific Fleet
. She held a series of training exercises along the California
coast before sailing for Hawaii
early in January 1945. The vessel reached Pearl Harbor
on the 10th and commenced a series of training exercises in the local operating area which lasted into late March. After taking on troops and cargo, she set sail on 22 March for the Philippine Islands; stopped en route at Eniwetok, Ulithi
, and Kossol Roads
, Palau Islands; and reached Leyte
on 16 March.
There, Allendale began preparations for the upcoming Ryūkyū
invasion. She sortied on the 27th with Task Unit 51.13.24, arrived in the outer transport area on 1 April, and began lowering her boats early that morning. In spite of frequent Japanese air harassment, all her cargo had been successfully discharged by the 9th. That day, Allendale shaped a course for Saipan
and reached that island on 13 April. Two days later, she got underway for Pearl Harbor and ultimately sailed on to San Francisco, California
.
Reaching the west coast on 5 May, the transport began loading equipment, troops, and supplies earmarked for bases on Leyte. She got underway on 17 May and made port calls at Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Ulithi before reaching San Pedro Bay
on 10 June. The ship discharged her passengers and cargo and, on the 19th, sailed for New Guinea
.
Upon arriving in Oro Bay
on 24 June, the transport embarked troops and supplies for transportation to the Philippines. After making an intermediate stop at Hollandia, New Guinea, on 1 July, Allendale pushed on to Manila
, where she arrived on the 8th. When her passengers had disembarked, the vessel shaped a course back toward the United States
. She spent one week at Eniwetok in mid-July and then sailed directly to San Diego, California
, arriving there on 4 August.
Allendale was at San Diego when word of the Japanese capitualtion was flashed around the world. On 21 August, she sailed with units of the occupation forces destined for Honshū Island, Japan
. The ship paid visits to Pearl Harbor and Saipan before touching at Wakayama on 27 September. She sent Army troops ashore to serve in the occupation forces and then sailed on 1 October for Leyte. There, she embarked personnel of the X Army Corps
and headed back to Japan. She arrived in Hiro Wan, Honshū, on 21 October and discharged her passengers.
Allendale left Japan on 27 October and commenced the voyage back to the United States. She touched at Samar
, Philippines, on 1 November and embarked returning servicemen for passage to the west coast
. The vessel arrived in San Francisco Bay
on 22 November and soon thereafter began unloading her passengers. She entered drydock at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard on the 27th for repairs.
In early January 1946, Allendale got underway for the east coast. After transiting the Panama Canal
, the transport arrived in Norfolk, Virginia
, on 30 January. She was decommissioned there on 14 March 1946 and was transferred to the Maritime Commission on 20 March 1946 for layup in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
at James River, Virginia. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 28 March 1946.
, O.N. 267198, for upgrading the Reserve Fleet. On 4 March 1988 she was sold to C.J.W. Shipping and Trading, to be scrapped in Taiwan. At 0930 EST
, on 23 November 1988 she was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet and sent to the breaker's yard
.
Haskell class attack transport
Haskell-class attack transports 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....
attack transport
Attack transport
Attack Transport is a United States Navy ship classification.-History:In the early 1940s, as the United States Navy expanded in response to the threat of involvement in World War II, a number of civilian passenger ships and some freighters were acquired, converted to transports and given hull...
of the US Navy. She was built and used during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship
Victory ship
The Victory ship was a type of cargo ship produced in large numbers by North American shipyards during World War II to replace shipping losses caused by German submarines...
design type. Allendale was named for Allendale County, South Carolina
Allendale County, South Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,211 people, 3,915 households and 2,615 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 4,568 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
.
World War II service
Allendale was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 43) on 1 July 1944 at Wilmington, California, by the California Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 9 September 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Frank Hill; acquired by the Navy on 21 November 1944; and placed in commission on 22 November 1944 at San Pedro, California, Capt. J. J. Twomey in command.The new attack transport was assigned to Transport Division 57, Transport Squadron 19, Pacific Fleet
United States Pacific Fleet
The United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
. She held a series of training exercises along the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
coast before sailing for Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
early in January 1945. The vessel reached Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on the 10th and commenced a series of training exercises in the local operating area which lasted into late March. After taking on troops and cargo, she set sail on 22 March for the Philippine Islands; stopped en route at Eniwetok, Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
, and Kossol Roads
Kossol Roads
Kossol Roads, Palau is a large body of reef-enclosed water north of Babeldaob. During World War II, it was used by the United States Navy as the location of a floating resupply and repair base....
, Palau Islands; and reached Leyte
Leyte Island
Leyte is an island in the Visayas group of the Philippines.The island measures about 180 km north-south and about 65 km at its widest point. In the north it nearly joins Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 km in some places...
on 16 March.
There, Allendale began preparations for the upcoming Ryūkyū
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
invasion. She sortied on the 27th with Task Unit 51.13.24, arrived in the outer transport area on 1 April, and began lowering her boats early that morning. In spite of frequent Japanese air harassment, all her cargo had been successfully discharged by the 9th. That day, Allendale shaped a course for Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
and reached that island on 13 April. Two days later, she got underway for Pearl Harbor and ultimately sailed on to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
Reaching the west coast on 5 May, the transport began loading equipment, troops, and supplies earmarked for bases on Leyte. She got underway on 17 May and made port calls at Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Ulithi before reaching San Pedro Bay
San Pedro Bay (Philippines)
San Pedro Bay is a bay in the Philippines, at the northwest end of Leyte Gulf, about 15 km east-west and 20 km north-south. The bay is bounded on the north and east by Samar and on the east by Leyte Island. It is connected by San Juanico Strait to Carigara Bay of the Samar Sea. The...
on 10 June. The ship discharged her passengers and cargo and, on the 19th, sailed for New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.
Upon arriving in Oro Bay
Oro Bay
Oro Bay is a bay in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, located southeast of Buna. The bay is located within the larger Dyke Ackland Bay. A port is operated by PNG Ports Corporation Limited with limited wharf facilities.-History:...
on 24 June, the transport embarked troops and supplies for transportation to the Philippines. After making an intermediate stop at Hollandia, New Guinea, on 1 July, Allendale pushed on to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, where she arrived on the 8th. When her passengers had disembarked, the vessel shaped a course back toward the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She spent one week at Eniwetok in mid-July and then sailed directly to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, arriving there on 4 August.
Allendale was at San Diego when word of the Japanese capitualtion was flashed around the world. On 21 August, she sailed with units of the occupation forces destined for Honshū Island, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The ship paid visits to Pearl Harbor and Saipan before touching at Wakayama on 27 September. She sent Army troops ashore to serve in the occupation forces and then sailed on 1 October for Leyte. There, she embarked personnel of the X Army Corps
U.S. X Corps
X Corps was a corps of the United States Army in World War II and the Korean War.-World War II:The X Corps was activated in May 1942 at Sherman, Texas...
and headed back to Japan. She arrived in Hiro Wan, Honshū, on 21 October and discharged her passengers.
Allendale left Japan on 27 October and commenced the voyage back to the United States. She touched at Samar
Samar
Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland...
, Philippines, on 1 November and embarked returning servicemen for passage to the west coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. The vessel arrived in San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
on 22 November and soon thereafter began unloading her passengers. She entered drydock at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard on the 27th for repairs.
In early January 1946, Allendale got underway for the east coast. After transiting the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, the transport arrived in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, on 30 January. She was decommissioned there on 14 March 1946 and was transferred to the Maritime Commission on 20 March 1946 for layup in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
National Defense Reserve Fleet
The National Defense Reserve Fleet consists of "mothballed" ships, mostly merchant vessels, that can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide shipping for the United States of America during national emergencies, either military or non-military, such as commercial shipping crises.The NDRF is...
at James River, Virginia. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 28 March 1946.
Fate
In 1954 Allendale was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet as part of a Repair Program, GAA-Grace, and then returned. Put on the list to be scrapped, she was restored to retention status on 1 July 1970. She was transferred to Crest Tankers, Inc. in connection with the trade in of ST BeaujolaisST Beaujolais
ST Beaujolais was a tanker.She was built in March 1954 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock for Tide Water Assoc. Oil. The tanker was later owned by Crest Tankers, Inc. She then entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Beaumont, Texas on 29 October 1987. MARAD later gained title on 4...
, O.N. 267198, for upgrading the Reserve Fleet. On 4 March 1988 she was sold to C.J.W. Shipping and Trading, to be scrapped in Taiwan. At 0930 EST
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
, on 23 November 1988 she was withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet and sent to the breaker's yard
Ship breaking
Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially...
.