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USS Charles Carroll (APA-28)
Encyclopedia
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USS Charles Carroll (APA-28) was a that served with the US Navy
during World War II
.
Charles Carroll was named after a signatory
to the American Declaration of Independence. Initially classified a transport ship, AP-58, the ship was launched as Deluruguay 24 March 1942 by Bethlehem Steel
of Sparrows Point, Maryland; acquired by the Navy 13 August 1942; and commissioned the same day, Commander H. Beisemeier in command.
, 24 October 1942 in the Center Attack Group for the landings in North Africa
, and on 8 November arrived off Fedhala, French Morocco
, to begin the difficult landing of soldiers and their equipment over a beach whose narrow entrance was confined by rocky entrances. Her untried boat crews completed their part in the landing successfully, and on 15 November, Charles Carroll got underway for Norfolk, which she reached 26 November.
After replenishment, she sailed 27 December, bound for the Pacific
, but while approaching the Canal Zone
, struck a mine
, and had to put into Balboa
for repairs. On 1 February 1943, she was reclassified APA-28, and in March 1943 returned to Chesapeake Bay
for training operations. On 8 June, the attack transport sailed for action once more.
22 June 1943, Charles Carroll rehearsed, then loaded, for the assault on Sicily
, and on 10 July, began putting troops ashore through the heavy surf of the Scoglitti
beaches. Remaining off Sicily for 6 days, the attack transport repeatedly fired on attacking planes in the furious German
air attacks on the assault forces.
itself, for which she sailed 5 September.
Operating with the Southern Attack Force, Charles Carroll began landing the initial attack waves at Salerno
9 September, where a strong defense of the beach called for, and received, skill and determination from the boat crews. As resistance stiffened, Charles Carroll joined in bringing fresh troops into action, continuing support until 17 November.
waters to begin her share of the long and intricate preparations for the return to the continent.
On 5 June 1944, Charles Carroll left England astern headed for formidably protected Omaha Beach
with the initial landing force. Overcoming the difficult obstacles placed by the Germans there, her boat crews successfully landed troops of the 29th Division under enemy fire, and all through that historic 6 June plied back and forth, landing additional troops and equipment, and evacuating casualties. Charles Carroll sailed for England
that evening.
and in Italian waters, Charles Carroll sailed from Naples
13 August 1944 for the invasion of southern France
, assigned to the thoroughly mined, well-defended beaches of Saint Raphael
, where she got her troops ashore without mishap on 15 August. Until October, she continued to support the advance of troops in southern France with voyages to Marseilles from Naples and Oran with French, British, and American
troops, and Italian labor battalion
s.
deployment. The veteran of five major assaults reached Espiritu Santo
, Noumea
, 19 January 1945.
in the Northern Attack Force for Okinawa, carrying elements of the 1st Marines to the Hagushi
beaches. She landed her troops 1 April in the deceptively quiet opening hours of this later fierce campaign, and remained to support the rapid advance of the Marines across the island for 4 days, firing on the many kamikaze
attacks which began to sketch the bloody pattern of this operation. She returned by way of Saipan
to Pearl Harbor
, where she embarked passengers for San Francisco, arriving 22 August.
and the Far East
, carrying occupation troops west-bound, and returning servicemen east-bound. Ports of call included Manila
; Nagoya, Sasebo
, and Yokosuka, Japan; Tientsin, Shanghai
, Tsingtao, and Taku, China; and Guam
.
|}
USS Charles Carroll (APA-28) was a that served with the US Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
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...
.
Charles Carroll was named after a signatory
Charles Carroll
Charles Carroll may refer to:*Charles Carroll , Continental Congressman from Maryland*Charles H. Carroll , U.S...
to the American Declaration of Independence. Initially classified a transport ship, AP-58, the ship was launched as Deluruguay 24 March 1942 by Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
of Sparrows Point, Maryland; acquired by the Navy 13 August 1942; and commissioned the same day, Commander H. Beisemeier in command.
Invasion of French Morocco
The transport departed Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, 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....
, 24 October 1942 in the Center Attack Group for the landings in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and on 8 November arrived off Fedhala, French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, to begin the difficult landing of soldiers and their equipment over a beach whose narrow entrance was confined by rocky entrances. Her untried boat crews completed their part in the landing successfully, and on 15 November, Charles Carroll got underway for Norfolk, which she reached 26 November.
Damaged by mine
After replenishment, she sailed 27 December, bound for the Pacific
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
, but while approaching the Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, struck a mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
, and had to put into Balboa
Balboa, Panama
Balboa is a district of Panama City, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.- History :The town of Balboa, founded by the United States during the construction of the Panama Canal, was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the Spanish conquistador credited with discovering the Pacific Ocean...
for repairs. On 1 February 1943, she was reclassified APA-28, and in March 1943 returned to Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
for training operations. On 8 June, the attack transport sailed for action once more.
Invasion of Sicily
Arriving at OranOran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
22 June 1943, Charles Carroll rehearsed, then loaded, for the assault on Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, and on 10 July, began putting troops ashore through the heavy surf of the Scoglitti
Scoglitti
Scoglitti is a small fishing village near the town of Vittoria on the south coast of Sicily.In addition to its fishing industry, the village derives a substantial part of its income from tourism...
beaches. Remaining off Sicily for 6 days, the attack transport repeatedly fired on attacking planes in the furious German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
air attacks on the assault forces.
Invasion of Italy
After ferrying reinforcements from North Africa, she returned to Oran 18 August to prepare for the invasion of ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
itself, for which she sailed 5 September.
Operating with the Southern Attack Force, Charles Carroll began landing the initial attack waves at Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
9 September, where a strong defense of the beach called for, and received, skill and determination from the boat crews. As resistance stiffened, Charles Carroll joined in bringing fresh troops into action, continuing support until 17 November.
Normandy landings
After short overhaul in Norfolk from 2 January 1944 to 11 February, on 22 February, she arrived in BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
waters to begin her share of the long and intricate preparations for the return to the continent.
On 5 June 1944, Charles Carroll left England astern headed for formidably protected Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
with the initial landing force. Overcoming the difficult obstacles placed by the Germans there, her boat crews successfully landed troops of the 29th Division under enemy fire, and all through that historic 6 June plied back and forth, landing additional troops and equipment, and evacuating casualties. Charles Carroll sailed for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
that evening.
Invasion of Southern France
After training off ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and in Italian waters, Charles Carroll sailed from Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
13 August 1944 for the invasion of southern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, assigned to the thoroughly mined, well-defended beaches of Saint Raphael
Saint Raphael
Saint Raphael or Saint-Raphaël may refer to:Religion* Raphael , a seraph and archangel from the book of Tobit* Raphael Kalinowski , a Polish saint in the Discalced Carmelite Order...
, where she got her troops ashore without mishap on 15 August. Until October, she continued to support the advance of troops in southern France with voyages to Marseilles from Naples and Oran with French, British, and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
troops, and Italian labor battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s.
Pacific Theatre
Charles Carroll returned to Norfolk 8 November 1944 for overhaul, and to prepare for PacificPacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
deployment. The veteran of five major assaults reached Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
, Noumea
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
, 19 January 1945.
Invasion of Okinawa
On 27 March 1945, she sailed from UlithiUlithi
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...
in the Northern Attack Force for Okinawa, carrying elements of the 1st Marines to the Hagushi
Hagushi
Hagushi bay was the primary unloading point for American supplies during the invasion of Okinawa during World War II. The bay, at the mouth of the Bishi River , was the dividing line between the First and Sixth US Marine divisions, which landed on the Hagushi beaches to the north, and the Seventh...
beaches. She landed her troops 1 April in the deceptively quiet opening hours of this later fierce campaign, and remained to support the rapid advance of the Marines across the island for 4 days, firing on the many kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
attacks which began to sketch the bloody pattern of this operation. She returned by way of 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...
to 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...
, where she embarked passengers for San Francisco, arriving 22 August.
After hostilities
After the war, Charles Carroll made five voyages from the west coast to the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, carrying occupation troops west-bound, and returning servicemen east-bound. Ports of call included 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,...
; Nagoya, Sasebo
Sasebo, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
, and Yokosuka, Japan; Tientsin, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Tsingtao, and Taku, China; and Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
.