USS Pitt (APA-223)

USS "Pitt" (APA-223/LPA-223) was a "Haskell"-class attack transport of the U.S. Navy active during World War II, including the Battle of Okinawa.

Constructed in California

"Pitt" was laid down on 8 September 1944 by Permanente Metals Corporation in Richmond, California, as MCV hull 571; launched on 10 November 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Gwin Fallis; and commissioned on 11 December 1944, with Captain Walter S. Mayer, Jr. in command.

World War Ii service

Supporting Okinawa operations

After shakedown off the California coast, "Pitt" departed 10 February 1945 via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, for Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands, to join 600 other ships preparing for the invasion of Okinawa.

She unloaded half of her ammunition cargo there, and the rest at Leyte. After loading Army troops from damaged attack transport "Samuel Chase" (APA-26), she steamed for Kerama Retto where her troops cleaned out Zamami Shima, a key island in the small group off the southwest coast of Okinawa.

Caring for the wounded

She then became "receiving ship" for the Kerama Retto Naval Base, caring for several hundred survivors of Japanese suicide attacks, and shooting down one suicide plane on 6 April. "Pitt steamed" to Saipan, Tulagi, Noumea, and Guam before returning with passengers to San Francisco, California, for the celebrations of the Japanese surrender.

End-of-war operations

On 19 August, "Pitt" sailed via Ulithi to Mindanao and Leyte, where she loaded troops to occupy Aomori, northern Honshū, Japan, on 25 September. "Pitt" then began a series of Operation Magic Carpet assignments, returning fighting men to the States from such Pacific Ocean locations as Saipan and Tinian, Manila, and Nagoya, Japan.

Decommissioning and disposal

She decommissioned and was transferred to the Maritime Commission on 9 April 1947 and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 23 April 1947.

Placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, she was berthed at Suisun Bay in 1970. On 14 August 1968, the designation “attack transport,” APA, was changed to “amphibious transport,” LPA, and APA-223 became LPA-223. "Pitt" was disposed of by MARAD exchange on 1 February 1980.

Honors and awards

"Pitt" received one battle star for World War II service.

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03223.htm NavSource Online: APA / LPA-223 Pitt]

See also

* U.S. Navy
* World War II