- USS Rankin (AKA-103)
USS "Rankin" (AKA-103/LKA-103) was a "Tolland" class (later "Rankin" class)
attack cargo ship (later amphibious cargo ship) named afterRankin County, Mississippi . Like all AKAs, "Rankin" was designed to transport military cargo andlanding craft , and use the latter to land weapons, supplies,soldiers and Marines on enemy shores during amphibious operations.She was the 103rd of 114 ships eventually constructed for this purpose, and served as a commissioned warship for a total of 21 years and five months. Her construction was part of the country's emergency program for replacing the hundreds of
cargo ships lost to enemy attacks duringWorld War II . TheMaritime Commission administered the program and dozens of the ships it produced were acquired by the United States Navy and converted into warships. Many of these ships would be used for amphibious warfare.History
Built by the
North Carolina Shipbuilding Co. and commissioned during the final year of World War II, "Rankin" was put in mothballs after the war, then recommissioned during theKorean War in 1952. In 1969, the Navy changed the AKA designation to LKA, and renamed Attack Cargo Ships as Amphibious Cargo Ships. (Other amphibious ships were also redesignated at that time, so that all amphibious designators began with the letter "L".) The USS "Rankin" was decommissioned in 1971, and was sunk in 1988 as a fishing and diving reef off the coast ofStuart, Florida .She was a very special ship during her time in commission, always characterized by high
morale and outstanding performance. At one time, she held every award available to a ship of her type. She became the first Atlantic Fleet ship to wear the Gold E, signifying five straight victories in the annualbattle efficiency competition . Her captains included aMedal of Honor recipient, a winner of theNavy Cross , and a member of the Navy'sBlue Angels flight team. Many of her officers later earnedflag rank as Navy Rear, Vice, and fullAdmiral s.World War II era
"Rankin" (AKA-103) was laid down on
31 October 1944 as Maritime Commission hull 1702 byNorth Carolina Shipbuilding Company ,Wilmington, North Carolina . "Rankin" was launched22 December 1944 , sponsored by Mrs. L. C. Freeman. The ship was acquired by the Navy25 January 1945 , and ferried to theCharleston Navy Yard for conversion to an AKA. She was commissioned25 February 1945 , less than four months after her keel was laid.Lieutenant Commander Thomas D. Price was her first commanding officer.Following an Atlantic shakedown, "Rankin" steamed
26 March 1945 in company with "Tollberg" (APD-103) for thePanama Canal Zone . Joining the Pacific Fleet1 April , she loaded Marine Corps replacement equipment at San Francisco and steamed independently for Hawaii17 April . Intensive training in shipboard procedures and amphibious techniques followed. She then took on 5,000 tons of Army ammunition atHonolulu and, in company with "Tolovana" (AO-64), steamed on25 May forUlithi . Escorted by USS|Enright|DE-216|2, the two ships immediately went on to deliver their vital cargoes at Okinawa. During her 17 days at theBattle of Okinawa , the ship faced more than 100 air raids bykamikaze . All ammunition was offloaded between air raids."Rankin" departed Okinawa
28 June 1945 in convoy forSaipan . There she offloaded her boat group and then steamed independently forSan Francisco , arriving20 July . After taking on her allowance of landing craft, she put in at Seattle for repairs. Hostilities ended during loading operations, her ammunition was offloaded, and the ship sailed for thePhilippines , arrivingManila on9 September .Assigned to TransRon 20, "Rankin" steamed for
Lingayen Gulf . En route, she touched atSubic Bay , contributed landing craft to the boat pool there, and then commenced taking on equipment of the 25th Army Division from theSan Fabian beaches.The squadron got underway for Japan
1 October . After riding at anchor for nearly three weeks while the approaches toNagoya , southernHonshū , were cleared of mines, the squadron entered that port27 October . Rankin embarked Navy personnel there, took on inoperable landing craft at Samar in the Philippines, and sailed for home, arriving San Francisco25 November . That same day, CAPT William L. McDonald assumed command of the ship.On
20 May 1946 , CAPT Griswold T. Atkins took command. The ship visited China and Japan during 1946 and early 1947.The ship returned home, and on
10 March 1947 , CDR [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=106 George D. Arntz] took command. "Rankin" was decommissioned on21 May at San Francisco and entered the Maritime Commission'sNational Defense Reserve Fleet atSuisun Bay , California.1950s
USS "Rankin" was recommissioned
22 March 1952 at the Todd Shipyard,Alameda, California , with CAPT [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=101 Bernard H. Meyer] in command. Following shakedown, the ship transited thePanama Canal to join the Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet. Operating out of Norfolk, she commenced a lengthy second career of support for amphibious training operations along the East Coast as well as in the Caribbean andMediterranean .Medal of Honor recipient CAPT (later VADM)
Lawson P. Ramage took command of the ship on11 April 1953 , serving until relieved by CAPT [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=223 Malcolm T. Munger] on19 July 1954 . CAPT [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=148 James D. Ferguson] took command on20 July 1955 . On4 October 1956 , CAPT (later ADM) W.F.A. Wendt took command.On
11 September 1957 , CAPT (laterRADM ) [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24 John Harllee] relieved CAPT Wendt. On18 July 1958 , "Rankin" was among theamphibious forces which landed 5,000 U.S. Marines in Lebanon, in response to a request from the Lebanese Government for assistance in avertingcivil war .CAPT [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=159 John S. C. Gabbert] took command on
19 February 1959 , and two weeks later "Rankin" departed Norfolk for a six month cruise to the Mediterranean as part of the United States SIXTH Fleet. Acruise book was published to commemorate this trip.1960s
From 1959-1968, "Rankin" deployed periodically to the Caribbean with
Amphibious Squadron 10, a fast amphibious squadron withVertical Envelopment capabilities. Operating regularly in the Caribbean, she repeatedly called atPuerto Rico , theVirgin Islands ,Haiti ,Jamaica , andCuba .CAPT [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=288 Leonard E. Harmon] assumed command on
10 February 1960 , serving until relieved by CAPT [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=176 Thomas F. Howe] on10 March 1961 .CAPT [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=198 John S. Leidel] took command on
29 May 1962 . During theCuban Missile Crisis of October and November 1962, occasioned by the discovery of Russian intermediate-rangeballistic missiles in Cuba, Rankin operated in the force which was marshaled in Cuban waters, prepared for any eventuality. In January 1963, "Rankin" departed Norfolk withPHIBRON 10 and various components of the 2nd Marine Battalion. In late February, she visitedSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic , in company with USS|Boxer|LPH-4 for the inauguration of PresidentJuan Bosch . For this service, the Rankin received commendations from Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. She returned to Norfolk on7 March . In April, as a result of the unstable political situation in Haiti, the ship proceeded directly to a position off that country and patrolled in theGulf of Gonave for thirty-one days until tensions eased.Navy Cross winner [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=58 George C. Cook] took command of "Rankin" on
16 July 1963 . She subsequently had a yard period atNorfolk Naval Shipyard . Refresher training at Guantanamo Bay followed early in January 1964.CAPT (later VADM) [http://www.ussrankin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=50 William T. Rapp] took command on
22 August 1964 . "Rankin" participated in exercise "Steel Pike I" off the Spanish coast28 September through3 December . Upon returning to Norfolk, she underwent a tender availability with "Amphion" (AR-13), after which she resumed coastal training and readiness operations, and deployments with the Caribbean Amphibious Ready Squadron.During squadron exercises in April, 1965, "Rankin" participated in the Dominican Republic Intervention. Arriving off the coast of Santo Domingo, "Rankin" and other ships of PhibRon 10 commenced the mass embarkation and evacuation of over 1,000 refugees and U.S. civilian nationals. As a result of this operation, the "Rankin" and all her personnel were awarded the
Navy Unit Commendation by theSecretary of the Navy .CAPT Lester B. Lampman assumed command on
8 August 1966 . In October, "Rankin" was called on to render relief to the disaster area of Cayes-Jacmel, Haiti, afterHurricane Inez caused massive damage to the island. The men of the "Rankin" unloaded tons of food, medical supplies, and building supplies to help the stricken people. After her regular overhaul period in 1967, "Rankin" returned to operations in the Atlantic and Caribbean with Amphibious Squadron Ten.CAPT John D. Exum took command on
26 September 1967 . Deployed to the Caribbean from March to July 1968, "Rankin" visited San Juan, Guantanamo Bay,Panama , St. Thomas,St. Croix ,Aruba and Jamaica. In August 1968, Rankin participated in exercise "Riverine 68", which was designed to demonstrate to Marine and Naval Forces the latest methods of combating jungle warfare. In November 1968, Rankin was reassigned to Amphibious Squadron Four. In December, she participated in theApollo 8 Moon Orbital Flight as a secondary recovery ship in the U.S. Navy Recovery Force south ofBermuda .Effective
1 January 1969 , "Rankin" was reclassified LKA-103 and redesignated Amphibious Cargo Ship. On14 April , Former Blue Angels pilot CAPT C. Nello Pierozzi assumed command. In late July, she took on Marines and equipment and deployed to the Mediterranean, returning to Norfolk on13 December . Another cruise book was produced to commemorate this trip.1970s
The new year, 1970, brought with it a period of operations off the eastern seaboard, and another July-to-December Mediterranean deployment, also memorialized in a cruise book, with the
Sixth Fleet . CAPT Jerry T. Becker assumed command on9 August . "Rankin" returned to Little Creek on14 December 1970 .LCDR Philip R. Given assumed command on
2 February 1971 , and, "Rankin" was decommissioned for the second and final time on11 May at Little Creek.Final disposition
On
24 July 1988 , the ship was sunk as an artificial fishing and diving reef, six miles off the coast of Stuart, Florida. She rests on her starboard side at a depth of 130 feet. The site remains popular among fisherman and advanced SCUBA divers.hip reunions
In February, 2003, [http://www.ussrankin.org The USS Rankin Association] , a reunion and reconnection organization for all people ever associated with the ship, was established. The group has located over 1,500 former Rankin shipmates, including every one of the 437 officers who served aboard the ship.
Honors and Awards
As a result of her service during World War II, "Rankin" was entitled to wear the ribbons associated with the
American Campaign Medal , theAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star, theWorld War II Victory Medal , theNavy Occupation Service Medal with an Asian Clasp, theNational Defense Service Medal , and theChina Service Medal .During the eight years after her 1952 recommissioning, "Rankin" won the
Battle Efficiency Award six times, including an unprecedented five straight from 1956-1960. By special order of Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, "Rankin" sailors were authorized to wear a Gold E on their arms, and the ship wore a Gold E on her stack.In 1958, "Rankin" simultaneously held every award available to a ship of her class: the Battle Efficiency Award (the White E), the Engineering Red E, the communications Green E, gunnery awards for both her 40 mm batteries and her 5 inch mount, the Assault Boat Coxswain Award, and the
Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award .She was awarded the
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for her service in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.References
External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r2/rankin.htm Naval Historical Center: USS "Rankin"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/02/02103.htm NavSource Online: AKA / LKA-103 "Rankin"]
* [http://ussrankin.org The USS Rankin Association]
* [http://unitpages.military.com/unitpages/unit.do?id=200300 Military.com: USS "Rankin"]
* [http://ussrankin.org/id352.htm 51 Years of AKAs]
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