USS Guilford (APA-112)

The USS "Guilford" (APA-112) was a "Bayfield"-class attack transport built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Guilford County, North Carolina, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

"Guilford" was laid down (date unknown) as a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 873) by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation of Pascagoula, Mississippi; launched 14 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas Lowry Bailey, wife of the Governor of the State; converted to an attack transport by Waterman Steamship Corporation of Mobile, Alabama; and commissioned there 14 May 1945 with Captain E. R. Gardner in command. After shakedown in the Gulf of Mexico, "Guilford" sailed for Newport, Rhode Island. Arriving 22 June 1945 she served as a training ship for precommissioning crews until 30 July. "Guilford" then took on board cargo and troops at Norfolk, Virginia and sailed for the Pacific via San Diego. After off-loading troops at Iwo Jima and in the Japanese home islands, "Guilford" was attached to "Operation Magic Carpet" 18 October. In two round trips from San Diego to Guam, Saipan, Okinawa, and Japan, she transported over 5,000 veterans back to the United States for discharge as well as carrying out troops for the occupation of Japan. Returning to San Diego 6 March 1946 from her final Pacific voyage, "Guilford" embarked passengers for the East Coast and sailed for Norfolk via the Panama Canal 15 March. "Guilford" reached Norfolk 31 March and decommissioned there 29 May 1946. She returned to the Maritime Commission 31 May 1946. She subsequently was sold in May, 1947 to Pope and Talbot Lines, and was renamed SS "P&T Navigator". In 1963 she was resold to the American Foreign Steamship Company and renamed SS "American Oriole". The ship was scrapped in 1973.

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ee also

* List of United States Navy amphibious assault ships