USS Cavalier (APA-37)

USS "Cavalier" (AP-82/APA-37) was a . Hit port side aft, "Cavalier" suffered 50 men injured, some flooding, and buckled decks. Engines stopped and steerageway was lost. Flooding and damage were quickly controlled, but since her propeller was jammed, she had to be towed by USS|Rail|AM-26|6 to Leyte, arriving 4 February. Repairs there and at Pearl Harbor continued through 12 September.

Postwar service

Sailing from Pearl Harbor to the Philippines, "Cavalier" embarked military passengers for transportation to San Francisco, where she arrived on 1 November 1945.

Tours of duty to China

From 1 January to 22 February 1946, she voyaged to Samar, Guam, Eniwetok, and Kwajalein, again to load passengers for San Francisco. Repairs there preceded a tour of duty off China from 5 May 1946 to 30 April 1947, from which she returned to San Diego.

A second tour of China duty from 25 March to 9 December 1948 found "Cavalier" transporting rice furnished by American relief agencies for Chinese refugees at Tsingtao. Three short cruises to mid-Pacific islands preceded a deployment to the Far East for which she sailed 3 April 1950.

Korean War

Thus "Cavalier" was in Japanese waters upon the outbreak of the Korean War. She quickly prepared for the first amphibious landing of the conflict, and on 15 July 1950, sailed from Yokosuka with troops of the 1st Cavalry. They landed at Pohang on 18 July, and "Cavalier" returned to Yokosuka on 23 July.

Assigned to the daring Inchon invasion, "Cavalier" next cleared Yokosuka on 3 September, paused at newly secured Pusan from 5 to 12 September, and in the early evening of 15 September, came into position to begin the arduous landings over the seawalls of Inchon, against enemy resistance which stiffened with each assault wave. "Cavalier" remained off Inchon, receiving casualties, until 20 September, when she cleared for Yokosuka. In October, she carried men and ammunition to both Inchon and Wonsan, and on 1 November, cleared for San Diego, overhaul, and local training. On 14 July 1951, laden with Marines, "Cavalier" once more departed San Diego for the Far East. Arriving at Kobe, Japan on 29 July, she replenished, and loaded additional small arms ammunition and provisions. On 5 August, she put into Pusan to offload men and cargo, returning to Japan for training operations through the fall. From 27 November to 7 December, she carried men and vehicles of the 45th Infantry to Inchon, and after operations in Japanese waters and a visit to Hong Kong, made a similar voyage to Inchon late in January 1952. "Cavalier" returned to the West Coast on 23 April 1952, and took part in intensive training along the California coast and in Hawaii until 3 July 1953, when she again sailed for Yokosuka. From 1 to 27 August, she was at Inchon, aiding in the transfer of prisoners of war under the Korean Armistice Agreement, and after amphibious landing exercises off Japan, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima, returned to Long Beach, California on 23 April 1954.

Peacetime service

From the close of the Korean War through 1960, "Cavalier" completed three tours of duty in the Far East, from 11 January to 4 October 1956; from 10 February through 12 December 1959; and from 16 February to 25 July 1960.

Vietnam war

"Cavalier" took part in a number of operations during the Vietnam War, from early 1966 until May 1968.

Decommission

Shortly after her final Vietnam tour of duty, "Cavalier" was decommissioned. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 October 1968, and sold for scrap in 1969.

Awards

"Cavalier" received five battle stars for World War II service, four for Korean War service, and five for the Vietnam War.

References

* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ap82.htm "Cavalier" APA-37] - DANFS Online.
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03037.htm AP-82/APA-37 "Cavalier"] - Navsource Online.
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c5/cavalier.htm

See also

* List of United States Navy ships