USS Rockingham (APA-229)

USS "Rockingham" (APA-229/LPA-229) was a "Haskell"-class attack transport acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas.

"Rockingham" ("APA-229") was laid down 11 September 1944 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Corp., Vancouver, Washington; launched 1 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Lynn Norman Carlson; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on a loan-charter basis and commissioned at Astoria, Oregon, 22 November 1944, Comdr. Hans Hanley, USNR, in command.

World War II service

Following trials at Seattle, Washington, and shakedown off San Pedro, California, "Rockingham" reported to the U.S. Pacific Fleet 30 December 1944. After amphibious training off the southern California coast, she was underway on 16 February 1945 from San Diego, California, with cargo for Pearl Harbor. Following further training exercises in the Hawaiian Islands, she steamed 10 March for Eniwetok and Saipan with over a thousand U.S. Army men. Operating in the Marianas until 15 April, she departed Saipan with over 1,200 troops and officers for Ulithi and Okinawa.

Landing troops on Okinawa under dangerous conditions

On 26 April she debarked her troops at Okinawa. On 27 April, "Rockingham" experienced the first of many enemy air attacks, witnessing the sinking by a suicide plane of nearby SS Canada Victory. The next morning, "Rockingham" joined USS|New Mexico|BB-40 in splashing a kamikaze. On 1 May "Rockingham" sent boats to assist USS|Terror|CM-5, hit and badly damaged by a suicide plane, taking on board 55 casualties. On 4 May she got underway in convoy for Ulithi, Pearl Harbor, and San Francisco. There she loaded over 1,300 troops and got underway 6 June for Eniwetok, Ulithi, and Manila where she debarked her passengers.

End-of-war activity

Returning to San Francisco, California, 28 July she loaded some 1,600 Army troops and got underway on 14 August, the first U.S. naval vessel to leave San Francisco Bay following the announcement of peace. She proceeded to Eniwetok, Ulithi and Manila where she debarked her troops. Embarking 1,500 new Army troops there, she got underway 17 September for Japan. After unloading troops on the Tokyo Plain, she proceeded to Leyte and Samar to pick up veterans and returned to San Francisco, 5 November. She then made another "Operation Magic Carpet" run to the Philippines reaching Los Angeles, California, 23 December.

Supporting nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll

Remaining on the U.S. West Coast until 11 March, she steamed for Eniwetok and Kwajalein to participate in the Joint Task Force 1 atomic bomb tests. Returning to San Francisco by way of Pearl Harbor 29 April, she was back at Pearl on 14 May. Proceeding on to Kwajalein and Bikini Atoll where she arrived 1 June, she returned to Pearl Harbor briefly 11 June, then steamed back to Bikini and Kwajalein before finally steaming for Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, where she arrived 12 September 1946.

Post-war decommissioning

She was detached from Operation Crossroads, 14 September 1946; and, following radiological clearance, reported to the U.S. 19th Fleet 5 December 1946. She was placed out of commission in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Francisco 17 March 1947. The Commander, Columbia River Group, accepted custody of "Rockingham" from the Commander, San Francisco Group, 18 June 1953. She was transferred to the Maritime Administration at Astoria, Oregon, 26 September 1958 and struck from the Navy list 1 October 1958.

Military honors and awards

"Rockingham" earned one battle star for World War II service.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r8/rockingham.htm USS Rockingham]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03229.htm NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - APA / LPA-229 Rockingham]