- USS Kershaw (APA-176)
USS "Kershaw" (APA-176) was a "Haskell"-class
attack transport acquired by theU.S. Navy duringWorld War II for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas.World War II service
"Kershaw" ("APA-176") was launched
12 November 1944 , by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp.,Portland, Oregon ; sponsored by Miss Helen Molloy; and commissioned2 December 1944 , Comdr. A. G. Davenport in command.Transporting men and materials to the battle areas
After shakedown, "Kershaw" cleared
San Francisco, California ,7 February 1945 , with nurses and naval personnel, arrivingGuam 23 February . Moving toSaipan 27 February , the transport prepared for the invasion of theRyukyus , the last enemy stronghold before Japan itself. During March she loaded equipment and troops of the2d Marine Division ; then, following amphibious exercises offTinian , she sailed for the assault area27 March .Troops from Kershaw hit the beach at Okinawa
The invasion got underway as the troops hit the beach at
Okinawa 1 April . After troops from "Kershaw" landed on the southeastern shore of the island, the transport stood by for the next 10 days. She returnedSaipan 14 April , remaining there until sailing for theSolomons 5 June . Following brief stops atTulagi ,Espiritu Santo , andEniwetok , she arrivedGuam 14 July .End-of-war “mopping up” operations
Following a short overhaul period at
San Francisco, California , the transport loaded cargo and troops to replace veterans in the occupation area. She cleared San Francisco17 August and steamed intoTacloban ,Leyte ,10 September . From there she ferried occupation troops toHonshū , Japan, before returning toSan Pedro, California ,19 October . On the third of four additional "Operation Magic-Carpet " cruises to theFar East , "Kershaw" delivered equipment toBikini Atoll for theatomic tests before sailing on toSamar to embark another 2,000 veterans for return to San Francisco25 May . On her final cruise she took on units of the2d Marines at Sasebo before transiting thePanama Canal and arrivingNorfolk, Virginia ,8 August .Post-war decommissioning
"Kershaw" remained at
Portsmouth, Virginia , until she decommissioned20 December 1946 , and entered theAtlantic Reserve Fleet at Norfolk. Struck from theNavy List 1 October 1958 , she joined theNational Defense Reserve Fleet 19 December 1958 and was berthed inJames River, Virginia . She was sold for scrapping in1982 .Military awards and honors
"Kershaw" received one
battle star forWorld War II service.References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*World War II External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/k3/kershaw.htm USS Kershaw]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03176.htm NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive - APA-176 Kershaw]
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