- USS Hamblen (APA-114)
USS "Hamblen" (APA-114) was a sclass|Bayfield|attack transport that served with the
US Navy during World War II."Hamblen" was launched under
Maritime Commission contract byIngalls Shipbuilding ofPascagoula, Mississippi , 30 July 1944, and commissioned after conversion 12 June 1945, Captain G. M. Wauchope in command.Operational history
After shakedown training out of
Galveston , "Hamblen" loaded passengers and cargo atNew Orleans and arrivedSan Juan, Puerto Rico , 25 July 1945. There she embarked a contingent of Puerto Rican army troops and steamed westward 26 July forHawaii , via thePanama Canal .After hostilities
Shortly after her arrival 11 August, the war ended, and "Hamblen" took up the task of bringing replacement troops into the forward areas and transporting veterans back to the United States. Embarking Marines at
Hilo , "Hamblen" sailed for Japan viaSaipan , unloading her troops nearTokyo 22 September 1945. Subsequently, she made voyages toLingayen Gulf andManila bringing occupation troops into Japan, and departedWakayama 5 November for Saipan.Operation Magic Carpet
At Saipan, "Hamblen" took returning servicemen on board as part of Operation Magic Carpet, the giant operation which accomplished the task of bringing home American servicemen. From Saipan she sailed eastward to
San Pedro, California , arriving there 24 November 1945."Hamblen" made one more voyage for Magic Carpet, arriving at
Okinawa 26 December and arrivingTacoma, Washington , 17 January 1946. The ship was designated for return to the Maritime Commission, released 23 January 1946, and sailed to theCanal Zone , where she arrived 22 February. "Hamblen" continued toNorfolk, Virginia where she decommissioned 1 May 1946. Six days later she was returned to the Maritime Commission.Commercial service
In 1948 the vessel was sold to
Isthmian Lines whom she served as merchant ship "Steel Voyager." The ship was scrapped in 1973.References
*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03114.htm APA-114 "Hamblen"] , Navsource Online
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.