- USS Charles Carroll (APA-28)
USS "Charles Carroll" (APA-28) was a "Crescent City "-class
attack transport that served with the US Navy duringWorld War II ."Charles Carroll" was named after a signatory to the
American Declaration of Independence . Initially classified a transport ship, AP-58, the ship was launched as "Del Uruguay" 24 March 1942 byBethlehem Steel ofSparrows Point, Maryland ; acquired by the Navy 13 August 1942; and commissioned the same day, Commander H. Beisemeier in command.World War II
Mediterranean Theatre
Invasion of French Morocco
The transport departed
Norfolk, Virginia , 24 October 1942 in the Center Attack Group for the landings inNorth Africa , and on 8 November arrived offFedhala ,French Morocco , to begin the difficult landing of soldiers and their equipment over a beach whose narrow entrance was confined by rocky entrances. Her untried boat crews completed their part in the landing successfully, and on 15 November, "Charles Carroll" got underway for Norfolk, which she reached 26 November.Damaged by mine
After replenishment, she sailed 27 December, bound for the Pacific, but while approaching the
Canal Zone , struck a mine, and had to put intoBalboa for repairs. On 1 February 1943, she was reclassified APA-28, and in March 1943 returned toChesapeake Bay for training operations. On 8 June, the attack transport sailed for action once more.Invasion of Sicily
Arriving at
Oran 22 June 1943, "Charles Carroll" rehearsed, then loaded, for the assault onSicily , and on 10 July, began putting troops ashore through the heavy surf of theScoglitti beaches. Remaining off Sicily for 6 days, the attack transport repeatedly fired on attacking planes in the furious German air attacks on the assault forces.Invasion of Italy
After ferrying reinforcements from North Africa, she returned to Oran 18 August to prepare for the invasion of
Italy itself, for which she sailed 5 September.Operating with the Southern Attack Force, "Charles Carroll" began landing the initial attack waves at
Salerno 9 September, where a strong defense of the beach called for, and received, skill and determination from the boat crews. As resistance stiffened, "Charles Carroll" joined in bringing fresh troops into action, continuing support until 17 November.Western Theatre
Normandy landings
After short overhaul in Norfolk from 2 January 1944 to 11 February, on 22 February, she arrived in British waters to begin her share of the long and intricate preparations for the return to the continent.
On 5 June 1944, "Charles Carroll" left England astern headed for formidably protected
Omaha Beach with the initial landing force. Overcoming the difficult obstacles placed by the Germans there, her boat crews successfully landed troops of the 29th Division under enemy fire, and all through that historic 6 June plied back and forth, landing additional troops and equipment, and evacuating casualties. "Charles Carroll" sailed forEngland that evening.Invasion of Southern France
After training off
Scotland and in Italian waters, "Charles Carroll" sailed fromNaples 13 August 1944 for the invasion of southernFrance , assigned to the thoroughly mined, well-defended beaches ofSaint Raphael , where she got her troops ashore without mishap on 15 August. Until October, she continued to support the advance of troops in southern France with voyages toMarseilles from Naples and Oran with French, British, and American troops, and Italian laborbattalion s.Pacific Theatre
"Charles Carroll" returned to Norfolk 8 November 1944 for overhaul, and to prepare for Pacific deployment. The veteran of five major assaults reached
Espiritu Santo ,Noumea , 19 January 1945.Invasion of Okinawa
On 27 March 1945, she sailed from
Ulithi in the Northern Attack Force forOkinawa , carrying elements of the 1st Marines to theHagushi beaches. She landed her troops 1 April in the deceptively quiet opening hours of this later fierce campaign, and remained to support the rapid advance of the Marines across the island for 4 days, firing on the manykamikaze attacks which began to sketch the bloody pattern of this operation. She returned by way ofSaipan toPearl Harbor , where she embarked passengers forSan Francisco , arriving 22 August.After hostilities
After the war, "Charles Carroll" made five voyages from the west coast to the
Philippines and theFar East , carrying occupation troops west-bound, and returning servicemen east-bound. Ports of call includedManila ;Nagoya , Sasebo, andYokosuka, Japan ;Tientsin ,Shanghai ,Tsingtao , andTaku, China ; andGuam .Decommission
She was decommissioned and placed in reserve at San Francisco 27 December 1946. She was transferred to the Maritime Commission 29 October 1958.
Awards
"Charles Carroll" received six
battle star s forWorld War II service.References
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ap58.htm USS "Charles Carroll" (APA-28)] , DANFS Online.
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03028.htm APA-28 "Charles Carroll"] , Navsource Online.
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