USS J. Franklin Bell (APA-16)

USS "J. Franklin Bell" (APA-16) was a sclass|Harris|attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

"J. Franklin Bell" (AP-34) was laid down in 1918 as an Army transport by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey; completed 1 March 1921 as a passenger and cargo ship named "Keystone State"; turned over to the Pacific Steamship Company 28 May and renamed "President McKinley" 9 June 1922; and transferred to Admiral Oriental Lines 21 December to operate in the Pacific until laid up in Seattle in 1938.

The Army purchased her 26 October 1940, renamed her "J. Franklin Bell", and converted her into a military transport. She was transferred to the Navy on 26 December l941; and commissioned in ordinary before commissioning in full at San Francisco 2 April 1942, Captain H. J. Grassie in command.

World War II

After shakedown, a round-trip voyage to Pearl Harbor, and over 2 months of amphibious training along the California coast, "J. Franklin Bell", carrying some 1,500 troops and a full load of cargo, sailed from San Francisco 13 August and headed via Kodiak, Alaska, for Adak to strengthen American defenses in the Aleutians, then threatened with invasion.

Aleutian landings

Upon returning San Diego 29 September, "J. Franklin Bell" resumed coastal operations and amphibious training in preparation for taking the offensive in the Aleutians by recapturing Attu Island. Reclassified APA-16 1 February 1943, she continued rehearsals until sailing to San Francisco 16 April to embark troops and their war gear. She got under way 24 April for Cold Bay, Alaska. Though hampered by heavy seas, her task force arrived off Attu 11 May in a dense fog. "J. Franklin Bell", now under Comdr. J. B. McGovern, began landing operations. Submerged rocks, pea soup weather, and narrow, rocky beaches permitted only two or three boats to be unloaded at a time. Two days later she started unloading around the clock, enabling her to finish the task, embark casualties, and head for home by 16 May.

After training throughout June, she embarked some 1,750 soldiers and, following 2 weeks of landing rehearsals, departed San Diego 29 July for Adak. At the end of a week of weather and terrain conditioning there, she steamed for Kiska 13 August. She sent her landing boats ashore through rough surf only to find the enemy had fled. Unloading operations completed in 2 days, she embarked 600 troops and sailed for San Francisco the 20th.

At San Francisco she discharged the troops and embarked naval passengers for Wellington, New Zealand, where she arrived 30 September. During the ensuing month of amphibious assault training, Captain O. H. Ritchie took command 22 October. After embark ing 1,800 marines, she sailed 1 November for final landing rehearsals before departing 13 November to invade Tarawa.

Invasion of Tarawa

The first step in a mighty amphibious offensive through Micronesia, the conquest of the Gilbert Islands was a major milestone on the watery road to Japan. During midwatch 20 November, "J. Franklin Bell" took her assigned place off Betio, the most formidable Japanese garrison on Tarawa Atoll. Heavy naval bombardment began at 0515; and the enemy responded with scattered fire at the transports.

Straddled by gunfire, "J. Franklin Bell" retired out of range and, while the deadly battle raged on ashore, awaited orders to land her troops. The next day she sailed to Bairiki Island and landed her marines. Finding dead enemies only, they boarded landing boats and moved from island to island along the atoll. Meanwhile, after the Bairiki landings, "J. Franklin Bell" began sending cargo ashore. The marines secured Betio on the 23d and the entire atoll on 27 November, and "J. Franklin Bell" departed with marines embarked for Pearl Harbor.

Invasion of Kwajalein

After a month of training in Hawaii, the transport embarked more than 1,500 soldiers and sailed for Kwajalein Atoll. Upon arriving 31 January, she found fire support ships pounding enemy shore installations in preparation for landings the following day. "J. Franklin Bell" entered the lagoon 2 February to unload supplies and to receive casualties. On the 5th, her landing boats assaulted Gugegwe Island. Two days later the atoll was secured; and the transport departed 8 February for Pearl Harbor carrying over 2,000 soldiers.

Invasion of Saipan

Putting into Pearl 15 February. she made two round trips to the United States mainland before embarking soldiers and setting course for the Marianas. "J. Franklin Bell" arrived off Saipan 16 June, the day after the initial landings; and debarked her troops on the 17th. After unloading needed supplies,she retired some 100 miles northeast of Saipan to await the outcome of the Battle of the Philippine Sea 19 to 21 June. Upon learning of the great American naval victory, she returned to Saipan 25 J une; completed unloading; embarked casualties; sailed for Eniwetok to load more cargo; and then headed, via Saipan to embark marines, for the assault on nearby Tinian.

Invasion of Tinian

Departing 24 July, "J. Franklin Bell" joined in a diversionary demonstration at the southern end of Tinian. Under cover of a fierce bombardment, the transport feigned two landings to divert enemy attention while the real landings were made at the northern end of the island. Following this successful subterfuge, she sailed to the actual beachheads; landed her troops; embarked casualties the next afternoon; and returned to Saipan the 27th. The next day, carrying 438 Japanese prisoners, she sailed for Pearl Harbor and arrived 10 August.

Invasion of Leyte

"J. Franklin Bell" returned to the Western Pacific, putting into Manus, Admiralties, 3 October to embark 1,600 assault troops for the invasion of the Philippines. She headed for Leyte Gulf 14 October and arrived off Dulag, Leyte, 20 October. After quickly debarking her troops, she began unloading supplies and receiving casualties. Defying repeated air attacks, she unloaded supplies into LCTs throughout the day and night completing the task shortly after noon the next day. Then she got under way for Manus, Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Roger Keyes, RN, on board, and arrived the 27th.

Invasion of Okinawa

Following a voyage to New Guinea, "J. Franklin Bell" departed Manus for San Francisco and arrived 27 November. Heading back to the war zone 28 February 1945, the veteran transport arrived Nouméa, New Caledonia, 18 April. After landing exercises and embarking Seabees and their equipment, she headed for Okinawa via Eniwetok and Ulithi. She dropped anchor at Hagushi, 17 June to debark her Seabees. Subjected to frequent air alerts, she completed her unloading under cover of a smoke screen late the following afternoon.

The transport then departed on the 22nd, carrying 862 casualties to Saipan before proceeding to Espiritu Santo and Nouméa to embark homehound casualties. Departing Nouméa 11 July with over 1,700 passengers, she steamed for San Francisco and arrived the 27th.

After hostilities

The war ended, "J. Franklin Bell" sailed 21 September for the Western Pacific, carrying troops to Eniwetok, Okinawa, and Leyte. After boarding homebound passengers at Leyte, she sailed 27 October and reached Seattle 12 November. She began coastal operations on the 22nd shuttling between Washington and California ports.

Decommission

"J. Franklin Bell" arrived at Suisun Bay, California, 20 March 1946; and decommissioned the same day.

Transferred to the War Shipping Administration for disposal, she was sold for scrap 3 April 1948, to Boston Metals of Baltimore, Maryland.

Awards

"J. Franklin Bell" received six battle stars for World War II service.

References

* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ap34.htm USS "J. Franklin Bell" (APA-16)] , DANFS Online.
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03016.htm APA-16 "J. Franklin Bell"] , Navsource Online.