USS Barnett (APA-5)

USS "Barnett" (APA-5) was a "McCawley"-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

"Barnett" was launched ln 1928 as the passenger steamer "Santa Maria" by the Furness Shipbuilding Company of Haverton-on-Tees, England; purchased by the Navy 11 August 1940; and commissioned 25 September 1940, Captain I. Pamperin in command.

World War II

From 25 September 1940 until the end of the year. "Barnett" was engaged in training Marines in the Culebra-Vieques Islands area. In January 1941 she returned to Norfolk, Virginia for an overhaul which was completed 3 April 1941. Between April and December 1941 she again participated in amphibious and gunnery exercises with Marines. August was spent conducting landing exercises at New River, North Carolina.Cressman(2000)pp.48-49]

Battles of Coral Sea and Midway

"Barnett" moved troops to defensive positions in the southwest Pacific during the early months of World War II. Following the Battle of the Coral Sea, "Barnett" transported survivors from USS Lexington (CV-2) from Nouméa to San Diego.Mason(June 1982)pp.40-45] Among those survivors were "Lexington"s executive officer, Commander Morton Seligman, "Chicago Tribune" war correspondent Stanley Johnston, and dive bomber pilot Robert Dixon, who sent the most remembered message of the Coral Sea battle: "Scratch one flattop." During the trip, Dixon observed Seligman sharing classified message traffic with Johnston including decrypted information about Japanese planning for the Battle of Midway. Johnston's "Chicago Tribune" article following the battle included information potentially revealing Japanese naval codes were no longer secure. Admiral Ernest King discovered the source of the security breach through Dixon's response to FBI investigators. Japanese cryptography remained unchanged following the article, so Seligman's punishment was a permanent ban on promotion to avoid possible publicity about more formal proceedings. Seligman retired in 1944.

Guadalcanal

After delivering "Lexington" survivors to San Diego, "Barnett" sailed to San Francisco to embark men of the 1st Marines for transport to the South Pacific.Frank(1990)p.48] Assignment of the 1st Marines to the Guadalcanal landing occurred after "Barnett" had been commercially loaded to cram the most material into available cargo holds.Frank(1990)p.52] "Barnett" was assigned to Transport Division B for the Guadalcanal landing carrying the Headquarters, 1st Marines and 1st Battalion, 1st Marines.Frank(1990)p.622] "Barnett" arrived in Wellington, New Zealand in early July to reshuffle cargo into combat loading so less important items were under material necessary during the early stages of amphibious assault. "Barnett" sailed from New Zealand on 22 July for a landing rehearsal on 26 July at Koro Island in Fiji. The landing force then sailed from Koro on 31 July and commenced the Guadalcanal landing on 7 August. "Barnett" was damaged by a crashing Mitsubishi G4M bomber during an air raid on 8 August.Cressman(2000)p.113] "Barnett" sailed for Nouméa on 9 August carrying survivors of ships sunk at the Battle of Savo Island. "Barnett" spent the month of November 1942 shuttling troops and supplies between Tulagi and Guadalcanal. "Barnett" was anchored off Lunga Point offloading when accompanying USS Alchiba (AKA-6) was torpedoed by midget submarine "Ha-10" on 28 November 1942.Coggins(1972)p.157]

icily

"Barnett" was reclassified APA-5, 1 February 1943. "Barnett" furnished logistic support during the Sicilian occupation (10-15 July 1943). During a bombing attack off the coast of Sicily on 11 July 1943, a bomb burst close aboard "Barnett"'s port bow abreast of the forward hatch putting a hole in the hull and causing subsequent flooding. The ship was made to list to starboard to bring the hole above the water line. Seven men were killed and 35 injured; all were Army personnel. "Barnett" steamed under her own power to Algiers, Algeria, for repairs, arriving 15 July.

alerno

"Barnett" furnished logistic support during the Salerno landings (21 September).

Normandy

"Barnett" furnished logistic support during the invasion of Normandy (6-19 June 1944).

outhern France

"Barnett" furnished logistic support during the invasion of Southern France (16 August-25 September).

Okinawa

"Barnett" furnished logistic support during the assault and occupation of Okinawa (1-9 April 1945), and operated in the Pacific until 26 September 1945 when she returned to the United States.

Decommission

She was decommissioned 30 April 1946 [DANFS says the decommission date was 21 May 1948 but this is probably a transcription error.] at Newport, Rhode Island, and transferred to the Maritime Commission 3 July 1948. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 21 May 1946.

"Barnett" received seven battle stars for her World War II service.

Commercial service

"Barnett" was transferred to the War Shipping Administration on 3 July 1946. On 13 April 1948 she was sold to Achille Lauro Ltd. and refitted for merchant service. Her final disposition is unknown.

Footnotes

References

*cite book
last = Coggins
first = Jack
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 1972
chapter =
title = The Campaign for Guadalcanal
publisher = Doubleday & Company
location = Garden City New York
id = ISBN 0-385-04354-6
*cite book
last = Cressman
first = Robert J.
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 2000
chapter =
title = The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II
publisher = Naval Institute Press
location = Annapolis, Maryland
id = ISBN 1-55750-149-1
*cite book
last = Frank
first = Richard B.
authorlink =
coauthors =
year = 1990
chapter =
title = Guadalcanal
publisher = Random House
location = New York
id = ISBN 0-394-58875-4
*
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/auxil/ap11.htm USS "Barnett" (APA-5)] , DANFS Online.
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03005.htm APA-5 "Barnett"] , Navsource Online.