Frederick Funston-class attack transport

Last updated

Frederick Funston class
USS James O'Hara (APA-90) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 8 June 1943.jpg
USS James O'Hara (APA-90), a ship of the Frederick Funston class, at Hampton Roads, 23 August 1943
Class overview
NameFrederick Funston class
Builders Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation
OperatorsFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy
Preceded by Arthur Middleton class
Succeeded by Doyen class
In commission24 Apr 1943 – 26 Apr 1943 - Probably around 1960
Completed2
General characteristics
Type Attack transport
Displacement7,000-8,600 tons (lt)
Length492 ft 8 in (150.16 m)
Beam69 ft 6 in (21.18 m)
Draft26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) (limiting)
PropulsionGeared turbine drive, designed shaft horsepower 8,000-8,500
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)
CapacityTroops: 2,200
Complement519-576
Armament1 × 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun, 2 × 3"/50 caliber dp guns, 8 × 1.1"/75 AA guns, replaced by 16 × 20mm gun mounts

The Frederick Funston-class attack transport was a class of two US Navy attack transports. They saw service in World War II and later in the Korean War.

Contents

Attack transports were a special type of transport ship designed to transport troops and their equipment over long distances to hostile shores, and then execute an amphibious invasion at the destination, using an array of smaller integral assault boats. Like all attack transports, the Frederick Funston class was generously armed with antiaircraft weaponry to protect itself and its vulnerable cargo of troops from air attack in the battle zone.

History

The class derives its name from US Army General Frederick Funston, a veteran of the Philippine–American War and Medal of Honor recipient. The two ships of the Frederick Funston class were based on the Maritime Commission's ubiquitous Type C3 hull (specifically Type C3-S-A1). They began their service lives as transport ships for the US Army, but after several months of service in this role they were acquired by the US Navy and reclassified attack transports. It is not known whether they underwent any modifications for their new role.

There is no mention of cargo space in the DANFS entries, so it is not known how much cargo the vessels carried. The class carried a larger number of troops than most attack transports2,200 as opposed to the 1,200 to 1,500 of most other APA's.

In service

The Frederick Funstons participated in the Mediterranean Theatre, taking part in the invasions of Salerno and Italy, and later in the Pacific Theatre. After the war, they were decommissioned and returned to the US Army, when they were redesignated USAT (US Army Transport). In the 1950s the ships were reacquired by the Navy and reclassified T-AP. Both of them then went on to serve in the Korean War - mostly on transport missions.

James O'Hara was struck from the Naval Register in 1961. Both vessels were scrapped in 1968-69.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troopship</span> Ship used to carry soldiers

A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime. Troopships were often drafted from commercial shipping fleets, and were unable to land troops directly on shore, typically loading and unloading at a seaport or onto smaller vessels, either tenders or barges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attack transport</span> United States Navy ship classification

Attack transport is a United States Navy ship classification for a variant of ocean-going troopship adapted to transporting invasion forces ashore. Unlike standard troopships – often drafted from the merchant fleet – that rely on either a quay or tenders, attack transports carry their own fleet of landing craft, such as the landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat.

<i>Haskell</i>-class attack transport US amphibious assault ship

Haskell-class attack transports (APA) were amphibious assault ships of the United States Navy created in 1944. They were designed to transport 1,500 troops and their combat equipment, and land them on hostile shores with the ships' integral landing craft.

Type C3-class ship Ship type

Type C3-class ships were the third type of cargo ship designed by the United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) in the late 1930s. As it had done with the Type C1 ships and Type C2 ships, MARCOM circulated preliminary plans for comment. The design presented was not specific to any service or trade route, but was a general purpose ship that could be modified for specific uses. A total of 162 C3 ships were built from 1939 to 1946.

<i>Gilliam</i>-class attack transport US Navy ship

The Gilliam-class attack transport was a class of attack transport built for service with the US Navy in World War II.

USS <i>James OHara</i>

USS James O'Hara (APA-90) was a Frederick Funston-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II and later in the Korean War. The ship was named after a Continental Army officer who fought in the Revolutionary War and who later became Quartermaster General of the US Army.

<i>Bayfield</i>-class attack transport

The Bayfield-class attack transport was a class of US Navy attack transports that were built during World War II.

USS <i>John Penn</i>

USS John Penn (APA-23) was an attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II. Named after Founding Father John Penn, a signatory to the American Declaration of Independence, she was the only ship in her class.

<i>Sumter</i>-class attack transport

The Sumter-class attack transport was a class of attack transport built for service with the US Navy in World War II.

USS <i>Frederick Funston</i>

USS Frederick Funston (APA-89) was a Frederick Funston-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II. Before serving as a Navy APA, she had been the US Army transport USAT Frederick Funston. After World War II, she was returned to the Army and operated as USAT Frederick Funston. Funston was among the seventy-two ships transferred to the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) in the 1 March 1950 group and placed in service as USNS Frederick Funston (T-AP-178).

<i>Windsor</i>-class attack transport Type of WWII US naval vessel

The Windsor-class attack transport was a class of nine US Navy attack transports. Ships of the class saw service in World War II.

USS <i>Crescent City</i>

USS Crescent City (AP-40/APA-21) was the lead ship of the Crescent City-class attack transports that served with the US Navy during World War II. The ship was built as the cargo and passenger liner Delorleans for the Mississippi Shipping Company's Delta Line. After brief commercial operation the ship was among 28 vessels requisitioned in June 1941 for the Navy and the Army. The Navy renamed the ship Crescent City, a popular nickname for New Orleans, Louisiana, upon commissioning 10 October 1941. The ship was decommissioned and laid up in 1948 before being loaned to the California Maritime Academy to serve as a training ship 1971–1995 and then transferred to a foundation in a failed art colony project. The ship left California for Texas scrapping in 2012.

<i>Ormsby</i>-class attack transport

The Ormsby-class attack transport was a class of US Navy attack transport that saw service in World War II.

<i>Crescent City</i>-class attack transport

The Crescent City-class attack transport was a class of U.S. Navy attack transports that saw service in World War II and the Korean War. There were four ships in the class: USS Crescent City, USS Charles Carroll, USS Monrovia, and USS Calvert.

<i>Harris</i>-class attack transport

The Harris-class attack transport was a class of US Navy attack transport which saw service in World War II. The purpose of any attack transport was to deliver troops and their equipment to hostile shores in order to execute amphibious invasions using an array of smaller integral landing craft. Being intended to serve in forward combat areas, these ships were well armed with antiaircraft guns to protect itself and its vulnerable cargo of troops from air attack in the battle zone.

<i>McCawley</i>-class attack transport

The McCawley-class attack transport was a class of US Navy attack transport built in 1928 that saw service in World War II.

<i>President Jackson</i>-class attack transport

The President Jackson-class attack transport was a class of seven US Navy attack transport that saw service in World War II.

<i>Arthur Middleton</i>-class attack transport

The Arthur Middleton-class attack transport was a class of three US Navy attack transport that saw most of its service in World War II. Ships of the class were named after signatories of the American Declaration of Independence.

<i>Doyen</i>-class attack transport

The Doyen-class attack transport was a class of two attack transports that saw service with the US Navy in World War II. Ships of the class were named after generals of the United States Marine Corps.

Type P1 ship

The Type P1 ship is a United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) designation for World War II passenger ships. P1 was used in World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. Type P1 were the smallest of the P-class ships, at 400 to 500 feet long. Two P1-S2-L2 ships were built for the Navy and used as attack transports (APA). Many P1 type ships were built on Type C3-class ship hulls.

References