USS Crescent City

Last updated

USS Crescent City APA-21.jpg
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Name
  • Delorleans (1940)
  • Crescent City (1941)
NamesakeA popular nickname for New Orleans, Louisiana
Builder Bethlehem Steel
Launched17 February 1940
Sponsored byMrs M. L. Pedrick
ChristenedDelorleans
Acquired9 June 1941
Commissioned10 October 1941
Decommissioned30 April 1948
RenamedTS Golden Bear II, Artship
ReclassifiedAP-40 to APA-21, 1 February 1943
Stricken12 April 1946
Identification
Honours and
awards		Ten battle stars for World War II service
FateSold for scrap, January 2012
General characteristics
Class and type Crescent City class attack transport
Displacement
  •   8,409 tons (lt),
  • 14,247 t.(fl)
Length491 ft (150 m)
Beam  65 ft 6 in (19.96 m)
Draft  26 ft (7.9 m)
Propulsion
Speed17 knots (31 km/h)
Capacity
  • Troops: 58 Officers, 1,102 Enlisted
  • Cargo: 140,000 cu ft (4,000 m3),
  • 2,300 long tons (2,300 t)
ComplementOfficers 36, Enlisted 498
Armament

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.

Contents

Construction

Originally named the SS Delorleans, the ship was contracted on 16 December 1938 by Maritime Commission as a Type C3 ship hull No. 49. The keel was laid 8 May 1939, by the Bethlehem Steel Company, Sparrows Point Maryland where she was launched on 17 February 1940, and delivered to Delta Lines on 23 August 1940.

Delorleans was the second of a series of six ships, the previous ship being Delbrasil and next the Deltargentino, designed by the Mississippi Shipping Company, as a modification of the standard C3 design, to carry both passengers and cargo between New Orleans and Buenos Aires on the so-called "Coffee Run". Twenty six staterooms accommodated 67 passengers on the shelter deck. [1] The names Deltargentino (1942) and Delorleans (1942) were later reused during construction for ships of the same basic design that were also put into service as commissioned Navy ships. [2]

Government requisition

The Maritime Commission's Division of Emergency Shipping announced on 4 June 1941 that it had requisitioned twenty-eight merchant vessels (twenty-one for the Navy and seven to the Army) among which Delorleans was among the group allocated to Navy. [3] The Navy assumed control on 9 June 1941 and stripped the ship to prepare her for war duty with commissioning on 10 October 1941 as the USS Crescent City. Originally classified AP-40, she was converted to an attack transport at Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding of Mobile, Alabama; and commissioned 10 October 1941. She was reclassified APA-21, 1 February 1943.

World War II

Departing Norfolk, Virginia 15 December 1941 loaded with troops and equipment, Crescent City debarked her passengers in the Panama Canal Zone, then sailed to San Diego to load Navy and Marine passengers for Pearl Harbor. She carried civilian evacuees back to San Diego, returning immediately with workers and equipment to rush repairs of the damaged naval base at Pearl Harbor. Assigned to transport men and equipment to set up the advanced base at Efate, New Hebrides, she voyaged on this mission until arriving at San Diego 22 April 1942 for a brief overhaul.

Invasion of Guadalcanal

On 1 July 1942 Crescent City sailed from San Diego bound for the initial assault landings on Guadalcanal. Landing her troops 7 August under heavy air attack, she splashed at least five of the enemy planes. For two days she remained at anchor unloading the necessary supplies to hold the beachhead, then returned to Espiritu Santo to unload material to set up a new forward base to supply the Guadalcanal operations.

Sailing from Brisbane, Australia, and Wellington, New Zealand to the advanced bases at Nouméa and Espiritu Santo, then dodging enemy forces to deliver men and equipment to sway the balance toward victory on Guadalcanal was Crescent City's mission through the next few months. When the offensive began to swing north through the Solomon Islands in early 1943, she continued her transport duty to the base established on hard-won Guadalcanal. On 13 August, while unloading, she aided in repelling an air attack in which USS John Penn (APA-23) was sunk.

Invasion of Bougainville

On 28 October 1943 Crescent City sortied for the invasion of Bougainville, landing troops at Empress Augusta Bay under air attack 1 November. On the 13th, after helping repel a torpedo bomber attack, she landed support troops brought from Tulagi and Port Purvis on Florida Island. Continuing her inter-Solomons transport and resupply duty, she took part in the assault landings on Emirau Island on 11 April 1944 and reported to Guadalcanal 30 April to prepare for the Marianas operation.

Invasions of Peleliu and Leyte

Crescent City was held in reserve during the assaults on Kwajalein and Eniwetok, then landed her troops and embarked casualties at Guam from 21 to 25 July 1944. She returned to Guadalcanal 16 August for the staging of the Palau operation, taking part in the landings on Peleliu on 15 September. Ten days later she arrived at Humboldt Bay, New Guinea and sailed on 16 October for the invasion of Leyte. After landing troops of the 6th Army at San Pedro Bay on 22 October, she sailed before the outbreak of the Battle for Leyte Gulf. The transport brought reinforcements to Leyte from Hollandia, and arrived at Manus Island on 20 November to embark passengers for the United States.

Conversion to hospital ship

After overhaul, Crescent City departed San Francisco on 25 February 1945 and arrived at Pearl Harbor 4 March. Here she was converted to a temporary hospital evacuation ship, and two weeks later was underway for Kerama Retto, arriving 6 April. Receiving casualties from the beaches of Okinawa and from other ships, she transferred them to USS Hope (AH-7) for evacuation. Crescent City remained at Okinawa receiving casualties and transients until the end of the war.

After hostilities

Aiding in the redeployment of troops for the occupation of China, Crescent City lifted the 1st Marine Division to Taku between 30 September and 6 October 1945, and carried Chinese troops from Hong Kong to Chinwangtao and Qingdao in November. Returning to Okinawa 1 December she embarked men eligible for discharge and sailed for Seattle, arriving 20 December.

Departing Seattle 23 January 1946 Crescent City arrived at Norfolk on 14 February. She operated from New York and Norfolk on training duty in the Caribbean until 10 October 1947 when she sailed for the west coast.

Decommission

Arriving at San Francisco 1 November, Crescent City was placed out of commission in reserve 30 April 1948 and transferred to the Maritime Commission 3 September 1948.

Awards and decorations

Crescent City was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance throughout World War II, and received 10 battle stars.

Postwar service

After decommission, Crescent City was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, Benicia, California.

On 28 August 1970 the Maritime Administration (MARAD) loaned the ship for training purposes to the California Maritime Academy who renamed her TS Golden Bear. [4] She sailed on 28 major ocean cruises over 24 years. In 1995 she was returned to MARAD and the Reserve Fleet.

On 28 October 1997 the ship was returned to MARAD custody. [4] The ship had been approved for donation to the Artship Foundation of Oakland, California with donation pending in the Department of Defense budget authorization, but the provision did not make it from draft legislation to enacted 1996 legislation. [4] On eventual transfer the ship was renamed Artship as part of a failed art colony project. Artship was sold in 2004 to be scrapped in Texas, but dismantling was halted due to high PCB levels and because she was considered too historic. [5]

Scrapping

On 7 November 2012 S.S. Pacific Star (formerly Delorleans, Crescent City, Golden Bear, Artship) was auctioned off for $1 on the steps of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. She departed Mare Island, California 15 January 2012 under tow for Brownsville, Texas where she was eventually scrapped. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Fuller</i> (APA-7)

USS Fuller (AP-14/APA-7) was a Heywood-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1941 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1957.

USS Leonis (AK-128) was a Crater-class cargo ship in service with the US Navy in World War II. It was the only ship of the Navy to have borne this name, Latin for "of a lion", presumably referring to the northern constellation Leo.

USS <i>Neshoba</i>

USS Neshoba was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1975.

USS <i>Pickaway</i>

USS Pickaway (APA/LPA-222) was a Haskell-class attack transport that saw service with the US Navy in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. She was of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design type and named after Pickaway County, Ohio.

USS <i>New Kent</i>

USS New Kent (APA-217) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1949 and from 1951 to 1954. She was scrapped in 1972.

USS <i>Chilton</i>

USS Chilton (APA-38) was a Bayfield-class attack transport. Her task was to deliver troops to the battle front, and to recover and care for the wounded. She served in the Pacific Ocean in the war against the Empire of Japan and returned home post-war with one battle star to her credit.

USS <i>Audubon</i>

USS Audubon (APA-149) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1973.

USS <i>Latimer</i>

USS Latimer (APA-152) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1947 and from 1950 to 1956. She was scrapped in 1972.

USS <i>Laurens</i>

USS Laurens (APA-153) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1988.

USS <i>Newberry</i>

USS Newberry (APA-158) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1984.

USS <i>Lauderdale</i>

USS Lauderdale (APA-179/LPA-179) was a Haskell-class attack transport acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas.

USS <i>Clay</i>

USS Clay (APA-39) was a Bayfield class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was then sold into commercial service and was scrapped in 1974.

USS <i>Barnstable</i> Bayfield-class attack transport ship

USS Barnstable (APA-93) was a Bayfield-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was sold to commercial service in 1948 and finally scrapped in 1974.

USS <i>Callaway</i>

USS Callaway (APA-35) was a Bayfield-class attack transport that served with the US Navy, and was manned by the United States Coast Guard during World War II.

USS <i>Pierce</i> US Navy Ormsby-class attack transport in service 1942-1946

USS Pierce (APA-50) was an Ormsby-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

USS <i>Harris</i>

USS Harris (APA-2) was an Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 ship launched for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) on 19 March 1921 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, at Sparrows Point, Maryland as Pine Tree State. After operation by commercial lines for the USSB, during which the ship was renamed President Grant and operated commercially until laid up in the late 1930s.

USS <i>Leonard Wood</i> American steamship and WWII troop transport

USS Leonard Wood (APA-12) was built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation and launched 17 September 1921 at Sparrows Point, Maryland as Nutmeg State, an Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 ship intended as a World War I troop transport, but redesigned upon the armistice as a passenger and cargo ship and completed as Western World for delivery to the United States Shipping Board. The ship's acceptance on 5 May 1922 and delivery on 9 May 1922 marked the completion of the wartime shipbuilding program of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and the Shipping Board.

USS <i>William P. Biddle</i> WWII US attack transport

USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) was a Heywood-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1941 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1957.

USS <i>George F. Elliott</i> (AP-105) American cargo liner ship

USS George F. Elliott (AP-105) was a cargo liner built for the Mississippi Shipping Company as SS Delbrasil for operation between New Orleans and the east coast of South America in 1939 by its operator, Delta Line. The ship entered that service and operated until taken over by the War Shipping Administration (WSA) on 28 April 1942 for operation by Delta Line acting as WSA's agent. On 25 August 1943 WSA allocated the ship to the Navy for conversion to a troop transport commissioned and operated by the Navy for the duration of the war. Ownership of the ship was transferred from Mississippi Shipping to WSA on 4 February 1944 while under Navy operation and was retained until sale to American South African Lines on 22 December 1948. The ship was renamed African Endeavor until returned as a trade in to the Maritime Commission on 22 September 1960 for layup in the James River reserve fleet and later sold to Boston Metals for scrapping.

USS <i>President Adams</i>

USS President Adams (AP-38/APA-19) was a President Jackson-class attack transport of the United States Navy, named for Founding Father John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, the second and sixth Presidents of the United States.

References

  1. ↑ Pacific Marine Review (1940). "S.S. Delbrasil—Maritime Commission's First Cargo and Passenger Liner is Delivered to The Mississippi Shipping Company as First In a Program of Six Such Vessels for the New Orleans --South American Ports Run". Consolidated 1940 issues (July). 'Official Organ: Pacific American Steamship Association/Shipowners' Association of the Pacific Coast: 42–47. Retrieved 10 September 2014.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ↑ Colton, T. (10 June 2011). "Bethlehem Steel Company, Sparrows Point MD". ShipbuildingHistory. T. Colton. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  3. ↑ Pacific Marine Review (1941). "The Maritime Commission Now in Complete Control of Coastwise, Intercoastal and Overseas Shipping—Acquisition of Ships For Emergency". Consolidated 1941 issues (July 1941). 'Official Organ: Pacific American Steamship Association/Shipowners' Association of the Pacific Coast: 45. Retrieved 8 September 2014.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. 1 2 3 Maritime Administration. "Delorleans". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Peter Knego (24 June 2010). "Canvas Bleak For ARTSHIP?". Maritime Matters. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Martin Cox (17 January 2012). "PACIFIC STAR, ex ARTSHIP, To The Breakers". Maritime Matters. Retrieved 20 September 2014.

38°06′04″N122°16′08″W / 38.101113°N 122.268966°W / 38.101113; -122.268966

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.