USS Elkhart

Last updated

USS Elkhart (APA-80) at anchor, circa in 1945.jpg
Elkhart in 1945
History
US flag 48 stars.svg United States
NameUSS Elkhart (APA-80)
Namesake Elkhart County, Indiana
Builder Consolidated Steel
Launched5 December 1944
Sponsored byMrs. J.B. Bonny
Acquired7 February 1945
Commissioned8 February 1945
Decommissioned12 April 1946
FateScrapped, 1964
General characteristics
Class & typeGilliam-class attack transport
Displacement4,247 tons (lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
Length426 ft (130 m)
Beam58 ft (18 m)
Draft16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion Westinghouse turboelectric drive, 2 boilers, 2 propellers, Design shaft horsepower 6,000
Speed17 knots
Capacity47 Officers, 802 Enlisted
Crew27 Officers, 295 Enlisted
Armament1 x 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun mount, 4 x twin 40mm gun mounts, 10 x single 20mm gun mounts
Notes MCV Hull No. 1873, hull type S4-SE2-BD1

USS Elkhart (APA-80) was a Gilliam-class attack transport that served with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1945. She was scrapped in 1964.

Contents

History

Elkhart was named after a county in Indiana. She was launched 5 December 1944 by Consolidated Steel at Wilmington, Los Angeles, under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the Navy 7 February 1945; and commissioned the following day.

World War II

Sailing from San Diego 3 April 1945, Elkhart during her brief war service carried cargo in or out of Eniwetok, Ulithi, Leyte, Peleliu, Guam, and Okinawa. In July she supported the occupation of Kume Shima in Okinawa Gunto.

After hostilities

With the end of hostilities, she made one trip to Tokyo Bay to deliver occupation cargo, then transported 6th Marine Division from Guam to reoccupy Qingdao, China. Arriving at Haiphong in November, she embarked Chinese troops for transportation to Chinwangtao, then continued on to Jinsen (Inchon) to embark servicemen eligible for discharge upon return home. They reached the Golden Gate 3 January 1946.

Decommissioning

Elkhart was decommissioned at Seattle 12 April and returned to the Maritime Commission 28 June 1946. She was finally scrapped in 1964.

References