USS Kershaw

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USS Kershaw (APA-176) in San Francisco Bay, California (USA), circa in late 1945 (NH 98733).jpg
Kershaw in San Francisco Bay, in late 1945 or early 1946
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameUSS Kershaw
Namesake Kershaw County, South Carolina
Orderedas type VC2-S-AP5
Laid downdate unknown
Launched12 November 1944
Commissioned2 December 1944
Decommissioned20 December 1946
Stricken1 October 1958
FateScrapped, 1982
General characteristics
Displacement12,450 tons (full load)
Length455 ft 0 in (138.68 m)
Beam62 ft 0 in (18.90 m)
Draught24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
Speed19 knots
Capacity150,000 cu. ft, 2,900 tons
Complement56 Officers 480 Enlisted
Armament

USS Kershaw (APA-176) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1982.

Contents

History

Kershaw was launched 12 November 1944, by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oregon; sponsored by Miss Helen Molloy; and commissioned 2 December 1944.

World War II

After shakedown, Kershaw cleared San Francisco, California, 7 February 1945, with nurses and naval personnel, arriving Guam 23 February. Moving to Saipan 27 February, the transport prepared for the invasion of the Ryukyus, the last enemy stronghold before Japan itself. During March she loaded equipment and troops of the 2d Marine Division; then, following amphibious exercises off Tinian, she sailed for the assault area 27 March.

The invasion got underway as the troops hit the beach at Okinawa 1 April. She returned Saipan 14 April, remaining there until sailing for the Solomons 5 June. Following brief stops at Tulagi, Espiritu Santo, and Eniwetok, she arrived Guam 14 July.

Following a short overhaul period at San Francisco, California, the transport loaded cargo and troops to replace veterans in the occupation area. She cleared San Francisco 17 August and steamed into Tacloban, Leyte, 10 September. From there she ferried occupation troops to Honshū, Japan, before returning to San Pedro, Los Angeles, 19 October. On the third of four additional Operation Magic Carpet cruises to the Far East, Kershaw delivered equipment to Bikini Atoll for the atomic tests before sailing on to Samar to embark another 2,000 veterans for return to San Francisco 25 May. On her final cruise she took on units of the 2d Marines at Sasebo before transiting the Panama Canal and arriving Norfolk, Virginia, 8 August.

Decommissioning and fate

Kershaw remained at Portsmouth, Virginia, until she decommissioned 20 December 1946, and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Norfolk. Struck from the Navy List 1 October 1958, she joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet 19 December 1958 and was berthed in James River, Virginia. She was sold for scrapping in 1982.

Awards

Kershaw received one battle star for World War II service.

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References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.

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