This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(April 2023) |
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Namesake | Coxswain Walter B. Cobb (1919–1942), U.S. Navy sailor and Silver Star recipient |
Builder | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co-Hingham, Massachusetts |
Laid down | 15 January 1944 |
Launched | 23 February 1944 |
Commissioned | 25 April 1945 |
Decommissioned | 29 March 1946 |
Reclassified | redesignated APD-106 on 15 July 1944 |
Fate | Sunk while under tow, 21 April 1966 |
History | |
United States | |
Commissioned | 6 February 1951 |
Decommissioned | 15 May 1957 |
Stricken | 15 January 1966 |
Fate | Transferred to the Republic of China, 22 February 1966; sank 21 April 1966 after collision while under tow to Taiwan |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Crosley-class high-speed transport |
Displacement | 1,450 tons |
Length | 306 ft (93 m) overall |
Beam | 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) |
Draft | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 23 knots (43 km/h) |
Range | |
Troops | 4 LCVPs, 162 troops |
Complement | 204 (12 officers, 192 enlisted) |
Armament |
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USS Walter B. Cobb (APD-106) was a Crosley-class high speed transport of the United States Navy, in service from 1945 to 1946. She was recommissioned from 1951 to 1957. In 1966, she was to be transferred to the Republic of China Navy, but she sank after a collision while under tow to Taiwan on 21 April 1966.
Walter Benjamin Cobb was born on 8 September 1919 at Grays, Kentucky. He enlisted in the Navy on 17 November 1937 and attained the rating of coxswain. While assigned to USS Mugford, Cobb served in the crew of that destroyer's number four 5-inch mount. On 7 August 1942, Mugford screened transports unloading troops off Guadalcanal on the first day of the landings. At 14:57 Mugford was attacked by four Japanese Val bombers. A bomb blast blew four men overboard, including Cobb, who was uninjured. After USS Ralph Talbot picked up the four sailors, Cobb volunteered to join the crew of that destroyer's number four gun. On the morning of 9 August in the Battle of Savo Island Ralph Talbot was attacked by three Imperial Japanese Navy ships which hit the American destroyer's number four gun mount, killing Cobb. Cobb was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
Walter B. Cobb (DE-596) was laid down on 15 January 1944 at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation. The vessel was launched on 23 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Huey Cobb and reclassified as a high-speed transport and redesignated APD-106 on 15 July 1944. The ship was commissioned on 25 April 1945.
Following shakedown in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, Walter B. Cobb departed Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 24 June, bound for the California coast; emerged from the Panama Canal on 1 July; and arrived at San Diego a week later. She conducted amphibious training exercises out of that port into August, preparing for the assault on the Japanese home islands. Shifting to Oceanside, California, on the 13th, Walter B. Cobb embarked Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) 27. But the following day, 14 August, Japan capitulated, obviating further invasions.
There now remained the occupation of the erstwhile enemy's land. Walter B. Cobb got underway for Japan on the 17th, steamed via Pearl Harbor, and entered Tokyo Bay on 4 September. Her embarked UDT 27 reconnoitered beaches, marked and mapped landing areas, and generally helped to set the stage for the occupation landings in the Tokyo area. The ship then returned, via Guam and Eniwetok, to Pearl Harbor and joined in the massive sealift of demobilized military men, Operation "Magic Carpet."
Walter B, Cobb made a cruise between Pearl Harbor and San Diego before sailing on 30 October 1945 for the Philippines. Proceeding via Guam, she arrived at Manila on 13 November 1945; later touched at Subic Bay, Samar, and Leyte; and made two other visits to Manila before departing the Philippines on 22 January 1946. She sailed to San Pedro, Los Angeles, and thence moved south to the Canal Zone before making port at New York on 9 March. Decommissioned on 29 March 1946, at Green Cove Springs, Florida, the ship was subsequently towed to Mayport, Florida, in April 1948, for berthing. She remained in reserve there until the communist invasion of South Korea in the summer of 1950.
As a result of the U.S. Navy's increased need for ships, Walter B. Cobb was recommissioned on 6 February 1951. The ship conducted shakedown in Guantanamo Bay before engaging in amphibious exercises off Little Creek, Virginia, her new home port. From 1951 to 1954, Walter B. Cobb was homeported at Little Creek, Va., and made two Mediterranean deployments, as well as three midshipmen's cruises—to England and Ireland; to Canada and Cuba; and to Brazil. After landing exercises at Little Creek and at Onslow Beach, North Carolina, Walter B. Cobb got underway from Little Creek on 30 November 1954, bound for the west coast.
Homeported at Long Beach, California, Walter B. Cobb spent her next tour of duty primarily deployed to the Far East—from the spring of 1955 through the summer of 1956. She conducted local operations and exercises out of Yokosuka, Sasebo, and Kure before she returned, via Pearl Harbor, to the west coast of the United States for decommissioning. On 15 May 1957, Walter B. Cobb was placed out of commission and in reserve at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 15 January 1966.
Sold to Taiwan on 22 February 1966, Walter B. Cobb and USS Gantner (APD-42) were accepted by the Republic of China Navy on 15 March 1966. Taiwan dispatched tug Ta Tung to tandem-tow the two transports to Taiwan. While en route to the western Pacific, the two transports collided on 21 April 1966 and both suffered heavy damage. Gantner was towed to Treasure Island, San Francisco, but Walter B. Cobb listed progressively from 18 to 40 degrees while settling aft. At 2340 on 21 April 1966, Walter B. Cobb filled with water and sank, stern first, in 2,100 fathoms (12,600 feet; 3,800 meters) of water.
USS Walter B. Cobb was named after Coxswain Walter B. Cobb (1919–1942), who was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his gallant service in the Battle of Savo Island aboard USS Mugford (DD-389) and USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390). Cobb was a Pearl Harbor Survivor on USS West Virginia (BB-48). He went on to serve on USS Mugford where, on 7 August 1942, he was blown off the ship during a Japanese aerial attack. Uninjured, he was picked up by USS Ralph Talbot. On 9 August, the Ralph Talbot was hit by a Japanese aerial attack in which Cobb was killed. [1] [2]
USS Kleinsmith (APD-134), ex-DE-718, was a Crosley-class high speed transport for the United States Navy. She was named for Chief Watertender Charles Kleinsmith (1904–1942), who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism during the Battle of Midway.
USS Talbot (DD-114) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and later designated APD-7 in World War II. She was the first ship named in honor of Silas Talbot.
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USS Humphreys (DD-236/APD-12) was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Joshua Humphreys, a pioneer US shipbuilder.
USS Schmitt (DE-676) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in the United States Navy, commissioned in 1943. In late 1944, she was converted to a high speed transport and was redesignated APD-76. She was retired in 1949 and transferred to the Republic of China Navy in 1969, where she served as ROCS Lung Shan (PF-44) until 1976, when she was scrapped.
USS Bull (DE-693/APD-78) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort, later converted to a Charles Lawrence-class high speed transport. She was the second Navy ship named after Lieutenant Richard Bull (1914–1942), a naval aviator who was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
USS Cavallaro (DE-712/APD-128) was a Crosley-class high speed transport of the United States Navy.
USS Cook (APD-130) was a Crosley-class high speed transport of the United States Navy, named after two brothers: Second Lieutenant Andrew F. Cook, Jr. (1920–1942) and Sergeant Dallas H. Cook (1921–1942). Both served in the Marine Corps, and both were awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously.
USS Walter X. Young (DE-715/APD-131) was a ship of the United States Navy, named for Lieutenant Walter X. Young (1918–1942), an officer of the United States Marine Corps who was killed in action during the Battle of Guadalcanal.
USS Burdo (APD-133) was a Crosley-class high speed transport of the United States Navy, in service from 1945 to 1958. She was finally sold for scrap in 1967. Burdo was named after Private Ronald A. Burdo (1920–1942), a Marine who was killed in action at Gavutu, during the Battle of Guadalcanal.
The USS Weiss (APD-135/LPR-135) was a Crosley-class high speed transport in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1970, with two short periods spent in reserve. She was finally scrapped in 1976.
USS Gantner (DE-60/APD-42), a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Boatswain's Mate Samuel Merritt Gantner (1919-1941), who was killed in action during the Japanese attack on the Hawaiian Islands.
USS George W. Ingram (DE-62/APD-43) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947. In 1967, she was transferred to Taiwan, serving as Kang Shan until being scrapped in 1979.
USS Loy (DE-160/APD-56), a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947. She was converted to high-speed transport (APD) in late 1945. Following her decommissioning, she spent another 19 years in reserve before being sold for scrap in 1966.
USS Lloyd (DE-209/APD-63), a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Ensign William R. Lloyd (1916–1942).
USS Burke (DE-215/APD-65), a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander John E. Burke (1905–1942), who was killed in action, aboard the battleship South Dakota during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 15 November 1942.
USS Bowers (DE-637/APD-40) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy, was named in honor of Ensign Robert K. Bowers (1915-1941), who was killed in action aboard the battleship USS California during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The ship was laid down on 28 May 1943 at San Francisco, California, by the Bethlehem Steel Company; launched on 31 October, sponsored by Mrs. Eunice Bowers, the mother of Ensign Bowers; and commissioned on 27 January 1944. The ship served in World War II in the Pacific
USS Hollis (DE-794/APD-86) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1956. She was scrapped in 1975.
USS Earle B. Hall (APD-107), ex-DE-597, was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1945 to 1946, 1950 to 1957 and 1961 to 1965.
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