USS New Hanover (AKA-73): Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
''New Hanover'' was laid down 31 August, 1944 by [[North Carolina Shipbuilding Co.]], [[Wilmington, North Carolina]]; launched 31 October, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. O. M. Creekmore; and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] | ''New Hanover'' was laid down 31 August, 1944 by [[North Carolina Shipbuilding Co.]], [[Wilmington, North Carolina]]; launched 31 October, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. O. M. Creekmore; and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] 22 December, 1944 at [[Charleston, South Carolina]], LCDR J. R. Haines, USNR, in command. | ||
After training in [[Chesapeake Bay]], ''New Hanover'' cleared [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk]] on 24 January 1945 with cargo for the Pacific, sailing through the [[Panama Canal]] on 1 February and reaching [[Pearl Harbor]] on 19 February. Joining Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, she began a round of cargo operations which took her to the [[Solomons]], [[New Hebrides]], and [[Ulithi]], all in preparation for the assault on [[Okinawa]], off which she arrived 10 April. During the next week of cargo operations, her crew went to General Quarters 30 times as Japanese air attacks harassed the invasion. She returned to [[Ulithi]] on 23 April and began a series of passages with mail, cargo, and passengers to [[Guam]], [[Russell Islands|the Russells]], [[Eniwetok]], and [[Saipan]], serving the bases essential to Pacific victory. She carried passengers to [[San Francisco]] in July, then continued cargo and passenger operations which took her to [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Tinian]], [[Saipan]], the [[Philippines]], and ultimately [[Japan]], from which she returned to Pearl Harbor [[27 November]] with passengers and a cargo composed largely of captured Japanese equipment. She sailed for the [[Panama Canal Zone|Canal Zone]] [[29 November]], bound for the East Coast. After service on the Atlantic coast she decommissioned at [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk]] 30 July | After training in [[Chesapeake Bay]], ''New Hanover'' cleared [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk]] on 24 January 1945 with cargo for the Pacific, sailing through the [[Panama Canal]] on 1 February and reaching [[Pearl Harbor]] on 19 February. Joining Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, she began a round of cargo operations which took her to the [[Solomons]], [[New Hebrides]], and [[Ulithi]], all in preparation for the assault on [[Okinawa]], off which she arrived 10 April. During the next week of cargo operations, her crew went to General Quarters 30 times as Japanese air attacks harassed the invasion. She returned to [[Ulithi]] on 23 April and began a series of passages with mail, cargo, and passengers to [[Guam]], [[Russell Islands|the Russells]], [[Eniwetok]], and [[Saipan]], serving the bases essential to Pacific victory. She carried passengers to [[San Francisco]] in July, then continued cargo and passenger operations which took her to [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Tinian]], [[Saipan]], the [[Philippines]], and ultimately [[Japan]], from which she returned to Pearl Harbor [[27 November]] with passengers and a cargo composed largely of captured Japanese equipment. She sailed for the [[Panama Canal Zone|Canal Zone]] [[29 November]], bound for the East Coast. After service on the Atlantic coast she decommissioned at [[Naval Station Norfolk|Norfolk]] 30 July 1946. Transferred to the [[Maritime Commission]] on 31 July 1946, she was struck from the Naval Register on 15 August 1946 and sold in early 1947 and renamed ''Alaus''. Renamed ''Franklin Berwis'' in 1955, the ship was again renamed ''Santa Mercedes'' in 1957, and ''Greiea Ward'' in 1960. The ship serves under the latter name into 1970. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/index.html Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships] (Primary source for this article) | *[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/index.html Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships] (Primary source for this article) | ||
Revision as of 09:47, 18 February 2009
 Tolland class AKA, similar to USS New Hanover | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | 31 August 1944 |
| Launched: | 31 October 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 22 December 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 30 July 1946 |
| Struck: | 15 August 1946 |
| Fate: | Merchant service |
| General Characteristics | |
| Hull Type: | C2-S-AJ3 |
| Displacement: | 8,635 tons light, 13,910 tons loaded |
| Length: | 459 ft 2 in (140 m) |
| Beam: | 63 ft (19.2 m) |
| Draft: | 26 ft 4 in (8.0 m) |
| Propulsion: | GE geared steam turbine drive, single propeller, 6,000 shp (4.5 MW) |
| Speed: | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h) |
| Complement: | 395 (62 officers, 333 men), plus embarked troops |
| Armament: | 1 × 5"/38 caliber DP gun, 4 × twin 40 mm AA guns, 16 × 20 mm AA guns |
| Boats: | 14 LCVP, 8 LCM |
| NOTES: Some sources report different displacements for ships of this type. Speed and complement may have changed as the ship or her mission were modified. Often one or two LCVPs were replaced by LCPLs. 20mm AA guns were sometimes removed. | |
USS New Hanover (AKA-73) was a Tolland class attack cargo ship named after New Hanover County, North Carolina. Like all AKAs, New Hanover was designed to carry military cargo and landing craft, and to use the latter to land weapons, supplies, and Marines on enemy shores during amphibious operations. She served as a commissioned ship for 19 months.
History
New Hanover was laid down 31 August, 1944 by North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, North Carolina; launched 31 October, 1944; sponsored by Mrs. O. M. Creekmore; and commissioned 22 December, 1944 at Charleston, South Carolina, LCDR J. R. Haines, USNR, in command.
After training in Chesapeake Bay, New Hanover cleared Norfolk on 24 January 1945 with cargo for the Pacific, sailing through the Panama Canal on 1 February and reaching Pearl Harbor on 19 February. Joining Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, she began a round of cargo operations which took her to the Solomons, New Hebrides, and Ulithi, all in preparation for the assault on Okinawa, off which she arrived 10 April. During the next week of cargo operations, her crew went to General Quarters 30 times as Japanese air attacks harassed the invasion. She returned to Ulithi on 23 April and began a series of passages with mail, cargo, and passengers to Guam, the Russells, Eniwetok, and Saipan, serving the bases essential to Pacific victory. She carried passengers to San Francisco in July, then continued cargo and passenger operations which took her to Pearl Harbor, Tinian, Saipan, the Philippines, and ultimately Japan, from which she returned to Pearl Harbor 27 November with passengers and a cargo composed largely of captured Japanese equipment. She sailed for the Canal Zone 29 November, bound for the East Coast. After service on the Atlantic coast she decommissioned at Norfolk 30 July 1946. Transferred to the Maritime Commission on 31 July 1946, she was struck from the Naval Register on 15 August 1946 and sold in early 1947 and renamed Alaus. Renamed Franklin Berwis in 1955, the ship was again renamed Santa Mercedes in 1957, and Greiea Ward in 1960. The ship serves under the latter name into 1970.
References
- Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (Primary source for this article)