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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS San Saba (APA-232)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Sierra - Romeo
 NPSR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Haskell Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 29 September 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV 678) at Kaiser Shipbuilding Corp. Vancouver WA.
  • Launched 12 November 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission under loan-charter
  • Commissioned USS San Saba (APA-232), 3 December 1944, CAPT. Elmer E. Berthold USN (24) in command
  • During World War II USS San Saba was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Twenty-One, COMO. J. R. Palmer USN (13);
     TransDiv Sixty-One (flagship);
  • Following World War II USS San Saba was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    13 to 21 September 19454 to 9 June 1946
    27 November to 1 December 1945 
    14 to 17 April 1946 
    11 to 20 June 1946 

  • Decommissioned, 17 December 1946, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Francisco Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 October 1958
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 1 October 1958 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA,
  • Final Disposition, sold, 8 May 1975, to Zidell Explorations Inc. (non-transportation use) scrapping, (PD-X-996 dated 25 March 1975) for $227,777.99, Withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet, 19 May 1975
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 12,450 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62' Draft 24'
    Speed 17.7 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 56
    Enlisted 480
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 87
    Enlisted 1,475
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Cargo Capacity 2,900 DWTs
    non-refrigerated 150,000 cu ft.
    Boats
    two LCMs
    one open LCPL
    one covered LCPL (Captain's Gig)
    two LCPRs
    eighteen LCVPs
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual-purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 7,780 Bbls
    Diesel 970 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Joshua Hendy geared turbine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 465psi 750°
    double Joshua Hendy Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    San Saba 81k USS San Saba (APA-232) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Russ Padden
    San Saba 130k USS San Saba (APA-232) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Russ Padden
    San Saba 131k USS San Saba (APA-232) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 43504. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    San Saba 129k USS San Saba (APA-232) at anchor, circa 1945 and location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 73258. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Audrain
    100305903    		 296k USS Audrain (APA-59) in port with many other ships, circa 1945. Alongside is USS San Saba (APA-232). The amphibious command ship USS Appalachian (AGC-1) is moored on the opposite side of the quai. The bow of USS Monrovia (APA-31) is visible in the upper left. Tugs push a Rudderow or John C. Butler-class destroyer escort opposite of Appalachian. Docked alongside the destroyer escort are a tanker and a cruiser.
    U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN-APA-59-113946.    		 Robert Hurst
    Audrain
    100305904    		 323k USS Audrain (APA-59) moored outboard of USS San Saba (APA-232). The amphibious command ship USS Appalachian (AGC-1) is moored on the opposite side of the quai.circa 1945, location unknown.
    U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photos    		 MARAD
    San Saba (APA-232)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Berthold, Elmer Edward, USN (USNA 1924)3 December 1944 - 17 December 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    San Saba APA-232
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 24 March 2023