Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Ira Jeffery (APD-44)
ex
 USS Ira Jeffery (DE-63) (1943 - 1945)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Quebec - Foxtrot
 NXQF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Buckley Class Destroyer Escort - Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 13 February 1943 as Jeffery (DE-63), a Buckley Class Destroyer Escort at Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, MA.
  • Launched, 15 May 1943
  • Renamed Ira Jeffery, 29 July 1943
  • Commissioned USS Ira Jeffery (DE-63), 15 August 1943, LCDR. Robert A. Fitch USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Ira Jeffery was assigned to both the Europe-Africa-Middle East and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters
  • Converted to a Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport at New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Redesignated (APD-44), 23 February 1945
  • Decommissioned, 18 June 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register 1 June 1960
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target 31 July 1962 by USS Sennet (SS-408), using an experimental Mark 16 torpedo, off the coast of Charleston S.C.,  approximately 200 nautical miles in a SE direction, at a depth of 2821 feet
    APD Specifications:
    Displacement 1,400 t.(lt), 2,130 t.(fl)
    Length 306' ovl.
    Beam 37'
    Draft 12' 7" (limiting)
    Speed 23.6 kts. (trial)
    Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 12
    Enlisted 192
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 12
    Enlisted 150
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Boats 4 LCVP landing craft
    Troop Accoutrements
    six 1/4 ton trucks
    two 1 ton trucks
    four ammunition carts
    four pack howitzers
    Storage
    Ammunition 6,000 cu. ft.
    General Cargo 3,500 cu. ft.
    Gasoline 1,000 cu. ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    three twin 40 mm AA gun mounts
    six single 20 mm AA gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 2,216 Bbls
    Diesel 93 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Combustion Engineering "D" Express boilers, 435psi 750°
    two General Electric turbines, (turbo-electric drive)
    Ship's Service Generators
    two 300Kw 450V A.C.
    two 40Kw 120V D.C.
    two propellers, 12,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Ira Jeffery 102k USS Ira Jeffery (APD-44) at anchor, date and location unknown. James Donald White for his father James William White S1/c USS Ira Jeffery
    USS Ira Jeffery (DE-63 / APD-44)
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Fitch, Robert Atwood, USN (USNA 1931)15 August 1943 - 10 February 1944DE-63
    02LT. Cassels-Smith, George Reginald, USNR10 February 1944 - 2 May 1944 (illness)DE-63
    03LCDR. White, Alexander Marvin, USNR2 May 1944 - 30 May 1944DE-63
    04LT. Cassels-Smith, George Reginald, USNR30 May 1944 - 12 October 1944DE-63
    05LT. Doheny, William Henry, USNR12 October 1944 - 14 November 1945DE-63 / APD-44
    06LT. Ash, Wayne Thomas, USNR14 November 1945 - 1 February 1946APD-44
    07LTjg. Niblock, Alexander USN1 February 1946 - 18 June 1946APD-44
    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
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Destroyer Escort Index Back to the USS Ira Jeffery (DE-63) page Back To the Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The High-speed Transport Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 30 June 2017