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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Barrow (APA-61)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Papa - Foxtrot
 NKPF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Gilliam Class Attack Transport
  • Laid down, 28 January 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BD1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1854) at Consolidated Steel Corp, Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 11 May 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission 27 September 1944
  • Commissioned USS Barrow (APA-61), 28 September 1944, LCDR. Herman Jorgensen, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Barrow was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Fifteen, CAPT. W. S. Popham USN (14);
    TransDiv Forty-Five, CAPT. A.C.J. Sabalot USN (20) and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 1 March 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 9 April 1945

  • USS Barrow (APA-61) was assigned to Joint Task Force 1, Task Unit 1.2.6 (Target Vessel Group - Merchant Type Units - Transport Division 92 (TRANSDIV 92) for Operation Crossroads the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946
  • Decommissioned at Bikini Atoll, 28 August 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 May 1948
  • USS Barrow earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, scuttled off Kwajalein, 11 May 1948
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,247 t.(lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
    Length 426'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 16'
    Speed 16.9 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 27
    Enlisted 293
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 47
    Enlisted 802
    Largest Boom Capacity 15 t.
    Cargo Capacity 600 DWT
    non-refrigerated 85,000 cu. ft.,
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 9,695 Bbls
    Diesel 375 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Westinghouse steam turbines
    two Babcock & Wilcox D-type boilers, 450psi 750°
    Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 250Kw 450V A.C.
     one turbo-drive 150Kw 450V A.C.
     one turbo-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    two propellers, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Barrow
    100306103    		 74k USS Barrow (APA-61) off an unidentified Pacific island, late 1944 or early 1945, probably during landing rehearsals for the Iwo Jima operation. Original 35mm Kodachrome transparency, photographed by LT. Howard W. Whalen, USNR, Boat Group Commander, USS Sanborn (APA-193). Collection of LCDR. Howard W. Whalen, USNR. Donated by Mrs. Nadine Whalen, 1997.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo #: NH 104406-KN    		 Tommy Trampp
    Barrow 50k USS Barrow (APA-61) emitting smoke, probably during invasion rehearsals in late 1944 or in 1945. This may be a test of defensive smoke generating equipment. Original 35mm Kodachrome transparency, photographed by LT. Howard W. Whalen, USNR, Boat Group Commander, USS Sanborn (APA-193). Collection of LCDR. Howard W. Whalen, USNR. Donated by Mrs. Nadine Whalen, 1997.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo #: NH 104332-KN    		 Robert Hurst
    Barrow
    100306104    		 130k Aerial view of USS Barrow (APA-61) underway, circa 1945, location unknown.
    U.S. Navy photo    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Barrow 77k USS Barrow (APA-61) arriving at Portland, OR. with returning US Troops during Operation "Magic Carpet", circa October1945.  
    Appling 216k Four Gilliam-class attack transports at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Oahu, Hawaii, 27 February 1946, as they are readied for Operation "Crossroads": USS Appling (APA-58) lies outboard (top) of sister ships USS Barrow (APA-61), USS Brule (APA-66) and USS Gasconade (APA-85).
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-361735, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives from the Naval History and Heritage Command    		 Robert Hurst
    Gasconade 254k View of the wharf area Pearl Harbor Navy Yard from over the submarine base, 27 February 1946. Among ships present are:
    USS Barrow (APA-61),
    USS Brule (APA-66),
    USS Gasconade (APA-85), and
    USS Appling (APA-58);
    USS LST 219,
    USS LST 285,
    USS LST 388 and
    USS LST 52 with
    LCT 812 and
    LCT 414 embarked;
    USS Briscoe (APA-65) and
    USS Bladen (APA-63).
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-361747, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Navy History and Heritage Command
    Gasconade 182k Pearl Harbor Navy Yard amphibious ships alongside the wharf, 27 February 1946. Some are being prepared for target service at Bikini. Ships are (1st group):
    USS Briscoe (APA-65) and
    USS Bladen (APA-63)
    (second group):
    USS LST 52 with
    LCT 812 and
    LCT 414 embarked;
    USS LST 388 and
    USS LST 285,
    USS LST 219,
    third group):
    USS Appling (APA-58),
    USS Gasconade (APA-85),
    USS Barrow (APA-61), and
    USS Brule (APA-66).
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-361731, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Navy History and Heritage Command
    Gasconade 250k Aerial view of Pearl Harbor Navy Yard looking toward the drydock area from over the submarine base, 27 February 1946. Among the ships present are: seven Sims, McCall, Gridley, and Mahan class destroyers;
    USS Barrow (APA-61),
    USS Brule (APA-66),
    USS Gasconade (APA-85), and
    USS Appling (APA-58);
    USS LST 219,
    USS LST 285,
    USS LST 388 and
    USS LST 52 with
    LCT 812 and
    LCT 414 embarked;
    USS Briscoe (APA-65) and
    USS Bladen (APA-63).
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-361740, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Navy History and Heritage Command
    USS Barrow (APA-61)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Jorgensen, Herman, USNR20September 1944 - 26 January 1945
    02CAPT. Holmes, Frederick Stacer26 January 1945 - 12 December 1945
    03CAPT. Strobehn, Walter William, USN (USNA 1930)12 December 1945 - 24 February 1946
    04CDR. Kendall, James Edward, USNR24 February 1946 - 28 August 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 20 January 2023