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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Gasconade (APA-85)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Sierra - Papa
 NZSP
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Gilliam Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 7 November 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BD1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1878) at Consolidated Steel Corp, Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 23 January 1945
  • Acquired by the Navy 10 March 1945
  • Commissioned USS Gasconade (APA-85), 11 March 1945, LCDR. Allen E. Stiff, in command
  • During World War II USS Gasconade was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Twenty-four, COMO. E. L. Short;
     TransDiv Seventy-one., CAPT. W. P. Davis USN (17)
  • Following World War II USS Gasconade was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    2 to 4 September 1945
    28 September to 11 October 1945

  • USS Gasconade (APA-85) was assigned to Joint Task Force 1, Task Unit 1.2.6 (Target Vessel Group - Merchant Type Units - Transport Division 94 (TRANSDIV 94) for Operation Crossroads the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946
  • Decommissioned, 28 August 1946, in the Marshall Islands
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 12 August 1948
  • Final Disposition, sunk by torpedoes off the California coast, 21 July 1948
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,247 t.(lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
    Length 426'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 16.9'
    Speed 16.9 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 27
    Enlisted 295
    Troop Capacity
    Officers 47
    Enlisted 802
    Cargo Capacity 85,000 cu. ft., 2,600 t.
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 9,695 Bbls
    Diesel 375 Bbls
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA radar-directed gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    two Westinghouse turbo-electric drive
    two Babcock & Wilcox 450psi 750° boilers
    Ship's Service Generators
     one 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
    Gasconade 115k USS Gasconade (APA-85) under way, date and location unknown. Darrell E. Baty
    LSM-116 120k USS Gasconade (APA-85) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    Photo take from USS LSM-116    		 Thomas Horrell
    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
    Gasconade 150k USS Gasconade (APA-85) and USS Brule (APA-66) at Pearl Harbor, 27 February 1946, showing guns removed in preparation for target service at Bikini. Photographer is aboard Brule with Gasconade at left.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-361724, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Navy History and Heritage Command
    Gasconade 215k USS Gasconade (APA-85) at Pearl Harbor, 27 February 1946, showing empty davits after boats were removed in preparation for target service at Bikini. View looking aft on the starboard side.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-361726, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Navy History and Heritage Command
    Gasconade
    UA 471.07.01    		 282k Ex-USS Gasconade (APA-85) being sunk as a target ship, 21 July 1948.
    Naval History and Heritage Command, Collection UA 471.07.01 and 100308508 from U.S. Navy Naval Aviation News November 1948    		 Mike Green
    Robert Hurst
    Gasconade
    100308508    		 27k
    USS Gasconade (APA-85)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Stiff, Allen Edward11 March 1945 - 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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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 13 March 2020