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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Haskell (APA-117)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Papa - Whiskey
NZPW
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 (3) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia Clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)


Haskell Class Amphibious Attack Transport: Haskell was the lead ship of the 119 ship Haskell class of attack transports (APA-117 through APA-180 and APA-187 through APA-239) that were built on Victory Ship (VC2-S-AP5) hulls. This class, all completed and commissioned in 1944-1945, provided rapidly built hulls for the invasion fleets used mainly in the final push across the Pacific. The ships were fitted to carry fully equipped Army and/or Navy units, along with a crew of about 536 officers and enlisted men. Heavy vehicles and stores were carried in the lower holds with 1,000-2,000 troops quartered in the upper cargo spaces. After World War II, the ships were configured to return troops home as part of the "Magic Carpet" fleet and then the majority of the class were quickly mothballed in both Atlantic and Pacific Reserve fleets. A few of the class were reactivated for service during the Korean War, joining their younger sisters in landings and evacuation duty for the duration of the war. The class was mostly decommissioned by the late 1950's and went back to the Reserve Fleets. After many years of neglect, in the Navy and Maritime Administration Reserve fleets, the ships were methodically stricken, with all of the class sold for scrap or already scrapped by 1980.

  • Laid down, 28 March 1944,under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 25) at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 13 June 1944
  • Delivered by the Maritime Commission, 9 September 1944, to the US Navy
  • Commissioned USS Haskell (APA-117), 11 September 1944, CDR. Anton L. Mare USN in command
  • During World War II USS Haskell was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Fourteen, COMO. D.L. Ryan USN (16);
    TransDiv Forty and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 11 to 12 January 1945
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April to 6 April 1945
    Manila Bay-Bicol operations
    Zambales-Subic Bay, 29 to 31 January 1945
     

  • Following World War II USS Haskell was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    9 to 17 September 1945
    19 to 22 November 1945
    13 to 19 January 1946

  • Decommissioned, 22 May 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 24 May 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 June 1946
  • USS Haskell earned three battle stars for World War II service
  • Withdrawn from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 2 February 1956, by Moore McCormack Lines under a General Agency Agreement for the Repair Program 1956
  • Returned, 23 April 1956, to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Wilmington, N.C.
  • Towed, 27 February 1965, by USS Samoset (ATA-190) from Wilmington, N.C. to Lee Hall, VA.
  • Entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., 1 March 1965
  • Final Disposition, sold, 26 June 1973, to Alberti Equipment Inc., Hinsdale, IL., (PD-X-960 dated 26 June 1973) for $124,630.00, withdrawn, 30 July 1973, from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group to Chesapeake, VA. for scrapping
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t (fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Draft 24' (lim)
    Speed 17.7 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 56
    Enlisted 480
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 86
    Enlisted 1,475
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Cargo Capacity 2,900 DWT
    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
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 7,780 Bbls
    Diesel 970 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Westinghouse geared turbine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 465psi 750°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ships' Service Generators
    one propeller, 8,500shp

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    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Haskell 18k USS Haskell (APA-117) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Haskell 133k USS Haskell (APA-117) at anchor in San Francisco, Bay, CA., circa 1945.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo NH 78186, Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1973.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command

    USS Haskell (APA-117)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Mare, Anton Lawrence, USN11 September 1944 - 20 August 1945
    02CDR. Kusebauch, Alexander, USNR20 August 1945 - 5 April 1946
    03LT. Miller, Harold Frank, USN5 April 1946 - 22 May 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
    USS Haskell APA-117
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 31 March 2017