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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Hocking (APA-121)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Romeo - Papa
 NZRP
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Haskell Class Attack Transport
  • Laid down, 7 June 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 34) at California Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 6 August 1944
  • Completed and delivered to the Maritime Commission, 21 October 1944 and turned over to the US Navy
  • Commissioned USS Hocking (APA-121), 22 October 1944, CDR. Charles D. Schutz in command
  • During WWII USS Hocking was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Sixteen, COMO J. R. McGovern USN;
     TransDiv Forty-Six 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 to 27 February 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 9 to 14 April and 27 May 1945

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

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    8 to 19 October 1945 
    2 to 13 November 1945 2 November to 13 November 1945

  • Decommissioned, 10 May 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 21 May 1946
  • USS Hocking earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 22 May 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Withdrawn from the James River Reserve Fleet, to A. H. Bull & Co., Inc., 3 October 1955 (Repair Program) General Agency Agreement
  • Returned to James River Reserve Fleet, 1 December 1955, by A. H. Bull & Co. Inc.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 7 May 1973, to Luria Brothers and Co. Inc., (PD-X-975) for $285,989.00, withdrawn 10 May 1973
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Draft 24' (limit)
    Speed 17.7 kts. (trial)
    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
    Propulsion
    one Joshua Hendy geared turbine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 465psi 750°
    double Joshua Hendy Main Reduction Gears
    three 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
    Hocking 256k USS Hocking (APA-121) underway off the coast of California in 1944.
    US Navy photo probably taken from an airship from Lighter-than-Air Airship Squadron (ZP 31), NAS Santa Ana, CA.    		 David Buell
    Hocking 58k USS Hocking (APA-121) at anchor, circa 1945, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 73270-A from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Collection of James W. Gaddis, donated by Colonel C.K. Mahakian, 1972.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Hocking 625k USS Hocking (APA-121) at anchor during amphibious operations, date and location unknown. Keith Brooker
    Hocking 526k
    Hocking 85k
    Hocking 323k USS Hocking (APA-121) moored pierside on the Whangpoo River at Shanghai, China, circa 2 to 13 November 1945.
    Photos courtesy Wendy (Wahl) Sheridan for her father Arvon S. Wahl, Sargent US Army Air Corp     		James Lybolt US Army Military Police Corps 1978-1987 Active and Reserve
    Hocking 238k
    Hocking 224k
    Hocking 246k
    Hocking 275k
    Hocking 249k
    Hocking 197k
    Hocking 142k USS Hocking (APA-121) laying at anchor in a fleet anchorage, date and location unknown.
    Photos courtesy Wendy (Wahl) Sheridan for her father Arvon S. Wahl, Sargent US Army Air Corp     		James Lybolt US Army Military Police Corps 1978-1987 Active and Reserve
    Hocking 135k
    USS Hocking (APA-121)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Schutz, Charles D. USNR22 October 1944 - 22 February 1946
    02CAPT. Carpenter, Charles Lorain, USN (USNA 1926) :RADM22 February 1946 - 10 May 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Attack Transport (APA) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 7 April 2017