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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Noble (APA-218)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Quebec - Romeo
 NPQR
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Caribou Alpha
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (6)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Quemoy-Matsu, Cuba, Vietnam) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal

USS Noble (APA-218) was transferred to Spain and renamed Aragón (TA-11)
Haskell Class Attack Transport
  • Laid down, 20 July 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 566), at Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 18 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS Noble (APA-218), 27 November 1944, CDR. Solomon S. Isquith USN (20) in command
  • During World War II USS Noble was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Twenty-One, COMO. J.R. Palmer USN (13);
    TransDiv Sixty-Two, CAPT. H. E. Padock USN (15) and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 5 April 1945

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

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 to 13 September 1945 
    20 to 24 September 1945 
    23 October to 2 November 194523 October to 2 November 1945
    23 to 26 December 194515 to 28 March 1951
     6 to 15 February 1955

  • During the Korean War USS Noble participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    18 to 21 September 1950
    8 to 31 October 1950     		First UN Counter Offensive
    8 to 11 February 1951
    27 February to 6 March 1951
    Communist China Aggression
    2 to 28 December 1950     		UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    6 November 1951
    11 to 14 November 1951
    Inchon Landing
    14 to 17 September 1950     		Second Korean Winter
    22 to 23 January 1952
    3 to 4 February 1952

  • During the Vietnam War USS Noble participated in the following campaign:

    Vietnam War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    24 April to 4 May 1963
    27 August to 12 September 1963
    1 to 10 November 1963
  • Decommissioned, 1 July 1964, at San Diego, CA.
  • Transferred (sold) under terms of the Mutual Assistance Program, to Spain, 19 December 1964, at San Francisco, CA.
  • USS Noble earned one battle star for World War II service, six battle stars for Korean War service and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Vietnam War service
  • Placed in service in the Spanish Navy as TA-11 in 1964
  • Named Aragón (TA-11) in December 1965
  • Decommissioned to reserve in 1980
  • Name assigned to ex USS Francis Marion (LPA-249), 11 July 1980
  • Struck from the Spanish Navy List, 1 January 1982
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1987
    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 87
    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
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Noble (APA-218)
    YW-107 80k USS Noble (APA-218) anchored off New York City, 25 May 1946, with YW-107 alongside.
    US Navy Photo # NH 66832 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of the Mariners Museum, Newport News, ViA. Ted Stone Collection.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Randall
    100322404    		 126k USS Randall (APA-224) at anchor off NAB Litte Creek/Fort Story, VA. with USS Noble (APA-218) in the background during NROTC Amphibious Training in July 1949. Steve Hatchett from his father George Hactett's collection
    Noble 128k USS Noble (APA-218) under way circa late 1940s or early 1950s, location unknown
    US Navy Photo # NH97121 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Noble 87k USS Noble (APA-218) under way off San Diego, December 1956
    US Navy Photo # NH97122, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.     		US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Noble 67k USS Noble (APA-218)'s, LCVPs wait their turn to go up to the pontoon docks to unload troops and supplies, on the first day of the landings during the Inchon Invasion, 15 September 1950.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-420005, a US Navy photo, now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Scott from LBS Products
    Noble 100k USS Noble (APA-218) ship's plaque.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 75746-KN    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Aragón (TA-11)
    Noble 268k Aragón (TA-11), ex-USS Noble (LPA-218) heading out from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic along the coast of southern Spain in 1966. David Meare
    Noble 72k Aragón (TA-11). along with Castilla (TA 21), ex-USS Achernar (AKA 53) was the mainstay of the Spanish Navy Amphibious Force until one LSD and three LSTs joined the Fleet in the early 70s. © Camil Busquets
    Noble 265k Aragón (TA-11). at Santander, Spain, early 1970.
    Chris Howell owed negative.    		 Chris Howell, SOUTHLAND SHIP STORES LIMITED, Port of BLUFF, NEW ZEALAND
    Noble 76k Aragón (TA-11) berthed at Cadiz, Spain, September 1968. Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Noble 38k Aragón (TA-11) under way, circa 1968, location unknown. Official Spanish Navy photo. Robert Hurst
    Noble 66k Aragón (TA-11) under way, circa 1971, location unknown. Official Spanish Navy photo. Robert Hurst
    Noble 184k Aragón (TA-11) under way, date and location unknown. Jaume Cifré Sánchez
    Noble 188k Aragón (TA-11) under way, date and location unknown. Jaume Cifré Sánchez
    Noble 321k Aragón (TA-11) moored pierside, date and location unknown. Jaume Cifré Sánchez
    Noble 210k Aragón (TA-11) underway, date and location unknown. Jaume Cifré Sánchez
    Noble/Achernar 21k TA-11 and Castilla (TA-21) at the end of their service moored at Arsenal De La Carraca, Cadiz, Spain, awaiting disposal, September 1981. Photo by Ignacio Lopez
    ex member Armada Espanola
    Noble 119k TA-11 at Cartagena Naval Base, July 1984, awaiting scrapping Photo by Ignacio Lopez
    ex member Armada Espanola
    USS Noble (APA-218) Memorabilia
    Noble
    Welcome Aboard (1960)
    Contributed by Chet Morris    		 Noble
    Transfer Ceremony pamphlet
    Contributed by Jose Angel Balonga Valverde
    USS Noble (APA-218)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Isquith, Solomon Silas, USN (USNA 1919) :RADM27 November 1944 - 15 April 1945
    02CDR. Buckley, Walter James, USN15 April 1945 - 15 June 1947
    03CDR. Cunningham Jr., Carl Robert, USN15 June 1947 - 5 October 1948
    04LT. Parzych, Henry Myron USN5 October 1948 - ?
    05CAPT. Flaherty, Michael Francis Donald, USN (USNA 1928) :RADMJune 1950 - October 1951
    06CAPT. Howard, James Hampden, USN (USNA 1930) :RADMOctober 1951 - June 1952
    07CAPT. Rivero Jr., Horacio (Rivets), USN (USNA 1931) :ADMJune 1952 - 1953
    08CAPT. Rutter, Royal Lawrence, USN (USNA 1930)1953 - 1954
    09CAPT. Howe III, Charles Melvin, USN1954 - 1955
    10CAPT. Kintberger, Leon Samuel, USN (USNA 1932) :RADM1955 - 1956
    11CAPT. Robbins, Orme Campbell, USN (USNA 1934) :RADM1956 - 13 August 1957
    12CAPT. Oseth, John Marcus, USN (USNA 1936)13 August 1957 - July 1958
    13CAPT. Wideman, William Bomar, USN (USNA 1935)July 1958 - July 1958
    14CAPT. Judson Jr., Charles Sterling, USNJuly 1958 - 4 July 1959
    15CAPT. McDonald, Lucien Berry, USN (USNA 1938)11 August 1960 - 1961
    16CAPT. Higgs, Alfred Henry, USN (USNA 1939)1961 - 12 July 1962
    17CAPT. Hall Jr., Harvey Wright, USN7 December 1963 - 1 July 1964
    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 4 February 2022