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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Charles Lawrence (APD-37)
ex
 USS Charles Lawrence (DE-53) (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Romeo - Papa
 NWRP
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Barcardi (L)ima - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Buckley Class Destroyer Escort / Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 1 August 1942, as the Buckley Class Destroyer Escort Charles Lawrence (DE-53) at Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham MA.
  • Launched, 16 February 1943
  • Commissioned USS Charles Lawrence (DE-53), 31 May 1943, LCDR. Leon S. Kintberger in command
  • Converted at New York to a Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport
  • Redesignated, (APD-37), 23 October 1944
  • During World War II USS Charles Lawrence was assigned first to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater as Destroyer Escort DE-53 and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as High Speed Transport APD-37 assigned to TransDiv One Hundred Six, CAPT. F. W. Schmidt USN (20) and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS Charles Lawrence (APD-37) was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 25 September to 12 October 1945
  • Decommissioned , 21 June 1946, at Green Cove Spring FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register 1 September 1964
  • USS Charles Lawrence (APD-37) earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping 31 January 1965, to Southern Scrap Material Corp. New Orleans, LA., removed 21 February 1966
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,400 t.(lt) 2,130 t.(fl)
    Length 306' (ovl)
    Beam 37'
    Draft 13' 6" (max)
    Speed 23.6 kts (trial)
    Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 15
    Enlisted 186
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 12
    Enlisted 150
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Boats 4 LCVP landing craft
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    three twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    one depth charge projector
    two depth charge tracks
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 2,216 Bbls
    Diesel 93 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two General Electric turbines, (turbo-electric drive)
    two D-type Express boilers, 435psi 750°
    two General Electric turbines, (turbo-electric drive)
    Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 300Kw 450V D.C.
     two turbo-drive 40Kw 120V D.C.
    two propellers, 12,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Charles Lawrence 195k USS Charles Lawrence (APD-37) at anchor, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    USS Charles Lawrence (DE- 53 / APD-37)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fight Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Kintberger, Leon Samuel, USN (USNA 1932) :RADM31 May 1943 - 15 August 1943DE-53
    02LCDR. Kernan Jr., Francis, USNR15 August 1943 - 3 January 1944DE-53
    03LCDR. Seidlitz, George Robert, USNR3 January 1944 - 21 July 1945DE-53 -APD-37
    04LCDR. Larkin Jr., Daniel Franklin, USNR21 July 1945 - 4 April 1946APD-37
    05LT. Matson, Leonard Matt4 April 1946 - 21 June 1946APD-37
    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
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page NavSource DE Pages - USS Charles Lawrence (DE-53) Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The High-speed Transport Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 6 September 2019