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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Laning (LPR-55)
ex
 USS Laning (APD-55) (1944 - 1969)
 USS Laning (DE-159) (1943 - 1944)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Foxtrot - India - Kilo
 NFIK
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 20 April 1944) - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Buckley Class Destroyer Escort / Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 23 April 1943, as, Laning (DE-159), a Buckley Class Destroyer Escort, at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA.
  • Launched, 4 July 1943
  • Commissioned USS Laning (DE-159), 1 August 1943, CDR. Edwin C. Woodward in command
  • Converted to a Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport, at Philadelphia, PA., 24 November 1944 to 14 February 1945
  • Redesignated (APD-55), 24 November 1944
  • During World War II USS Laning was assigned initially to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater TransDiv One Hundred-Seven, CAPT. N. E. Millerand and participated in the following operation:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Convoy UGS-38, 20 April 1944

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

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    3 September to 21 October 19453 September to 21 October 1945

  • Decommissioned, 28 June 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Recommissioned, 6 April 1951, at Green Cove Springs, CDR. John D. Patterson in command
  • Decommissioned, 13 September 1957, at Bayonne, N.J.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Norfolk, VA.
  • Reclassified an Amphibious Transport, Small, redesignated (LPR-55), 1 January 1969
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 March 1975
  • USS Laning (DE-159) earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for Scrapping, 30 September 1975, to Trebor Marine Corp., Camden, N.J. for $53,000.00
    APD Specifications:
    Displacement 1,400 t.(lt), 2,130 t.(fl)
    Length 306' ovl.
    Beam 37'
    Draft 12' 7" (limiting)
    Speed 23.6 kts. (trial)
    Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 12
    Enlisted 192
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 12
    Enlisted 150
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Boats 4 LCVP landing craft
    Troop Accoutrements
    six 1/4 ton trucks
    two 1 ton trucks
    four ammunition carts
    four pack howitzers
    Storage
    Ammunition 6,000 cu. ft.
    General Cargo 3,500 cu. ft.
    Gasoline 1,000 cu. ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    three twin 40 mm AA gun mounts
    six single 20 mm AA gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 2,216 Bbls
    Diesel 93 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Combustion Engineering "D" Express boilers, 435psi 750°
    two General Electric turbines, (turbo-electric drive)
    Ship's Service Generators
    two 300Kw 450V A.C.
    two 40Kw 120V D.C.
    two propellers, 12,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Laning 138k USS Laning (APD-55) detailed profile drawing. ©John Robert Barrett
    Laning 126k USS Laning (APD-55) at Navy Yard Mare Island, 21 July 1945. Although Laning had completed her APD conversion at Philadelphia in February 1945, she was routed from Pearl Harbor to Mare Island in July for modification as a UDT command ship. Here is a close view of her topside spaces just beyond the quad forties in the foreground.
    US National Archives Photo from Record Group 19 LCM/dd373    		 Rick Davis and John Chiquoine
    Laning 125k Aft plan view of USS Laning (APD-55) at Navy Yard Mare Island, 7 August 1945. Note Mare Island Ammunition Depot in the background.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5824-45.    		 Darryl Baker
    Laning 86k Forward plan view of USS Laning (APD-55) at Navy Yard Mare Island, 7 August 1945.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5825-45.    		 Darryl Baker
    Laning 68k Stern view of USS Laning (APD-55) underway off Navy Yard Mare Island, 8 August 1945.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5833-45.    		 Darryl Baker
    Laning 60k Broadside view of USS Laning (APD-55) underway off Navy Yard Mare Island, 8 August 1945.
    Mare Island Navy Yard photo # 5835-45.    		 Robert Hurst and Darryl Baker
    Laning 44k USS Laning (APD-55) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Hyperwar US Navy in World War II
    Laning 93k USS Laning (APD-55) and USS Bowers (APD-40) moored pierside at Norfolk, VA., circa 1951-52. Note the bedding spread across the Bowers railings. Crews aired bedding on a weekly basis. George Panos, QMS2C USS Earle B. Hall
    Laning
    100405510    		 583k Port broadside view of USS Laning (APD-55) underway off Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, 12 December 1953.
    U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Identifier (NAID) 7575239 U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN-APD-55 Lanning-145379.    		 Robert Hurst
    Laning
    100405511    		 583k Starboard broadside view of USS Laning (APD-55) underway off Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, 12 December 1953.
    U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Identifier (NAID) 7575236 U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo 19-NN-APD-55 Lanning-145376.    		 Robert Hurst
    Laning 75k USS Laning (APD-55) underway as an APD flagship, circa 1964, location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "Our Navy."    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Laning (DE-159 / APD-55 / LPD-55)
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Woodward, Edwin Charles1 August 1943 - 8 November 1943DE-153
    02LCDR. Shuman Jr., Edwin Arthur, USNR8 November 1943 - November 1945DE-153 / APD-55
    03LCDR. Bienvenue Sr., Roland Gilbert, USN (USNA 1941)November 1945 - 21 January 1946APD-55
    04LCDR. McKee, John Raymond USN21 January 1946 - March 1946APD-55
    05LTjg. Halsten, Patrick D., USNRMarch 1946 - 28 June 1946APD-55
     Decommissioned28 June 1946 - 6 April 1951APD-55
    06LCDR. Patterson, John Durant, USN (USNA 1942)6 April 1951 - ?APD-55
    07LCDR. Wild, William Harvey1953 - ?APD-55
    08LCDR. Nicholas, Lesster, John, USN1955 - 10 May 1956APD-55
    09LCDR. Marr, Robert Irving, USN10 May 1956 - 13 September 1957APD-55
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Reunion Contact
    Contact: Robert L. Jones
    Address: 616 E Hancock St. Lansdale PA. 19446
    Phone: 215-855-2835
    E-mail: Robert L. Jones
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    Last Updated 9 August 2024