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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Bray (APD-139)
ex
 USS Bray (DE-709) (1944 - 1945)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Alpha - Bravo
 NTAB
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort / Crosley Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 27 January 1944, as Bray (DE-709), a Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort, at Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, MI.
  • Launched, 15 April 1944
  • Commissioned USS Bray (DE-709), 4 September 1944. CDR. James A. Heatherington, III, USNR, in command
  • Reclassified a Crosley Class High-speed Transport and designated (APD-139), 16 July 1945
  • Converted at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Decommissioned, 10 May 1946, at Green Cove Springs FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register. 1 June 1960
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 27 March 1963
    APD Specifications:
    Displacement 1,630 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
    12 Officers
    192 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    12 Officers
    150 Enlisted
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Boats four 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 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    three twin 40 mm gun mounts
    six single 20 mm gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Propulsion
    two Babcox and Wilcox "D" Express type boilers, 435 PSI 750°
    two General Electric turbines, (turbo-electric drive) Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 300Kw 450V A.C.
     two turbo-drive 40Kw 120V D.C.
    two shafts, shaft horsepower 12,000
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Bray
    100413901    		 288k U.S. Navy high-speed transports laid up at Green Cove Springs, FL., circa 1947 (l-r):
    USS Ruchamkin (APD-89),
    USS Bray (APD-139),
    USS Rogers Blood (APD-115),
    USS Cread (APD-88),
    USS Upham (APD-99),
    USS Hubbard (APD-53),
    USS Walter S. Gorka (APD-114).
    RM2/c Ken Adams, U.S. Navy. U.S. Navy photo from the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Bray (APD-139)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships(DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Heatherington III, James A.4 September 1944 - 5 October 1945
    02LCDR. Jakomas, Daniel V., USNR December 1945 - 15 March 1946
    03LTjg. Miller, Samuel, USNR 15 March 1946 - 10 May 1946
    04LTjg. Tench, Robert Louis, USNR 10 May 1946 - 10 May 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Destroyer Escort Photo Index (DE) Back To The Bray (DE-709) Page Back To The High-speed Transport Photo Index (APD)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 17 November 2023