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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Noble (APA-218)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Quebec - Romeo NPQR

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation
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 (5-Vietnam, 2-Quemoy-Matsu, 3-Vietnam) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal

USS Noble (APA-218) was transferred to Spain and renamed SPS 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.

Commissioned USS Noble (APA-218), 27 November 1944, CDR. Solomon S. Isquith USN, in command

During World War II USS Noble was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:

Okinawa Gunto operation:
Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, January to June 1946

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

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.

Commissioned into the Spanish Navy as SPS Aragón (TA-11)

Decommissioned to reserve in 1980

Name assigned to ex USS Francis Marion (LPA-249)

Struck from the Spanish Navy List, 1 January 1982

Final Disposition, scrapped in 1987

USS Noble earned one battle star for World War II service and six battle stars for Korean War service

Specifications:
Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t.(fl)
Length 455'
Beam 62'
Speed 19 kts.
Complement 56 Officers 480 Enlisted
Troop Accommodations 86 Officers 1,475 Enlisted
Cargo Capacity 150,000 cu. ft, 2,900 tons
Boats 2 LCM, 12 LCVP, 3 LCPU
Armament

one single 5"/38 dual-purpose gun mount

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
Propulsion

one Westinghouse geared turbine

two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers

one propeller, design shaft horsepower 8,500

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Noble (APA-218)
	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 Historical Center
	128k	*USS Noble* (APA-218)** underway circa late 1940s or early 1950s, location unknown US Navy Photo # NH97121 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center	US Naval Historical Center
	87k	*USS Noble* (APA-218)** underway off San Diego, December 1956 US Navy Photo # NH97122, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	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
SPS Aragón (TA-11)
	72k	Ex-*USS Noble* (LPA-218) in service in the Spanish Navy as SPS Aragón (TA-11). Along with SPS Castilla (TA 21), ex-USS Achernar (AKA 53)**, she was the mainstay of the Spanish Navy Amphibious Force until one LSD and three LSTs joined the Fleet in the early 70s.	© Camil Busquets
	76k	*SPS Aragón* (TA-11)** berthed at Cadiz, Spain, September 1968.	Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	38k	*SPS Aragón* (TA-11)** underway, circa 1968, location unknown. Official Spanish Navy photo.	Robert Hurst
	21k	*SPS Aragón* (TA-11) and SPS 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
	119k	*SPS Aragón* (TA-11)** at Cartagena Naval Base, July 1984, awaiting scrapping	Photo by Ignacio Lopez ex member Armada Espanola

USS Noble (APA-218) Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Mike Smolinski	Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Noble (APA-218) Memorabilia
Welcome Aboard (1960) pamphlet cover Contributed by Chet Morris	Welcome Aboard pamphlet page 1 Contributed by Chet Morris	Welcome Aboard pamphlet page 2 Contributed by Chet Morris

View the USS Noble (APA-218)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
No information available

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 3 August 2007