USS Clinton (APA-144)

USS Clinton (APA-144/LPA-144) was a Haskell-class attack transport acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas.

For other ships with the same name, see USS Clinton.

History
United States
Name: USS Clinton
Builder: California Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down: 27 September 1944
Launched: 29 November 1944
Acquired: 1 February 1945
Commissioned: 1 February 1945
Decommissioned: 2 May 1946
Stricken: 1 October 1958
Fate: Sunk as a target, 1 August 1984
General characteristics
Class and type: Haskell-class attack transport
Displacement: 6,873 tons (lt), 14,837 t (fl)
Length: 455 ft (139 m)
Beam: 62 ft (19 m)
Draft: 24 ft (7 m)
Propulsion: 1 × geared turbine, 2 × header-type boilers, 1 × propeller, designed 8,500 shp (6,338 kW)
Speed: 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried:
Capacity:
  • Troops: 86 officers, 1,475 enlisted
  • Cargo: 150,000 cu ft, 2,900 tons
Complement: 56 officers, 480 enlisted
Armament:

The second ship to be named Clinton by the Navy, APA-144 was launched 29 November 1944 by California Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, California, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. L. N. Green; transferred to the Navy 1 February 1945; converted at U.S. Naval Station, Astoria, Oregon; and commissioned 1 February 1945, Commander J. A. Ivaldi, USNR, in command.

World War II service

Clinton cleared San Francisco, California, 17 April 1945 and sailed to land Marine replacement troops and equipment on Okinawa between 27 and 31 May. She transferred battle casualties to Guam where she embarked ground forces of the 7th Bomber Command for transportation to Okinawa, arriving 2 July. When she sailed 6 days later she was carrying over 1,000 Okinawan and Korean prisoners of war for internment in the Hawaiian Islands. Clinton cleared Honolulu 5 August carrying replacement troops to Saipan.

End-of-war operations

She sailed on to Manila to embark Army occupation troops whom she landed at Tsingtao, China, 11 October 1945. Arriving at Haiphong, French Indo-China, 26 October, she loaded Chinese troops and equipment and carried them to Chinwangtao and Taku for the reoccupation of northern China. Based on an anecdotal description of one of its crew members, the ship may have also been assigned to transport troops to Yokohama to assist in the post-war occupation there.[1] Assigned to "Operation Magic Carpet" duty, Clinton embarked homeward-bound servicemen at Manila and sailed 28 November for San Francisco, California, arriving 18 December. She continued to the U.S. East Coast, arriving at Norfolk, Virginia, 2 February 1946.

Post-war decommissioning

Clinton was decommissioned 2 May 1946 and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 1 October 1958. She was redesignated as an Amphibious Transport (LPA-144) on 1 January 1969. Withdrawn from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 9 November 1983, the ex-Clinton was sunk as a fleet exercise target off the Virginia Capes, 1 August 1984.[2]


Military awards and honors

Clinton received one battle star for World War II service.

See also

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

  1. "Crossing the Pacific in 1945 (A Letter My Grandpa Wrote)". bkdunn.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  2. "USS Clinton (APA-144)". navsource.org. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
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