USS Joseph M. Auman (APD-117)

USS Joseph M. Auman (APD-117), was a Crosley-class high-speed transport commissioned in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. In 1963, she was transferred to the Mexican Navy and served as ARM Tehuantupec (H05) until 1989. Afterwards, she was scrapped.

USS Joseph M. Auman off Orange, Texas, on 30 April 1945 , five days after she was commissioned.
History
United States
Name:	USS Joseph M. Auman (DE-674)
Namesake:	Joseph M. Auman
Builder:	Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh completed at Consolidated Steel Company, Orange, Texas
Laid down:	8 November 1943
Launched:	5 February 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Bernard Tommey
Reclassified:	APD-117, 17 July 1944
Commissioned:	25 April 1945
Decommissioned:	10 July 1946
Stricken:	12 December 1963
Fate:	Sold to Mexican Navy, 12 December 1963
History
Mexico
Name:	ARM Tehuantupec (H05)
Namesake:	Gulf of Tehuantepec
Acquired:	12 December 1963
Stricken:	1989
Fate:	sold for scrapping, 1989
General characteristics
Class and type:	Rudderow-class destroyer escort, as ordered
Class and type:	Crosley-class high speed transport, as completed
Displacement:	2,130 long tons (2,164 t) full
Length:	306 ft (93 m)
Beam:	37 ft (11 m)
Draft:	12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
Speed:	23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Troops:	162
Complement:	204
Armament:	1 × 5 in (130 mm)/38 gun 6 × 40 mm guns 6 × 20 mm guns 2 × depth charge tracks

History

U.S. Navy (1945-1946)

Joseph M. Auman was laid down as the Rudderow-class destroyer escort USS Joseph M. Auman (DE-674) on 8 November 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Company at Orange, Texas, and was launched on 5 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Bernard Toomey, the aunt of the ship's namesake, Private Joseph M. Auman, posthumous recipient of the Navy Cross for his actions in the Guadalcanal Campaign. The ship was reclassified as a Crosley-class high-speed transport and redesignated APD-117 on 17 July 1944. After conversion to her new role, she was commissioned on 25 April 1945 with Lieutenant Commander H. A. Steinbach in command.

After shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Joseph M. Auman departed Norfolk, Virginia, on 9 July 1945, reaching San Diego, California, on 24 July 1945 via the Panama Canal. She conducted more intensive training with the San Diego Shakedown Group, then embarked Underwater Demolition Team 7 and carried them to Yoriage Beach at Shiogama, Japan, for reconnaissance of amphibious landing beaches. After completing the mission, she returned the underwater demolition team to San Diego on 13 October 1945.

Joseph M. Auman departed San Diego 20 October 1945 and steamed to Manila Bay in the Philippine Islands, where she embarked 100 U.S. Navy passengers and carried them to Samar. At Samar she loaded cargo and delivered it to Shanghai, China, on 4 December 1945. Joseph M. Auman continued to carry cargo and passengers in the Pacific until she returned to the United States during the first half of 1946.

Joseph M. Auman was decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Florida, on 10 July 1946, joining the Florida Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet on the St. Johns River there. She remained in the reserve fleet until stricken from the Navy List on 12 December 1963.

Mexican Navy (1963-1989)

Joseph M. Auman was sold to the government of Mexico on 12 December 1963. She served in the Mexican Navy as ARM Tehuantepec (B05) until stricken in 1989 and sold for scrapping.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: DE-674 / APD-117 Joseph M. Auman