[HD]

Can anyone tell me what an APA ship is? I'm researching my father's WWII history where he served on the ORMSBY...an APA ship. He told me he used to guide landing craft thru the reefs amid machine gun fire at places like Guadalcanal, Guam, etc. Would that make it an amphibious attack vessel?

This post edited by HD 06/07/2008

 

[BillP]

Attack transport is what is says, from the looks, it looks like a transport. A few pics here: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03049.htm This explains attack transport a little better: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_transport

This post edited by BillP 06/07/2008

 

[MarkT]

Yep, amphib attack ship... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ormsby_(APA-49)

This post edited by MarkT 06/07/2008

 

[first_watch]

Bruce,

A few more links....

http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/o4/ormsby.htm

http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03049.htm

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/APA/APA-49_Ormsby.html

You can research the ships logs off the last link, although you will want to refine the dates of interest as sometimes there may be a charge associated with providing records. But, you can also springboard off those links and refine your search engines to find free sources with a little creative effort.

Good luck. Researching one's family history is not only rewarding, but also a journey in a better understanding of ones self as well as their loved ones....

Cheers, Bill

 

[HD]

Thanks guys. When going thru my ole man's photos I found a letter which documented the ships entire WWII history. It was one lucky ship! Only hit by enemy fiore once with a 3" shell that killed two guys. No other fatalities despite being 1st to show in many battles. Never lost a single wounded soldier that was rescued either! pretty good considering they used the mess & enlisted bunks to treat em with no real medical staff. The ship earned 6 commendations. Then some moron crashed it into a pier inside San Francisco and she ended up being scrapped. sigh

 

[MarkT]

Yeah, but that wasn't until 1969... 23 years after her military career was over.

 

[jb4lcm]

My dad served in WWII on three different ships including the USS Mississippi - which was the sister ship to the USS Misouri. Pretty much ALL the WWII ships were scrapped - with the exception of a few historical pieces. Oil burners just don't make sense anymore - especially today.

JB

 

[MarkT]

Sister ship to the Mississippi was the New Mexico. Missouri's sisters were the New Jersey, Iowa and Wisconsin.

 

[seaturtel]

"APA Attack Personnel Transport Ship" per:

http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/index_ships_list.htm

 

[first_watch]

Just a foot-note...., the ship and her crew earned 6 Battle Stars, which is a very nice commendation, as it identifies her as being involved in at least 6 enemy engagements of significance... She was involved in the following Pacific Campaigns... Gilbert Islands operation, Tarawa, 20 November 1943 Marianas operation, Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 July 1944 Marshall Islands operation. Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January 1944 Western Caroline Islands operation; Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, Peleliu, 6 September 1944 Eastern New ****** operation. Wewak-Aitape operation, 23 April and 3 May 1944 Leyte operation, Leyte landings, 20 October and 14 November 1944 She was a slugger... Cheers, Bill

This post edited by first_watch 06/10/2008

 

[Frank_O]

It's a target.

 

[HD]

It's a target.

That's how my ole man felt about his job guiding the landing craft thru the reef. After about a dozen trips he realized this was a poor carreer choice and took to boxing for the Navy. Went undeafed for the remainder of his service...got the best chow and the crew & officers handed hom a fat roll of bills when his time was up. He used the cash to marry my mom, take a honeymoon in San Clemente and the rest is history.