USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50)
Joseph Hewes in 1942
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History | |
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United States | |
Name | Joseph Hewes |
Namesake | Joseph Hewes |
Ordered | as SS Excalibur |
Builder | New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, New Jersey |
Laid down | 4 November 1929 |
Launched | 5 August 1930 |
Completed | 18 December 1930 |
Acquired | 8 January 1942 |
Commissioned | USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50) 1 May 1942 |
Stricken | struck from the Naval Register, 7 December 1942 |
Fate | Sunk 11 November 1942 |
Notes |
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General characteristics | |
Displacement | 14,100 t. |
Length | 450 ft (140 m) |
Beam | 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m) |
Draft | 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m) |
Propulsion | steam turbines |
Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
Complement | 358 |
Armament |
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USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50/APA-22), formerly SS Excalibur, was a troop transport for the United States Navy during World War II commanded by Captain Robert McLanhan Smith Jr. A part of the Center Attack Group of Admiral Hewitt's Western Naval Task Force, Operation Torch, Joseph Hewes was sunk on November 11, 1942 by the German submarine U-173 in Fedala Roads off French Morocco coast during the Naval Battle of Casablanca.
Pre-war history
She was built by the
On January 8, 1942, Excalibur was acquired by the
World War II
After conversion and fitting out, Joseph Hewes sortied from
The transport arrived off
Sinking
At 1950 hours she took a torpedo hit in No. 2 hold from U-173. The ship settled by the bow and began filling rapidly with water. Captain Smith endeavored to pick up anchor or slip chain but, as the entire forecastle was under water, this was not possible. He then attempted to beach the ship by backing engines but her propeller was out of the water, so the order was given to abandon ship.[5]
Joseph Hewes went down at 2032 hours, taking Captain Smith and approximately 100 seamen with her. U-173 was sunk five days later off Casablanca by American destroyers.[4]
Recognition
USS Joseph Hewes received for her
Captain Robert Mclanahan Smith, Jr.,
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain Robert Mclanahan Smith, Jr. (NSN: 0-34537), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. JOSEPH HEWES (AP-50), when that ship was torpedoed and sunk off Fedala, French Morocco, on 11 November 1942. Captain Smith's remarkable display of command and his exceptional heroism and outstanding devotion to duty at a time when efficient direction and control of the existing situation meant the saving of many lives, were inspirational. The cool, forceful, commanding manner in which he acted and maintained order in an extremely dangerous situation, and the calm inspiring way in which he spoke to his men as he ordered them overboard, gave them confidence, courage and hope. The exemplary conduct of Captain Smith, at the cost of his own life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[8]
Namesake
The USS Joseph Hewes was named after Joseph Hewes (1730-1779), signer of the Declaration of Independence, who acted as Navy Secretary at the time and supported Navy Captain John Paul Jones, one of the founders of the U.S Navy.[9]
References
- ^ a b The First Series of the Much Loved "Four Aces", SSmaritime by Reuben Goossens
- ^ McDowall, Duncan (21 January 2024). "The Shipping News: Bermuda 1940". The Bermudian Magazine.
- .
- ^ Joseph Hewes (APA22), Edward Rutledge (APA24), Hugh L. Scott (AP43), Tasker H. Bliss (AP42), & Electra (AKA4) - War Damage Report No. 32. U. S. Hydrographic Office, 14 August 1943.
- ^ USS Joseph Hewes (APA-22) ex USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50)
- ^ U.S. Navy Attack transports, Global Security
- ^ Hall of Valor: Robert Mclanahan Smith , Jr.
- ^ Historic naval letters resurface in Charleston Archived 2016-01-30 at the Wayback Machine, Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs, May 21, 2013
External links
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AP-50 Joseph Hewes
- U.S. Navy Attack transports, Global Security