USS Leonard Wood
USS Leonard Wood (APA-12) off California, 28 April 1944
| |
History | |
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United States | |
Name |
|
Namesake | Leonard Wood, US Army Chief of Staff, 1910–1914 |
Builder | Bethlehem Steel |
Yard number | 4197 |
Laid down | 29 July 1920[1] |
Launched | 17 September 1921 |
Christened | Nutmeg State, completed as Western World |
Acquired |
|
Commissioned | (Navy) 10 June 1941 |
Decommissioned | 22 March 1946 |
Renamed | Leonard Wood |
Reclassified | AP-25 to APA-12, 1 February 1943 |
Stricken | 12 April 1946 |
Identification | United States official number: 222063 |
Honours and awards | Eight battle stars for World War II service |
Fate | Sold for scrap, 20 January 1948 |
Notes | Delivery of Western World marked the end of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and United States Shipping Board's World War I shipbuilding program. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Harris-class attack transport |
Displacement | 13,529 tons (lt), 21,900 t.(fl) |
Length | 535 ft 2 in |
Beam | 72 ft 4 in |
Draft | 31 ft 3 in |
Propulsion | 2 x Curtis type turbines, 8 x Yarrow header-type boilers, 2 propellers, designed shaft horsepower 12,000. |
Speed | 17.5 knots |
Capacity |
|
Complement | Officers 67, Enlisted 657 |
Armament | 4 x 20mm gun mounts. |
USS Leonard Wood (APA-12) was built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation and launched 17 September 1921 at Sparrows Point, Maryland as Nutmeg State, an Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 ship intended as a World War I troop transport, but redesigned upon the armistice as a passenger and cargo ship and completed as Western World for delivery to the United States Shipping Board. The ship's acceptance on 5 May 1922[2] and delivery on 9 May 1922 marked the completion of the wartime shipbuilding program of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and the Shipping Board.
After years in commercial service on
Construction
Nutmeg State, keel laid 29 July 1920 with yard number 4197, was launched 17 September 1921 and completed as Western World in 1922 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at Sparrows Point, Maryland, for the United States Shipping Board (USSB).[3][4] The ship was an Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 type for delivery to the USSB, known in the commercial trade as "535's" for their overall length, that had been intended as troop transports, but redesigned as passenger and cargo vessels.[5]
On her delivery voyage from Baltimore to New York, Western World covered the 413 nautical miles (475 mi; 765 km) in 22 hours for an average speed of 18.8 knots (21.6 mph; 34.8 km/h), beating the previous best time of 26 hours.[6]
Delivery of Western World on 9 May 1922 completed the wartime shipbuilding program of the Emergency Fleet Corporation and USSB.[6]
Commercial service
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As the USSB sold off its vessels, the Munson Steamship Line bought four "535"s for its Pan America Line service in February 1926,[7] at $1,026,000 apiece:[8] Western World, American Legion, Pan America and Southern Cross.[9]
Western World made her maiden voyage 17 May 1922 to Rio de Janeiro.[6][7] Munson operated the four sister ships on the New York to Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires route, with Santos added during return voyages.
On 8 August 1932, Western World ran aground at Porto do Boi, Brazil. She had 166 crew and 85 passengers on board at the time. The passengers were taken off by the German ship General Osorio and landed at Rio de Janeiro.[10] She was refloated on 10 September,[11] subsequently repaired and returned to service.
Pre World War II
Army transport
Western World was purchased by the War Department in 1939 and renamed after the former
Leonard Wood was acquired by the Navy 3 June 1941 and commissioned 10 June 1941, classified as a transport with hull number AP-25, manned by the United States Coast Guard.[13]
The Preamble to Convoy WS-12X (the USA has not declared war on Japan or Germany yet)
The
The chief of Naval Operations ordered troop ships divisions seventeen and nineteen, on 26 September 1941, to prepare their vessels for approximately six months at sea. These transports were to load to capacity with food, ammunition medical supplies, fuel and water and were to arrive at Halifax, NS on or about 6 November and after the arrival of a British convoy from the UK were to load twenty thousand troops. The Prime Minister mentioned in his letter that it would be for the President to say what would be required in replacement if any of these ships were to be sunk by enemy action. Agreements were worked out for the troops to be carried as supernumeraries and rations to be paid out of Lend Lease Funds and officer laundry bills were to be paid in cash. All replenishments of provisions, general stores, fuel and water would be provided by the UK. Fuel and water would be charged for the escorts to the UK in Trinidad and Cape Town only. The troops would conform to US Navy and ships regulation. Intoxicating liquors were prohibited. It was further agreed that the troops were to rig and man their own anti-aircraft guns to augment the ships batteries.[14]
So, convoy WS-12X is most extraordinary. 30 days BEFORE the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and the German declaration of war on the USA on 11 December 1941; we have six American transports and American escort carrying British soldiers.
Convoy William Sail WS-12X
In early November, the troopship proceeded to
On 17 November 1941, the convoy reaches Trinidad. All ships were replenished, and the convoy departs Trinidad on 19 November 1941.
On 7 December at 2000, the convoy receives a radio communication of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.[16]
World War II Service
Convoy WS12-X (continued)
On 9 December, convoy WS12-X arrived in Cape Town, South Africa.
At about 0800 on 13 December 1941, the troopships departed Cape Town headed for Bombay.
At 650 on 21 December 1941, the USS Mount Vernon (AP-22) and USS Orizaba detached from the convoy headed for Bombay, and are bound for Mombasa. The remainder of the convoy continued to Bombay under the escort of HMS Dorsetshire, arriving on 27 December 1941.
After debarking troops at
Invasion of North Africa (8-17 November 1942)
Alterations completed late in April, the attack transport trained in
Leonard Wood remained in the first line of transports, carrying out her mission until 12 November when enemy submarines, which had already sunk or damaged six Allied ships, forced the remaining transports to finish unloading at Casablanca. Departing 17 November, she arrived Norfolk on the 30th for repairs and more amphibious warfare training.[13]
Invasion of Sicily (9 June – 17 August 1943)
The transport sailed 3 June 1943 and arrived
Pacific Theatre
Three weeks later, she departed Norfolk for San Francisco, embarked troops, then steamed for Honolulu, arriving 27 September. Leonard Wood spent the remainder of World War II in the Pacific, during which she participated in seven amphibious landings.[13]
Invasions of Gilbert and Marshall Islands (November 1943 - February 1944)
The first landing was a part of Operation Galvanic in which the main force was directed at
In the Gilbert Islands and Marshall Islands operations, the ship gained experience, especially in cargo handling, which proved invaluable when Leonard Wood later took part in the final push toward victory with the landings at Saipan, Leyte, and Lingayen Gulf.[13]
Invasion of Saipan (15 June – 9 July 1944)
Leonard Wood departed Pearl Harbor on 29 May 1944, bound for the capture and occupation of
Arriving 15 June, Leonard Wood unloaded and cleared all boats in 49 minutes. For the next 9 days, the transport stood off Saipan, unloading cargo and receiving on board casualties for transfer to hospital ships. The transport sailed 24 June for Eniwetok, and then returned to Pearl Harbor on 20 July.[13]
Invasion of Palaus (September - November 1944)
After Saipan, the ship made transport and training runs between Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and
Invasion of the Philippines (20 October 1944 through 2 September 1945)
Remaining at Manus just long enough to fuel, provision, and re-embark troops, the transport sailed on 12 October to begin the long-awaited liberation of the Philippines. Arriving off the Leyte beachheads on 20 October, Leonard Wood debarked troops and cargo in record time and steamed for Palau only 10 hours later.[13]
For the next week, Leonard Wood prepared for further operations in the Philippine Islands, departing
Arriving at
After repairs at San Francisco, Leonard Wood began transport duties between the United States and the western Pacific, making two runs to Manila and one to Tokyo.[13]
Leonard Wood earned eight battle stars for World War II service.[13]
Decommission
The ship's Coast Guard crew debarked 22 March 1946 when Leonard Wood was decommissioned and was redelivered to the Army at
Notes
- ^ "Marlin O'Neil" is apparently a misspelling in Dyer. USCG Historian's office has biography of Vice Admiral O'Neill who became Commandant.
References
- ^ Pacific Marine Review May 1922.
- ^ Associated Press, "Last Ship Is Finished", San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Saturday 6 May 1922, Volume L, Number 68, page 1.
- ^ Pacific Marine Review May 1922, p. 331.
- ^ The Marine Review February 1922, p. 52.
- ^ McKellar: Steel Shipbuilding under the U. S. Shipping Board, 1917–1921, Part III.
- ^ a b c Pacific Marine Review August 1922, p. 469.
- ^ a b United States Shipping Board 1926, p. 89.
- ^ United States Shipping Board 1926, p. 92.
- ^ Larsson: Maritime Timetable Images.
- ^ "Liner wrecked off Brazilian coast". The Times. No. 45897. London. 10 August 1931. col F, p. 9.
- ^ "Casualty reports". The Times. No. 45926. London. 12 September 1931. col F, p. 19.
- ^ a b c Charles 1947, p. 44.
- ^ Taylor, Ron. "Convoy William Sail 12X". Britain at War. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ Smith, Gordon. "WS CONVOYS - July to December 1941 SAILINGS - WS12X". Naval History. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ Taylor, Ron. "Convoy William Sail 12X Halifax to Cape Town". Britain at War. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ Dyer; v.2, pp. 624, 629–630.
- ^ Dyer; v.2, pp. 633–634.
- ^ Dyer; v.2, pp. 634–635, 657.
- ^ Dyer; v.2, pp. 669, 671.
Bibliography
- Charles, Roland W. (1947). Troopships of World War II (PDF). Washington: The Army Transportation Association. p. 44. LCCN 47004779. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- Dyer, George Carroll (1972). The Amphibians Came to Conquer: The Story of Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner (PDF). Fleet Marine Force Reference Publication (FMFRP 12-109-11). Vol. 2. Washington: Department of the Navy. LCCN 71603853. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- Larsson, Björn (15 November 2009). "Munson Line". Maritime Timetable Images. Björn Larsson. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- Marine Review (1922). "1921 Construction Record of U.S. Yards". The Marine Review. 52 (February). New York: 52. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- McKellar, Norman L. "Steel Shipbuilding under the U. S. Shipping Board, 1917–1921, Part III, Contract Steel Ships". Steel Shipbuilding under the U. S. Shipping Board, 1917–1921. ShipScribe. p. 140b. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- Naval History and Heritage Command. "Leonard Wood". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- Pacific American Steamship Association; Shipowners Association of the Pacific Coast (1922). "Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Sparrows Point Plant, Sparrows Point, MD". Pacific Marine Review. 19 (May). San Francisco: J.S. Hines. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Pacific American Steamship Association; Shipowners Association of the Pacific Coast (1922). "The Last U.S.S.B. Vessel". Pacific Marine Review. 19 (August). San Francisco: J.S. Hines: 469. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - United States Shipping Board (1926). Tenth Annual Report of the United States Shipping Board. Washington. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
External links
- Exterior and interior photos of Western World, Pan America and Southern Cross (Maritime Timetable Images)
- United States Government Ships (Maritime Timetable Images)
- Photo gallery of USS Leonard Wood at NavSource Naval History