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USS Cullman (APA-78)
Encyclopedia
USS Cullman (APA-78) was a Gilliam-class
attack transport
that served with the US Navy during World War II
. Commissioned late in the war, she was initially assigned to transport duties and consequently did not participate in combat operations.
Cullman was named after a county
in Alabama
. She was launched 17 November 1944 by Consolidated Steel at Wilmington, California, under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the Navy 24 January 1945; and commissioned the next day, Lieutenant Commander W. B. Dell, USNR, in command.
29 March and operated in training and inter-island transport duties until 6 July when she sailed for San Diego. Embarking troops and cargo Cullman sailed 20 July for calls at Eniwetok and Ulithi
on her way to Batangas Bay
, Luzon
, arriving shortly after the end of hostilities on 20 August. She loaded occupation troops, landed her Army passengers at Tokyo Bay
from 2 to 4 September, and arrived at Okinawa 7 September.
, then landed Marines at Taku Bar, China
, for the reoccupation of northern China between 30 September and 6 October. Sailing by way of Manila
, she lifted Chinese troops from Hong Kong
to Taku
and Tsingtao in two voyages from 24 October to 21 November.
for discharge. She embarked homeward-bound servicemen at Manila
for San Francisco, arriving 16 December 1945. She made a second "Magic Carpet" voyage to Okinawa between 10 January and 15 February 1946.
30 June 1946 for disposal. She was sold for scrap in August 1965.
Gilliam class attack transport
The Gilliam-class attack transport was a class of attack transport built for service with the US Navy in World War II.Like all attack transports, the purpose of the Gilliams was to transport troops and their equipment to foreign shores in order to execute amphibious invasions using an array of...
attack transport
Attack transport
Attack Transport is a United States Navy ship classification.-History:In the early 1940s, as the United States Navy expanded in response to the threat of involvement in World War II, a number of civilian passenger ships and some freighters were acquired, converted to transports and given hull...
that served with the US Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Commissioned late in the war, she was initially assigned to transport duties and consequently did not participate in combat operations.
Cullman was named after a county
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. She was launched 17 November 1944 by Consolidated Steel at Wilmington, California, under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the Navy 24 January 1945; and commissioned the next day, Lieutenant Commander W. B. Dell, USNR, in command.
Operational history
Departing San Francisco 23 March 1945, Cullman arrived at Pearl HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
29 March and operated in training and inter-island transport duties until 6 July when she sailed for San Diego. Embarking troops and cargo Cullman sailed 20 July for calls at Eniwetok and Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
on her way to Batangas Bay
Batangas Bay
Batangas Bay is a semi-enclosed body of water located in the Philippines. The municipalities of Mabini, Bauan, San Pascual, Tingloy on Maribacan Island and Batangas City are located on the coast of the bay. The water surface area of the bay is about 220 km² , and the coastline has an...
, Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, arriving shortly after the end of hostilities on 20 August. She loaded occupation troops, landed her Army passengers at Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay
is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
from 2 to 4 September, and arrived at Okinawa 7 September.
Transporting occupation troops
Cullman made one voyage to GuamGuam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, then landed Marines at Taku Bar, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, for the reoccupation of northern China between 30 September and 6 October. Sailing by way of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, she lifted Chinese troops from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to Taku
Taku Forts
The Dagu Forts , also called the Peiho Forts are forts located by the Hai River estuary, in Tanggu District, Tianjin municipality, in northeastern China. They are located 60 km southeast of the Tianjin urban center.-History:The first fort was built during the reign of the Ming Jiajing...
and Tsingtao in two voyages from 24 October to 21 November.
Operation Magic Carpet
Cullman then joined Operation Magic Carpet, the giant operation tasked with bringing returning servicemen home to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for discharge. She embarked homeward-bound servicemen at Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
for San Francisco, arriving 16 December 1945. She made a second "Magic Carpet" voyage to Okinawa between 10 January and 15 February 1946.
Decommission
Cullman then returned to San Francisco where she was decommissioned 22 May 1946 and transferred to the War Shipping AdministrationWar Shipping Administration
The War Shipping Administration was a World War II emergency war agency of the US Government, tasked to purchase and operate the civilian shipping tonnage the US needed for fighting the war....
30 June 1946 for disposal. She was sold for scrap in August 1965.