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USS Leedstown (APA-56)
Encyclopedia
USS Leedstown (APA-56) was a Windsor-class
attack transport
that served with the US Navy during World War II
.
Leedstown (APA-56) was laid down as Exchequer by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation of Baltimore, Maryland on 26 August 1942; classified AP-101 and renamed Wood 5 October 1942; reclassified APA-56 1 February 1943; launched 13 February; renamed Leedstown 17 March 1943; and commissioned 16 July 1943, Comdr. Harold Bye in command.
16 July 1943 for amphibious training
in Chesapeake Bay
with units of the U.S. Army. She departed Norfolk, 11 December for the Pacific, arriving Honolulu New Year’s Eve 1943.
31 January for the invasion of the Marshall Islands
, a major step in the Navy’s mighty island hopping campaign which relentlessly pushed Japan back to her home islands and defeat. After the Marshalls were secured, she departed Kwajalein 5 February and spent the next 3 months transporting supplies and reinforcements to the Solomon
and Marshall Islands.
, training for the amphibious assault on Guam
. Sailing 12 June, she debarked her troops in the resistless assault on Guam, 21 July. Leedstown cared for 270 battle casualties, and departed 5 August for Guadalcanal
, returning many of the wounded for hospitalization.
, 20 October. On 14 November, she brought reinforcements to this crucial battle zone and then departed for New Guinea 29 November.
Correct "she sailed from Honolulu as a unit of TF 78"
To read: "she sailed from Hulmboldt Bay, New Guinea as a unit of TF 78"
Data source: Deck Log, U.S.S LEEDSTOWN (APA-56) Friday 13 October 1944
Ray D. Kester
served aboard Leedstown JULY 1943- JULY 1945
U.S.S. LEEDSTOWN (APA-56) reunion secretary
6128 SHERBORN LN
SPRINGFIELD VA 221520-1630
TEL/FAX: 703-451-2520
, Luzon
, 9 January, and Iwo Jima
22 February 1945. Leedstown spent the remainder of the war engaged in training operations and transportation duties in the Pacific.
service.
The Leedstown (apa56) was the most decorated Winsor Class ship of WWII.
It earned its position at the head of the fleet for its last three of its six invasions.
and renamed Exilona. In February, 1964 the Exilona, captained by Edward L. Jungerheld, delivered the first 6,642-ton installment on the million-ton sale of US grain to the Soviet Union, the first since the conclusion of the Second World War. The ship was scrapped in April 1970.
Windsor class attack transport
The Windsor-class attack transport was a class of US Navy attack transport. Ships of the class saw service in World War II.Like all attack transports, the purpose of the Windsors 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...
.
Leedstown (APA-56) was laid down as Exchequer by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation of Baltimore, Maryland on 26 August 1942; classified AP-101 and renamed Wood 5 October 1942; reclassified APA-56 1 February 1943; launched 13 February; renamed Leedstown 17 March 1943; and commissioned 16 July 1943, Comdr. Harold Bye in command.
World War II
Leedstown arrived at Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
16 July 1943 for amphibious training
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
in Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
with units of the U.S. Army. She departed Norfolk, 11 December for the Pacific, arriving Honolulu New Year’s Eve 1943.
Invasion of the Marshall Islands
The ship sailed from Honolulu 22 January bringing troops to KwajaleinKwajalein
Kwajalein Atoll , is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island. English-speaking residents of the U.S...
31 January for the invasion of the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, a major step in the Navy’s mighty island hopping campaign which relentlessly pushed Japan back to her home islands and defeat. After the Marshalls were secured, she departed Kwajalein 5 February and spent the next 3 months transporting supplies and reinforcements to the Solomon
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
and Marshall Islands.
Invasion of Guam
From 10 to 28 May, the ship was at TulagiTulagi
Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida Island. The town of the same name on the island Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5.5 km by 1 km) in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida...
, training for the amphibious assault on Guam
Guam
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...
. Sailing 12 June, she debarked her troops in the resistless assault on Guam, 21 July. Leedstown cared for 270 battle casualties, and departed 5 August for Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
, returning many of the wounded for hospitalization.
Invasion of Pelelius
The busy APA rehearsed for the next operation and departed Guadalcanal 8 September for the invasion of Peleliu 15 to 20 September. During this operation, she repaired numerous landing craft and cared for a total of 326 casualties.Invasion of Leyte
On 13 October, she sailed from Honolulu as a unit of TF 78, Central Philippine Attack Force, for the attack on Leyte IslandLeyte Island
Leyte is an island in the Visayas group of the Philippines.The island measures about 180 km north-south and about 65 km at its widest point. In the north it nearly joins Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 km in some places...
, 20 October. On 14 November, she brought reinforcements to this crucial battle zone and then departed for New Guinea 29 November.
Correct "she sailed from Honolulu as a unit of TF 78"
To read: "she sailed from Hulmboldt Bay, New Guinea as a unit of TF 78"
Data source: Deck Log, U.S.S LEEDSTOWN (APA-56) Friday 13 October 1944
Ray D. Kester
served aboard Leedstown JULY 1943- JULY 1945
U.S.S. LEEDSTOWN (APA-56) reunion secretary
6128 SHERBORN LN
SPRINGFIELD VA 221520-1630
TEL/FAX: 703-451-2520
Invasions of Luzon and Iwo Jima
She then participated in the landings at Lingayen GulfLingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
, 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...
, 9 January, and Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
22 February 1945. Leedstown spent the remainder of the war engaged in training operations and transportation duties in the Pacific.
After hostilities
After the conclusion of hostilities, she participated in two Operation Magic Carpet missions bringing demobilizing troops home from the war. The first mission traveled from Long Beach to the Philippines, taking a load of soldiers from the Philippines to Japan, then picked up a load of Seabees in Okinawa Japan for transport home to Seattle. The second mission began in Seattle, traveled to Yokahama Japan, picked up a load of soldiers, then returned to Long Beach. Following the second Magic Carpet mission, the USS Leedstown traveled via the Panama Canal to Norfolk VA where the ship was decommissioned, and later became a cargo ship.Decommission and awards
She last entered Seattle in March 1946, decommissioned 7 March and transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal 1 July 1946. Leedstown was awarded six battle stars for World War IIWorld 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...
service.
The Leedstown (apa56) was the most decorated Winsor Class ship of WWII.
It earned its position at the head of the fleet for its last three of its six invasions.
Commercial service
Leedstown was sold to the Shepard Steam Ship Company in 1947 and renamed Minute Man. Later, she was sold to American Export-Isbrandtsen LinesAmerican Export-Isbrandtsen Lines
American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines, New York, was the leading US-flag shipping company between the US east coast and the Mediterranean from 1919 to 1977, offering both Cargo ship services and Passenger ship services, until declaring bankruptcy and was acquired by Farrell Lines, New York.-American...
and renamed Exilona. In February, 1964 the Exilona, captained by Edward L. Jungerheld, delivered the first 6,642-ton installment on the million-ton sale of US grain to the Soviet Union, the first since the conclusion of the Second World War. The ship was scrapped in April 1970.
External links
- APA-56 Leedstown, Navsource.org
- APA-56 Leedstown Naval Historical Center