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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

USS Laning (DE-159 / APD-55)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - G - B - O
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row: China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal w/ 1 star
Third Row: WWII Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (w/Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal


Class: Buckley      Type: TE (turbine-electric drive, 3" guns)
Displacement: 1,400 tons (std) 1,740 tons (full)   Dimensions: 306' (oa), 300' (wl) x 36' 9" x 13' 6" (max)
Armament: 3-3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 1-1.1"/75 Mk2 quad AA (4x1), 8 x 20mm Mk 4 AA, 3 x 21" Mk15 TT (3x1),
1 Hedgehog Projector Mk10 (144 rounds), 8 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks
Machinery: 2 "D" Express boilers, G.E. turbines with electric drive, 12000 shp, 2 screws
Speed: 24 knots   Range: 4,940 nm @ 12 knots   Crew: 15 / 198

Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Norfolk NY on 23 April 1943
Launched 4 July 1943, Commissioned 1 August 1943
Reclassified APD-55, 24 November 1944, converted at the Philadelphia NSY
Decommissioned 28 June 1946, Recommissioned 6 April 1951
Decommissioned 13 September 1956
Reclassified LPR, Amphibious Transport, Small, 1 January 1969
Stricken 1 March 1975

Fate: Sold for scrapping 30 September 1975

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Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Laning 44k Harris L. Laning, born 18 October 1873 in Petersburg, Ill., graduated from the Naval Academy 7 June 1895. He served in the Philippines during the Philippine insurrection, and along with increasingly important sea duty, served as captain of the U.S. rifle team which won the Gold Medal in Stockholm, Sweden, at the 1912 Olympic Games. His first command was Cassin (DD-43), which operated off Vera Cruz during the 1914 Mexican Campaign. As Chief of Staff to Commander Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet in 1919 he skillfully supported the first successful transatlantic flight, made by Navy seaplane NC-4 in May. As a rear admiral, he commanded a battleship division, and was president of the Naval War College early in the 1930’s; as vice admiral, he commanded Cruisers, Scouting Force. As admiral, he commanded Battle Force, U.S. Fleet, from 1 April 1935 to 20 April 1936. Commandant, New York Navy Yard, and 3d Naval District 20 April 1936 to 1 October 1937, Laning retired 1 November 1937, then served as Governor of the Naval Home, Philadelphia, until his death 2 February 1941.

USS Laning (DE-159) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

(Photo Courtesy of the San Diego Navy Historical Association)
Bill Gonyo
Laning/Loy 46k DE's Laning and Loy fitting out Norfolk Navy Yard 1943 Joe Radigan MACM USN(ret.)
Laning 92k undated wartime image John Klar

View the USS Laning (DE-159 / APD-55), DANFS history entry
located on the US Naval Historical Center web site.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Robert L. Jones
Address: 616 E. Hancock St. / Lansdale PA 19446
Phone: (215) 855-2835
E-mail: Robert Jones

Note About Contacts

Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been
made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list only
a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists or rosters available. Please see the Frequently Asked
Questions section on Navsource's Main Page for that information.


Additional Resources

Navsource APD Pages, LANING
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

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Page Last Updated 2 April 2008