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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Wharton (AP-7)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Golf - Tango NAGT

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal

Wharton Class Transport:

Laid down, 8 October 1918, by New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, N.J. as SS Southern Cross, a passenger/cargo ship, for Muson Steamship Line

Launched, 20 July 1919

Delivered in, 24 September 1921

Acquired by the US Navy from the Maritime Commission, 8 November 1939

Converted for Naval Service at Todd Shipbuilding Corp., Robbins Drydock, Erie Basin, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Commissioned USS Wharton (AP-7), 7 December 1940, at New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y., CAPT. Elroy L. Vanderkloot in command

During WWII USS Wharton was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Marshall Islands operations Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944 Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll, 17 to 25 February 1944	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 19 to 22 May 1945
Marianas operation Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 25 July 1944

Following World War II USS Wharton was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
22 February to 1 March 1946	7 to 14 January 1947
30 December 1946 to 6 January 1947

USS Wharton was assigned to Joint Task Force 1, Task Unit 1.1.2 (Technical Group - Instrumentation Units) for Operation Crossroads the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946

Decommissioned, 26 March 1947

Returned to the Maritime Commission,27 March 1947, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 4 April 1947

USS Wharton earned three battle stars for her World War II service

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 21 March 1952, by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corp.

Specifications:
Displacement 12,250 t.(lt) 21,900 t.(fl)
Length 535' 2"
Beam 72'
Draft 31' 3"
Speed 16.5 kts.

Complement

Officers 41

Enlisted 525

Troop Capacity

Officers 181

Enlisted 2,130

Cargo Capacity 2,700DWT

Non-refrigerated 55,500 Cu ft

Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

two twin 40mm gun mounts

eight .50 cal machine guns

Fuel Capacity

NSFO 27,300 Bbls

Diesel 1,000 Bbls

Propulsion

two Westinghouse Turbines

eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 265psi 510°

double De Laval Main Reduction Gears
Ship's Service Generators
two Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V D.C.
two turbo-drive 150Kw 120V D.C.

twin propellers, 34,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
Merchant Service
	135k	SS Southern Cross and SS Hoosier State at the fitting out piers adjacent to the ship ways at New York Shipbuilding Corp. Shipyard, Camden, N.J. The battleship Washington (BB-47) has just been launched, 1 September 1921. Colorado (BB-45) is fitting out in the wet basin at the end of the covered ship ways building. *Washington's construction ceased in February 1922, under the terms of the Naval Limitations Treaty, and she was sunk as a target in 1924. Photographed by the Aero Service Corp., Philadelphia, PA. US Navy photo # NH 105177*. Donation of Charles R. Haberlein Jr., 2007.	Michael Mohl
USS Wharton (AP-7)
	182k	*Namesake* Franklin Wharton—born in Philadelphia on 23 July 1767—was commissioned a captain of marines on 3 August 1798. He served in frigate United States during the Quasi-War with France and subsequently commanded the Marine Barracks at Philadelphia. On 7 March 1804, Wharton took office as the third Commandant of the Marine Corps. During this early period, Wharton's principal task was furnishing Marine detachments for the increasing number of warships being fitted out to fight the Barbary pirates. When American naval strength combined with diplomacy to eliminate this longstanding problem, Congress cut back on the Navy's warships and men. During the early lean years of Wharton's tenure as Commandant, the new Marine Barracks and the Commandant's quarters in Washington, D.C., were completed, mostly by the labor of marines. He made substantial contributions to the Corps. Under his leadership, uniforms and military equipment were standardized for the first time; and military practices became uniform throughout the Corps. During his time in office, the Marine Band was established and began winning the national reputation which it still maintains. While still Commandant, Wharton died in New York on 1 September 1818. Photo: USMC History Division	Bill Gonyo
	117k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., near the end of an overhaul, 27 December 1941. Note that she is flying her National Ensign from the mainmast gaff (the flag's underway position), while tied up alongside the wharf. US National Archives photo # 19-N-26644, a US Navy photo from the BUSHIPS collection in the collections of the US National Archives.	Robert Hurst
	58k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 6 January 1942. US National Archives photo # 19-N-26645, a US Navy photo from the BUSHIPS collection in the collections of the US National Archives.	Robert Hurst
	37k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** Christmas Card for 1942	Ken Dupree, YNCS USN Ret., Courtesy John F Mathews, RD/2c, USN, USS Wharton 1942-46
	45k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** underway, circa 1943, location unknown. US Navy photo.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	20k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** moored pierside, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	US Naval Historical Center
	74k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** off San Francisco, CA., 9 March 1943. The San Francisco Bay Bridge is at left, and Pier Number 18 is in the right background. US Navy photo # NH 102889	US Naval Historical Center
	164k	Plan view forward of *USS Wharton* (AP-7) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 18 April 1942. Note details of Wharton*'s open bridge, 20mm gun position in lower right, motor whaleboat and lifeboat. US Navy photo # NH 102885*	US Naval Historical Center
	162k	Plan view amidships of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 18 April 1942. Note 20mm gun positions, lifeboats and life rafts, casks of life raft provisions, and ventilator cowls just forward of the smokestack. US Navy photo # NH 102886, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	171k	Plan view aft of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 18 April 1942. Note stacks of life rafts and the newly-installed 1.1-inch antiaircraft machine gun mount, covered with canvas, in lower right center. US Navy photo # NH 102887, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	135k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 18 April 1942. US Navy photo # NH 102888, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	68k	Port bow view ofUSS Wharton (AP-7) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 18 April 1942. US Navy photo # NH 102883 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center	Robert Hurst
	71k	Port broadside view of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 18 April 1942. US Navy photo # NH 102884 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center	Robert Hurst
	54k	Starboard broadside view of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** off San Francisco, CA., 9 March 1943. US Navy photo # NH 102890, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	68k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** receives assistance from a tug while off San Francisco, CA., 9 March 1943. US Navy photo # NH 102892, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	55k	Stern view of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** underway off San Francisco, CA., 9 March 1943. US Navy photo # NH 102891, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	62k	Stern view of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** underway in San Francisco, Bay, 23 August 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6063-43	Darryl Baker
	51k	Bow on view of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** underway in San Francisco, Bay, 23 August 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6067-43	Darryl Baker
	69k	Port bow view of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** underway in San Francisco Bay, 23 August 1943. US Navy photo # NH 102893, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	66k	Port broadside view of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** underway in San Francisco Bay, 23 August 1943. US Navy photo # NH 102894, a US Navy photo from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	Robert Hurst
092200730	410k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** Commanding Officer CDR John J. Fallon (left) and Executive Officer LCDR. Frank T. Callahan, 1944. US Navy photo.	Stephen Callahan
092200731	282k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** Department heads 1944. Left to right:Dr. Herbert Anderson, Jeff Thompson, LCDR. Frank Callahan, CDR. John Fallon, Harry Miller, Timmens, Bargas and Milne. US Navy photo	Stephen Callahan
	129k	Aft plan view of *USS Wharton* (AP-7) at Navy Yard Mare Island, 26 October 1944. YHB 2** (ex-Port of Stockton) is in the background. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6478-44	Darryl Baker
	136k	Forward plan view of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** at Navy Yard Mare Island, 26 October 1944. Berthing barges are in the background. Her camouflage will be Measure 32, Design 4T when completed. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 6480-44	Darryl Baker
	71k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** underway off Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 26 October 1944. Her camouflage will be Measure 32, Design 4T when completed. US National Archives photo # 19-N-75616, a US Navy BUSHIPS photo from the US Navy Bureau of Ships collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Robert Hurst
	107k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** underway in San Francisco Bay near Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 26 October 1944. US National Archives photo # 19-N-74620, a US Navy BUSHIPS photo from the US Navy Bureau of Ships collection now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	25k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** near Mare Island Navy Yard, 26 October 1944.	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
	74k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7)** at anchor in San Francisco Bay , 30 July 1945. Note the large hull number on the bow, typical of Pacific Fleet auxiliary and amphibious ships in 1945. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # 19-N-89485, a US Navy BUSHIPS photo now in the collections the US Naval History and Heritage Command, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	67k	Halftone reproduction of a photo of *USS Wharton* (AP-7)** while in port, circa 1945. Location is probably San Francisco. Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II", by Roland W. Charles. US Navy photo # NH 102882	Robert Hurst
	302k	*USS Wharton* (AP-7) outbound to sea from San Diego, CA., 16 November 1945. Photo was taken from USS Hughes (DD-410)** inbound to San Diego from WestPac. Photo by Chester Bradley	John Chiquoine and Dave Schroeder.

USS Wharton (AP-7)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Graham, James Joseph, USN (USNA 1919)	14 December 1939 - August 1940 In Ordinary Commission
02	CDR. Vanderkloot, Elroy Leonard, USN (USNA 1913)	August 1940 - 7 December 1940 In Ordinary Commission
02	CDR. Vanderkloot, Elroy Leonard, USN (USNA 1913)	7 December 1940 - 29 January 1942
03	LCDR. MacLean, Sumner Kinsman, USN (USNA 1924) acting	29 January 1942 - 16 February 1942
04	CAPT. Jacobson, Jacob Harry, USN :COMO	16 February 1942 - 1 November 1942
05	CDR. Fallon, John James, USNR	1 November 1942 - 21 September 1944
06	CAPT. Ryan, William David, CAPT USNR	21 September 1944 - 20 September 1945
07	CDR. Percival, Raymond Cyril, USN (USNA 1921-A)	20 September 1945 - January 1946
08	CAPT. Gordinier, Virgil Francis, USN (USNA 1925)	January 1946 - October 1946
09	CDR. DuBois, Raymond Francis, USN (USNA 1938) :RADM	October 1946 - 26 March 1947


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Postal Covers related to the ship
MARAD Vessel History Database

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Last Updated 27 March 2020