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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Lost to enemy action, 8 August 1942

USS George F. Elliott (AP-13)
ex
 USS Victorious (ID # 3514) (1918 - 1919)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 8 August 1942)
Second Row - World War I Victory Medal - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Heywood Class Transport:
  • Laid down in 1918 at as SS War Haven at Bethlehem Steel Corp., Alameda, CA. for the United States Shipping Board (USSB)
  • Launched, 4 July 1918
  • Completed for the USSB and acquired by the US Navy, 19 October 1918
  • Acquired by the US Navy and commissioned USS Victorious (ID-3514), 21 October 1918
  • Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 24 February 1919, at New York
  • Returned to the United States Shipping Board for disposal
  • Acquired by the Baltimore Mail S.S. Co. in 1931, renamed SS City of Havre, lengthened and passenger accommodations added
  • Acquired by Panama Pacific Lines in 1938, and renamed SS City of Los Angeles
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 30 October 1940
  • Converted to a Naval Transport
  • Commissioned USS George F. Elliott (AP-13), 10 January 1941, CAPT. Harry G. Patrick in command
  • During World War II USS George F. Elliott was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign;

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings, 7 to 9 August 1942

  • Lost to enemy action, 8 August 1942, in Iron Bottom Sound during the invasion of Guadalcanal
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 2 October 1942
  • USS George F. Elliott was awarded one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,630 t.(lt) 16,400 t.(fl)
    Length
    ID-3514 - 440½"
    AP-13 - 507'
    Beam 56'
    Draft 29' 9"
    Speed 10.5 kts.
    Complement
    ID-3514 - 97
    AP-13 - 350
    Troop Accommodations 1,278
    Cargo Capacity 150,000 cu. ft., 2,900 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    eight .50 cal machine guns
    Propulsion
    four Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers
    one De Laval Steam Turbine, geared turbine drive
    single propeller
    designated shaft horsepower 9,500
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    United States Shipping Board
    Victorious
    092201320    		 321k SS Victorious launching, 4 July 1918, at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp, Ltd., Union Plant, Alameda, CA.
    US National Archives Identifier 45547228    		 Michael Mohl
    Victorious 99k SS Victorious, 23 September 1918, at her builder's yard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. Ltd., Union Plant, Potrero Works, San Francisco. Of the four destroyers under construction in the foreground the nearest is Ingraham (DD-111) and the one with her smoke stacks fitted is Harding (DD-91).
    US National Archives, RG-32-S. Photo #: None, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    Victorious 47k SS Victorious probably in San Francisco Bay, CA., in October 1918, at the time of her trial trip. Built by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at Alameda, California, she was acquired by the Navy upon completion, on 19 October 1918, and placed in commissioned two days later as USS Victorious (ID #-3514). She was decommissioned, 24 February 1919 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board. Note her pattern camouflage and how high she is riding, with nearly half of her propeller exposed.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 10012 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Victorious 50k SS Victorious probably in San Francisco Bay, CA., in October 1918, at the time of her trial trip. Built by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at Alameda, California, she was acquired by the Navy upon completion, on 19 October 1918, and placed in commissioned two days later as USS Victorious (ID #-3514). She was decommissioned, 24 February 1919 and returned to the U.S. Shipping Board. Note her pattern camouflage and how high she is riding, with nearly half of her propeller exposed.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 65035 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Merchant Service
    USA Baltimore Mail SS Co.
    City of Harve 81k Ex-SS Victorious after being rebuilt in 1931 as the Baltimore Mail Steamship Company passenger-cargo ship SS City of Havre. at the Tidewater Terminal in Baltimore, MD., 7 July 1932, preparing to sail for Europe. One of four ships converted by the Baltimore Mail Steamship Co., she had accommodations for 100 passengers.
    Photo courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    Victorious 104k SS City of Havre being freed by tugs in Chesapeake Bay, 3 January 1936. SS City of Havre ran aground while outbound from Baltimore to Hamburg. The grounding of the ship was apparently caused by drift ice from the upper bay forcing the ship onto the mud bank.
    Associated Press photo.    		 Tommy Trampp
    City of Havre 93k SS City of Havre luncheon menu, June 3, 1934. Tommy Trampp
    City of Los Angeles 142 SS City of Los Angeles south bound in the Panama Canal, 5 November 1938. Tommy Trampp
    USS George F. Elliott (AP-13)
    George F Elliott 102k
    Namesake

    George F. Elliott, born 30 November 1846 in Alabama, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1870 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. After serving at Washington, D.C., he fought in the Spanish-American War; in a spirited engagement with the enemy near Cuzco Valley. Marines led by Captain Elliott were victorious and returned to their camp at Guantanamo Bay. On 21 May 1908 he was appointed Major General and Commandant of the Marine Corps, a position he filled with distinction until his retirement 30 November 1910. General Elliott died 4 November 1931 in Washington, D.C.
    Photo: USMC History Division    		 Bill Gonyo
    George F Elliott 29k USS George F. Elliott (AP-13) at anchor, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    George F Elliott 154k USS New Mexico (BB-40), at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 31 December 1941, just before she deployed to the Pacific. The camouflaged ship alongside the near side of the next pier is USS George F. Elliott (AP-13). Another BB-40 class battleship is on the other side of that pier. Note: number "40" painted atop USS New Mexico's second 14"/50 triple gun turret; Mark 33 and other gun directors atop her superstructure; FC radar antenna on one of the directors and SC radar antenna mounted at the top of her mainmast
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-27362, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    George F Elliott 69k USS George F. Elliott (AP-13), off the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 1 January 1942. Note her Measure 12 (Modified) camouflage paint scheme.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-28309, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    George F Elliott 92k Starboard bow view of USS George F. Elliott (AP-13), off the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 1 January 1942.
    US Navy photo # NH 97802 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command     		Robert Hurst
    George F Elliott 69k Starboard side view of USS George F. Elliott (AP-13), off the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 1 January 1942.
    US Navy photo # NH 97803 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command     		Robert Hurst
    George F Elliott 84k USS George F. Elliott (AP-13), (left) and Duchess of Atholl (British troopship) (right). loading at Brooklyn, New York, February 1942, prior to sailing with a North Atlantic convoy to carry personnel to the United Kingdom.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-2398, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    George F Elliott 66k Port side view of USS George F. Elliott (AP-13) burning between Guadalcanal and Tulagi, after she was hit by a crashing Japanese aircraft during an air attack, 8 August 1942.
    US Navy photo # NH 69118 from the collection of Admiral Richard K. Turner, USN.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    George F Elliott 57k Starboard side view of USS George F. Elliott (AP-13) burning, 8 August 1942, after she was hit by a crashing Japanese aircraft.
    Australian War Memorial, Photo No. 043375    		 Mike Green
    George F Elliott 69k The scene just after the Japanese torpedo plane attack on shipping between Guadalcanal and Tulagi, 8 August 1942. USS George F. Elliott (AP-13) is afire in the left center. She had been hit by a crashing enemy aircraft. The other two smoke plumes mark the locations of planes that crashed into the water.
    US Navy photo # NH 69114 from the collection of Admiral Richard K. Turner, USN.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    George F Elliott 101k USS Hopkins (DMS-13) steams past the transport area between Guadalcanal and Tulagi, 8 August 1942. Ship burning in the left center distance is USS George F. Elliott (AP-13), which had been hit by a Japanese air attack earlier in the day.
    National Archives photo # 80-G-34683, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS George F. Elliott (AP-13)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    USS Victorious (ID# 3514)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Patrick, Harry Gates, USN (USNA 1912)10 January 1941 - 22 January 1941
    02CDR. Perry, Benjamin Franklin, USN (USNA 1915)22 January 1941 - 3 June 1941
    03CAPT. Bailey, Watson Osgood, USN (USNA 1911)3 June 1941 - 8 August 1942
    04CDR. Couble, Alexander John, USN (USNA 1920)8 August 1942 - 8 August 1942
    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
    Location of the wreck of USS George F. Elliott (AP-13) in Iron Bottom Sound
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 9 October 2020