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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USAT J.W. McAndrew
ex
J.W. McAndrew (AP-47)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right top to bottom
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Service Medal - World War II Victory Medal

Passenger Transport:

Laid down, 21 December 1939, as SS Delargentino for the United States Maritime Commission for the Mississippi Shipping Co., at Bethlehem Steels Sparrows Point Shipyard, Baltimore MD.

Launched, 13 July 1940

Completed and delivered to the Mississippi Shipping Co., 8 November 1940

Designated (AP-47) by the US Navy but never taken over by the Navy remaining under Army control throughout World War II

Acquired by the US War Department, 28 June 1941, for use as an Army Transport

Allocated to the US Army Transportation Corps as a troop transport

Commissioned USAT J.W. McAndrew, date unknown

On 13 March 1945 in convoy during a storm the French aircraft carrier Béarn lost steering and collided with J.W. McAndrew resulting in the loss of 68 troops and one Naval Armed Guardsman S1/c Carlos A. Inman, USNR

Declared surplus to US Army needs, 5 May 1947

Leased under a General Agency Agreement to American South African Line Inc., 5 May 1947

Sold to Ferrell Lines Inc., 22 December 1948, renamed SS African Enterprise

Returned to the Maritime Administration under the trade-in program, 22 September 1960

Laid up, 19 October 1960 in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.

Temporary custody assumed by the US Navy (removal of spare tail shaft)

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 9 April 1969, to Boston Metals, Baltimore MD., delivered 8 May 1969

Specifications:
Displacement 6,696 t.(lt) 14,476 t.(fl)
Length 491'
Beam 65'
Draft 25' 7"
Speed 17.9 kts.
Compliment unknown
Troop Capacity unknown

Armament (1945)

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts

four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

eight single 20mm AA gun mounts

Propulsion

one General Electric steam turbine

single propeller, 7,800shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USAT J. W. McAndrew
	93k	*Namesake* James W. McAndrew (June 29, 1862 – April 30, 1922) was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of major general, and was most notable for his service as chief of staff of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. Photo by Harris & Ewing, photographer Library of Congress Catalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2016860501	Tommy Trampp
	147k	USAT J. W. McAndrew moored pierside at New York, date unknown. Originally designated AP-47 by the Navy but handed over to and operated by the Army. US National Archives photo from "U.S. Army Ships and Watercraft of World War II" by David H. Grover	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	95k	USAT J. W. McAndrew arriving at Casablanca, Morocco, in November 1942 as part of a US follow-on convoy bringing in troops and supplies following the North African invasion. Note the two 3"/50 guns on the raised platform forward. The ship had one 4"/50 gun aft in 1942. US Navy photo # 80-G-30488 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	57k	USAT J. W. McAndrew circa late 1945 or early 1946, possibly at New York. The ship appears to have had its guns, including the bow gun platform, removed. Courtesy of Shipscribe.com and Garnett Blackburn	Mike Green
	64k	USAT J. W. McAndrew circa late 1945 or early 1946, possibly at New York with returning WWII veterans.	Tommy Trampp
	77k
	59k
Merchant Service Ferrell Lines
	66k	Ex-USAT J. W. McAndrew in merchant service as the Ferrell Lines freighter/passenger liner SS African Enterprise	Tommy Trampp
092204709	36k	The Ferrell Lines freighter/passenger liner SS African Enterprise	Tommy Trampp