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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 11 November 1942)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Joseph Hewes Class Transport:
  • Built in 1930 as SS Excalibur at New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, N.J.
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 8 January 1942
  • Commissioned USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50), 1 May 1942, CAPT. Robert Smith in command
  • During World War II Joseph Hewes was assigned to the European-African-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    North African occupation
    Algeria-Morocco landings, 8 to 11 November 1942
  • Final Disposition, sunk by the German Submarine U-173 torpedo attack, 11 November 1942, at Fedhala Roads, Morocco
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 7 December 1942
  • Joseph Hewes received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 14,100 t.
    Length 450'
    Beam 61' 6"
    Draft 26' 4"
    Speed 15 kts.
    Complement 358
    Troop Accommodations unknown
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion steam turbines
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Commercial Service
    Joseph Hewes 25k Artist rendition of SS Excalibur underway. Courtesy - A Tribute to A Place Called Yorkship web site
    Joseph Hewes 49k SS Excalibur entering/leaving port with a tug alongside, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    USS Joseph Hawes (AP-50)
    Joseph Hewes 66k
    Namesake

    Joseph Hewes was born in Kingston, N.J., in 1730, and was educated at what is now Princeton. After engaging in business in Philadelphia, he moved to Edenton, N.C. in 1763 where he became a prosperous and influential merchant skipper. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1774, and in 1775 became a member of the Marine Committee. In this capacity Hewes played a major part in the procurement and outfitting of Continental vessels, and had the distinction of securing a commission in the Continental Navy in December 1775 for one of the sea's greatest heroes-to-be, John Paul Jones. Hewes continued to take an active part in the movement for independence in North Carolina. He also took part in the discussions leading to the Declaration of Independence and signed the historic document. He died 29 October 1779 shortly after his return to the Continental Congress.
    Photo from the National Park Service    		 Bill Gonyo
    Joseph Hewes 71k Joseph Hawes (AP-50) underway, 1942, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.     		Robert Hurst
    View the Joseph Hewes (AP-50)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 25 July 2008