Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Lost to enemy torpedo attack, 12 November 1942, at Fedala Bay, Morocco

USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 12 November 1942)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Edward Rutledge Class Transport
  • Built in 1931 as SS Exeter at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission, 7 January 1942
  • Converted to a Naval Transport at Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Tampa, FL.
  • Commissioned USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52), 18 April 1942. Captain Myron Wells Hutchinson, Jr., in command
  • During World War II USS Edward Rutledge was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign;
    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    North African occupation
    Algerian-Morocco landings, 8 to 11 November 1942

  • Final Disposition, sunk by the German Submarine U-130 torpedo attack, 12 November 1942, at Fedhala Roads, Morocco
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 7 December 1942
  • USS Edward Rutledge received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 14,330 t.
    Length 475'
    Beam 62'
    Draft 26'
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement unknown
    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 turbine
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52)
    Edward Rutledge 177k
    Namesake

    Edward Rutledge born 23 November 1749 in Charleston, S.C., was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a statesman. At the time of his death 23 January 1800, he was Governor of South Carolina.
    Photo: images.virtualology.com/ac/5/i/ency0167.jpg    		 Bill Gonyo
    Edward Rutledge 65k USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52) underway, circa September 1942. She appears to have retained her merchant ship davits for handling her landing craft. Her two forward 3"/50 guns are in elevated tubs forward, and she has a lattice radar mast over the bridge.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 54349.    		 Mike Green
    Commercial Service
    Edward Rutledge 25k SS Exeter underway, date and location unknown. Courtesy
    A Tribute to A Place Called Yorkship web site
    USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Remembering World War II - The USS Edward Rutledge (AP52)
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Transport (AP) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 18 October 2011