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

USS Lyon (AP-71)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Romeo - November
 NYRN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (4)
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Elizabeth C. Stanton Class Transport:
  • Laid down, 21 August 1939, as SS Mormactide, a Maritime Commission type (C3) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, LA.
  • Launched, 12 October 1940
  • Delivered, 10 March 1942 to Moore-McCormack Lines and placed in commercial service
  • Custody acquired by the US War Department, 8 August 1942
  • Acquired by the US Navy and transferred to Atlantic Basin Iron Works, Brooklyn, N.Y., for conversion, 13 September 1942
  • Commissioned USS Lyon (AP-71), 16 September 1942, CAPT. M. J. Gillan in command
  • During World War II USS Lyon was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    North African occupation
    Algeria, Morocco landings, 7 to 15 November 1942     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, July 1945
    Sicilian occupation, 10 to 12 July 1043 .
    Salerno landings, 9 September 1943 .
    Invasion of Southern France, September 1944 .

  • Decommissioned, 3 May 1946, at New York, N.Y., returned to the Maritime Commission and subsequently returned to her owners, Moore-McCormack Lines
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Renamed SS Mormactide, she remained under the ownership of Moore-McCormack Lines until 1966, when she was
  • Sold to Grace Lines in August 1966, renamed SS Santa Regina
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 18 January 1972, to Dah Yung Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Taiwan
  • USS Lyon received five battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,954 t.(lt) 14,909 t.(fl)
    Length 492'
    Beam 69' 6"
    Draft 24'
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement 403
    Armament
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    six 40mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion steam turbine, single shaft, 8.500hp.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Lyon 143k
    Namesake

    Born 28 February 1797 in Buckland, Mass., Mary Lyon was a pioneer in women’s education in America. She founded Mount Holyoke Seminary, now Mount Holyoke College, in 1836. Miss Lyon died at the college 5 March 1849.
    Photo from Mount Holyoke College    		 Bill Gonyo
    Lyon 42k USS Lyon (AP-71) moored at US Army Port of Embarkation, Newport News, VA. pier loading troops.
    Official US Army photo produced by US Army Signal Corps, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, 20 October 1942. Photo now in the collections of the Library of Virginia. Image No. C1:2/01/025    		 The Library of Virginia, US Army Signal Corps Photograph Collection
    View the USS Lyon (AP-71)
    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
    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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 27 June 2008