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 action, (torpedo attack) 8 November 1942, near Cape Matifou, Algiers

USS Leedstown (AP-73)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 6-7 November 1942)
Bottom Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Individual Awards

Purple Heart Medal (crew members wounded or KIA, 6-7 November 1942)
Leedstown Class Transport:
  • Built in 1933 as SS Santa Lucia at Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. Kearny, N.J.
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 6 August 1942
  • Commissioned USS Leedstown (AP-73), 24 September 1942. LCDR. Duncan Cook in command
  • During World War II USS Leedstown (AP-73) was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    North African occupation
    Tunisian operation, 8 November 1942

  • Final Disposition, hit by enemy torpedo, possibly from U-331, and sunk, 8 November 1942, near Cape Matifou, Algiers
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 7 December 1942
  • USS Leedstown was awarded one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,600 t.(lt) 9,135 t.(fl)
    Length 484'
    Beam 72'
    Draft 26'
    Speed 18 kts.
    Troop Accommodations 2,505
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion system unknown
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Leedstown 91k USS Leedstown (AP-73) off New York Navy Yard, 12 September 1942. Note the large number of LCM, LCVP and LCP landing craft carried by this transport.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-34061 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Leedstown 56k USS Leedstown (AP-73) off New York Navy Yard, 12 September 1942.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-34062 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Leedstown 60k USS Leedstown (AP-73) off New York Navy Yard, 12 September 1942.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-34063 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Leedstown 93k USS Leedstown (AP-73) off New York Navy Yard, 12 September 1942. Note the tug following Leedstown and the crowd of shipping in New York Harbor.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-34064 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Leedstown 55k USS Leedstown (AP-73) off New York Navy Yard, 12 September 1942. Note the tugs accompanying Leedstown.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-34065 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    USS Leedstown (AP-73)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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 5 October 2012