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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

IX-507
ex
 USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121) (1950 - 1978)
 USAT General Hugh J. Gaffey (1946 - 1950)
USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121 (1944 - 1946)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Mike - Juliet
 NKMJ
USS Admiral W. L. Capps was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II
USS Admiral W. L. Capps 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
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (1)
Bottom Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Admiral W. S. Benson Class Transport:
  • Laid down, 15 December 1942, as a Maritime Commission type (P2-SE2-R1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 679), at Bethlehem-Alameda Shipyard Inc., Alameda, CA.
  • Launched, 20 February 1944
  • Acquired by the US Navy from the Maritime Commission, 18 September 1944
  • Commissioned USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121), 18 September 1944, CAPT. Neil S. Haugen, USCG, in command
  • Decommissioned, 8 May 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for transferred to the US Army Transportation Service, renamed USAT General Hugh J. Gaffey
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 1 March 1950 and placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS General J. Gaffey (T-AP-121)
  • Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 9 October 1969
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Reacquired and reinstated in the Naval Register, 1 November 1978
  • Placed in service as a barracks hulk, redesignated Miscellaneous Unclassified IX-507
  • Laid up in the NISMF Pearl Harbor, HI,, (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 25 October 1993
  • Final Disposition, sunk during RIMPAC 2000 EXERCISE as a missile target, 16 June 2000, location: 023° 35' 01.0" North, 159° 50' 00.2" West, depth: 2,730 fathoms
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,676 t.(lt) 20,120 t.(fl)
    Length 608' 11"
    Beam 75' 6"
    Draft 26' 11"
    Speed 19 kts.
    Complement 618
    Troop Accommodations 5,200
    Cargo Capacity 100,000 cu. ft.
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    fourteen twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion turbo-electric, two propellers, 19,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Contributed By
    USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121)
    Admiral W. L. Capps 106k USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121) underway in San Pedro Bay, 14 November 1944, starboard quarter view. Note she is painted with camouflage scheme 32/11A..
    US Navy photo    		 Capt Jerry Mason, USN
    Admiral W. L. Capps 70k USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121) at anchor, 1944, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Courtesy, Chuck Ulrich, coordinator/historian AP Transport Group
    Admiral W. L. Capps 96k USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121) moored pierside, Tokyo, Japan, date unknown. Photo from Lanier (APA-121) 1944-46 cruise book Russ Padden
    Admiral W. L. Capps 80k USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121) moored pierside, date and location unknown. CDR Keith Barker, USCGR Ret. for his father-in-law, Jim Jennings USS Admiral W.L. Capps
    Admiral W. L. Capps 79k USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121) ships laundry crew, date unknown. Note, Jim Jennings is at far left, holding the ace of hearts. The other sailors are unidentified. CDR Keith Barker, USCGR Ret. for his father-in-law, Jim Jennings USS Admiral W.L. Capps
    Admiral W. L. Capps 41k USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121) deck plan Russ Padden
    USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121)
    General Hugh J Gaffey 59k USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121) underway, date and place unknown.
    Photo by Wood    		 Military Sea Transportation Service Society
    General Hugh J Gaffey 111k USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121) "THIS IS The Ship I Sailed On" pamphlet provided to all passengers boarding Gaffey LT. Leonard Peter (Pete) Stamer, USN, Ret., donated by his daughter Linda Whealton, submitted by Robert Hall.
    IX-507
    General Hugh J Gaffey 74k IX-507 moored at NavSta Pearl Harbor, HI., April 1987 Larry Lee
    General Hugh J Gaffey 73k ex IX-507 being scrapped at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 10 June 1999 Photo by
    Kirk Rattenne
    View the USS Admiral W. L. Capps/USAT / USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121)
    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
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office - USS Admiral W. L. Capps AP-121
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Transport (AP) Photo Index Back To The Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 2 May 2008