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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
Bottom Row - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - United Nations Service 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. Niesl S. Haugen, USCG, in command
  • During World War II USS Admiral W. L. Capps operated in both the Asiatic-Pacific and the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theaters
  • Following World War II USS Admiral W. L. Capps was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    22 to 29 January 1946
    20 to 25 March 1946

  • 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' 6"
    Speed 19 kts.
    Complement
    Officers37
    Enlisted 330
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 280
    Enlisted 4,400
    Cargo Capacity 3,300 DWT
    Non-refrigerated 106,000 cu. ft.
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    fourteen twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 25,600 Bbls
    Diesel 350 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two General Electric turbo-electric engines
    four Combustion Engineering D-type boilers, 600psi 840°
    Ship's Service Generators
    four turbo-drive 500Kw 450V A.C.
    four turbo-drive 200Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    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
    19-N-91523    		 262k The newly commissioned USS Admiral W. L. Capps (AP-121) undergoing a shipyard availability at Bethlehem Steel Ship Yard, San Francisco, 6 January 1945. Across the pier from Admiral W. L. Capps is USS Suffolk (AKA-69) and beyond Suffolk is an unidentified Attack Transport (APA).
    US National Archives photo #'s 19-N-91523 and 19-N-91524 US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
    Admiral W. L. Capps
    19-N-91524    		 242k
    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 89k
    Namesake

    Hugh Joseph Gaffey, born 18 November 1895, in Harford, Conn., attended Officers Training School at Fort Niagara, N.Y., and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery Reserve 15August 1917. Assigned to the 312th Field Artillery at Fort Meade, Md., he went to Europe in August 1918 and served in France and Germany before returning to the United States in August 1919. During the next two decades he served at various posts in the United States and served with the 15th and 18th Field Artillery and the 7th Cavalry Brigade. Assigned to the I Armored Corps in July 1940, he served with them until July 1942 when he was assigned to the 2d Armored Division. Appointed Brigadier General 5 August 1942, he was sent to the European Theater in November. From 1943 to 1944 he was the Commanding General of the 2nd Armored Division. In April 1944, he was designated Chief of Staff for General Patton's 3d Army fighting in France. He then assumed command of the 4th Armored Division in December. From 1945 to 1946 he was the Commandant of the Armored School. Major General Gaffey was killed in a B-25 crash at Goodman Field, Ky., June 1946.
    Photo courtesy of the 2nd Armored Division.    		 Bill Gonyo
    General Hugh J Gaffey 133k Pen and ink drawing of USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121) Tommy Trampp
    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.
    General Hugh J Gaffey 166k USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Tommy Trampp
    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
    USS Admiral W. L. Capps/USAT / USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121)
    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
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office - USS Admiral W. L. Capps AP-121
    Photo Collections
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 3 February 2012