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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS General T. H. Bliss (AP-131)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Bravo - Golf
 NJBG
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)
General G. O. Squier Class Transport:
  • Laid down, 22 May 1942, as a Maritime Commission type (C4-S-A1) hull, a under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 654), at Kaiser Shipbuilding Inc., Yard 3, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 19 December 1942
  • Acquired from the Maritime Commission by the US Navy, 3 November 1943
  • Commissioned USS General T. H. Bliss (AP-131), 24 February 1944, CAPT. Burton Davis in command
  • Decommissioned, 28 June 1946, at Seattle, WA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 2 July 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA.
  • Commercial Operation
    Transferred to Bethlehem Steel Corp., Wilmington, DE., April 1964, (MARAD Trade in) for conversion to commercial operation, renamed SS Seamar
    Sold to C.A. Venezloana De Navegacion, a Venezuelan government controlled corporation, 13 January 1975, renamed SS Caroni
    Final Disposition, scrapped in 1979
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,950 t.(lt) 17,250 t.(fl)
    Length 522' 10"
    Beam 71' 6"
    Draft 26' 6"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 366
    Troop Accommodations 3,522
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 1.1" AA gun mounts (replaced by four twin 40mm AA gun mounts)
    sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion geared turbine, single shaft, 8,500hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Tasker H. Bliss 203k
    Namesake

    Tasker Howard Bliss, born in Lewisburg, Pa., 31 December 1853, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1875. In Spain at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, he was assigned to General Wilson as Chief of 'Staff. He fought in all major engagements in Puerto Rico and was breveted a Colonel for outstanding service. After the war, Bliss served as Collector of Customs for Cuba and negotiated the treaty of reciprocity with Cuba in 1902. After several important administrative appointments in the United States and the Philippines, he was named Assistant Chief of Staff of the Army in 1915 and Chief of Staff in 1917. A scholarly yet energetic officer, General Bliss helped greatly to work out plans for American mobilization for World War I. In 1917 he was appointed to the Supreme War Council in Paris and had much to do with the negotiations leading up to the Versailles Treaty. Subsequently, he was a commissioner and a signer of the treaty. During the last years of his life, General Bliss was devoted to historical study, and was awarded many honorary degrees and the Distinguished Service Medal. He died in Washington, D.C., 9 November 1930.
    Digital ID: cph 3a36601 Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs    		 Bill Gonyo
    Tasker H. Bliss 71k USS General T. H. Bliss (AP-131) stern view off San Francisco, 4 March 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # Navy Photo 1494-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Tasker H. Bliss 82k USS General T. H. Bliss (AP-131) broadside view off San Francisco, 4 March 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # Navy Photo 1496-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Tasker H. Bliss 59k USS General T. H. Bliss (AP-131) bows on view off San Francisco, 4 March 1944.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # Navy Photo 1498-44.    		 Darryl Baker
    Tasker H. Bliss 57k USS General T. H. Bliss (AP-131) at anchor, date and location unknown. The Commanding Officer, Captain H.H. Connolley US Navy is pictured in the upper right hand corner. This Christmas card, from 1945, was given to Sgt. Lloyd W. Harazim USA while enroute from Calcutta India to New York. General T. H. Bliss departed Calcutta, India 27 November 1945, arriving in New York in early December 1945. Note she is painted in camouflage pattern measure 32/13T. Mark Harazim
    View the USS General T. H. Bliss (AP-131)
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 25 April 2008