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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS General R. M. Blatchford (T-AP-153)
ex
 USAT General R. M. Blatchford (1946 - 1950)
 USS General R. M. Blatchford (AP-153) (1945 - 1946)

/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Quebec - Romeo
 NQQR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal (2) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
General G. O. Squier Class Transport:
  • Laid down as a Maritime Commission type (C4-S-A1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 705) at Kaiser Co. Inc., Yard No. 3, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 27 August 1944
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 26 January 1945
  • Commissioned USS General R. M. Blatchford (AP-153), 26 January 1945, CDR. Allen Herschel Guthrie, in command
  • During World War II USS General R. M. Blatchford transported troops in both the Europe-Africa-Middle East and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters
  • Following World War II USS General R. M. Blatchford was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    31 October to 7 November 194515 to 21 April 1946

  • Decommissioned, 12 June 1946, at Baltimore, MD.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for service with the U S Army Transportation Service, commissioned USAT General R. M. Blatchford
  • Reacquired by the Navy and reinstated on the Naval Register, 1 March 1950
  • Assigned to the Military Sea Transport Service (MSTS) and placed in service as USNS General R. M. Blatchford (T-AP-153)
  • During the Korean War USNS General R. M. Blatchford (T-AP-153) participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Third Korean Winter
    16 to 17 April 1953
    30 April 1953     		Korean, Summer-Fall 1953
    1 to 2 May 1953
    20 June to 12 July 1953

  • Following the Korean War USS General R. M. Blatchford was assigned to Occupation service in the European Theater for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    7 to 8 September 1953
    3 to 5 November 1953
    8 to 11 December 1953
    24 to 25 April 1954
    23 to 28 November 1954
    23 to 25 December 1954

  • During the Vietnam War USNS General R. M. Blatchford landed elements of the US Army 1st Infantry Division at Vung Tau, South Vietnam in mid-October 1965
  • Placed out of service in January 1967
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay Group, 3 July 1968
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1968, custody transferred to the Maritime Administration
  • USNS General R. M. Blatchford earned two battle stars for Korean War service
  • Merchant Service
    Leased to Waterman Carriers Inc., New York, 21 January 1969
    Withdrawn, 25 March 1969, from the Reserve Fleet
    Rebuilt at Portland, OR. as a container ship, renamed SS Stonewall Jackson entering merchant service in 1970
    Sold to Waterman Carriers, Inc., 7 October 1971
    Renamed SS Alexander Stephens, 8 November 1978
    Acquired by the US Department of Commerce in 1979
    Bareboat charter to Waterman Carriers, Inc., date unknown
    Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 2 May 1980, to Chien Yu Steel Enterprises, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,950 t.(lt) 17,250 t.(fl)
    Length 522' 10"
    Beam 71' 6"
    Draft 26' 6"
    Speed 16.5 kts (design)
    Complement
    Officers 39
    Enlisted 324
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 228
    Enlisted 3,595
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Cargo Capacity 1,900 DWT
    non-refrigerated 70,000 Cu ft.
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 1.1" gun mounts (replaced by two twin 40mm AA gun mounts)
    fifteen twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 13,300 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Westinghouse geared turbine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 465psi 765°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 400Kw 240V A.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 9,000 shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USS Blatchford (AP-153)
    General R M Blatchford 88k
    Namesake
    Richard Milford Blatchford (August 17, 1859 – August 31, 1934) was a U.S. Army general who served in the Spanish–American War and World War I.    		 Tommy Trampp
    General R M Blatchford
    092215306    		 214k USS General R. M. Blatchford (AP-153) on a Magic Carpet cruise entering San Francisco Bay in 1945.
    U.S. Navy photo    		 Darryl Baker
    USNS Blatchford (T-AP-153)
    General R M Blatchford 78k USNS General R. M. Blatchford (T-AP-153) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Carl R. Friberg Jr.
    General R M Blatchford 89k USNS General R. M. Blatchford (T-AP-153) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 William Zarkas, Retired MSC Boatswain
    President, MSC Retiree Association
    General R M Blatchford 78k USNS General R. M. Blatchford (T-AP-153) moored pierside at Bremerhaven, Germany, circa 1952. Blatchford was transporting Displaced Persons to the US and Canada. Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
    General R M Blatchford 114k USNS General R. M. Blatchford (T-AP-153) moored pierside at Bremerhaven, Germany, August 1963. Photo by Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
    USS / USNS General R. M. Blatchford (AP-153) (T-AP-153)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Guthire, Allen Herschel, USN (USNA 1912) Ret.26 January 1945 - 1946
    03LT. Musser Jr., John Fitzgerald, USNR30 May 1946 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    USAT General R. M. Blatchford "Captains Dinner" menu
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 17 February 2023