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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AP-175 Starlight

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Victor - Foxtrot
 NEVF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Storm King Class Transport:
  • Laid down, 9 October 1943, as SS Starlight, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-AJ1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 1358), at North Carolina Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, N.C.
  • Launched, 23 December 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy from the War Shipping Administration (WAS) on a bareboat charter
  • Converted into an auxiliary transport by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co., Staten Island, N.Y.
  • Commissioned USS Starlight (AP-175), 15 February 1944, CDR.. W. O. Britton, USNR, in command
  • During WWII Starlight was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 29 July 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, Binmaley Beach, 9 to 12 January 1945
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, Dulag, 20 October and 18 November 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 11 to 18 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 12 August 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 14 August 1946, for disposal
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 August 1946
  • Commercial Service
    Sold, 2 April 1948, to Luckenbach SS Corp., renamed SS Florence Luckenbach
    Sold in October 1959 States Marine Lines, N.Y., renamed SS Badger State
    Final Disposition, lost due to explosion of ammunition cargo, 26 December 1969, while under contract to MSC
  • Starlight received four battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,600 t.(lt) 14,960 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 23'
    Speed 15.5 kts.
    Complement 360
    Troop Accommodations 1,375
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion Steam turbine, single shaft, 6,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Starlight 78k Starlight (AP-175) underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage is pattern measure 32 design 8T. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    View the Starlight (AP-175)
    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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 18 January 2008