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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185)
ex
 USAT Private William H.. Thomas (1946 - 1950)
 USS Rixey (APH-3) (1942 - 1946)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Echo - Alpha
 NDEA
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Tryon Class Evacuation Transport
  • Laid down, 6 August 1941, as SS Alcoa Cruiser, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S1-A1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 177), at Moore Dry Dock Co., Oakland, CA.
  • Launched, 30 December 1941
  • Commissioned USS Rixey (APH-3), 30 December 1942, CAPT. Allen Hobbs in command
  • During WWII USS Rixey was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    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, 9 January 1945
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, Dulag, 20 to 22 October 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 26 March to 22 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 27 March 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 9 September 1946
  • Acquired by the US Army Transportation Service, commissioned USAT Private William H. Thomas
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 1 March 1950
  • Reinstated on the Naval Register and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS)
  • Placed in service as USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185)
  • Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 27 December 1957
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River, N.Y.
  • Final Disposition, sold by MARAD for scrapping, 28 August 1970, to Tung Ho Enterprise Corp., Taiwan.
  • USS Rixey (APH-3) earned four battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,100 t.(lt) 11,500 t.(fl)
    Length 450' 2"
    Beam 62'
    Draft 25' 7"(max)
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement 460
    Troop Accommodations 1,166
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    twelve 40mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion steam turbine, single shaft, 8,500hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Rixey (APH-3)
    Rixey 82k USS Rixey (APH-3) underway in San Francisco Bay, California, 12 February 1943.
    US Navy photo # 19-N-41760, a Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185
    Rixey 22k USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 LT. Robert Jerald Hula, USN (Ret.)
    Rixey 57k Pen and ink drawing of USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185) Bill Valashinas
    Rixey 40k USNS Private William H. Thomas (T-AP-185) underway, circa 1952, location unknown Robert Hurst
    View the USS Rixey (APH-3) / USNS Private William H Thomas (T-AP-185)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Evacuation Transport (APH) Photo Index Back To The Transport (AP) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 14 November 2008