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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Heywood (APA-6)
ex
 USS Heywood (AP-12) (1940 - 1943)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Mike - Foxtrot
 NEMF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - American Defense Service Medal (with bronze "A")
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (8) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippine Liberation Medal (1)
Heywood Class Transport
  • Laid down in 1919, as SS Steadfast at Bethlehem Steel Corp., Alameda, CA.
  • Acquired by Panama Pacific Lines and renamed SS City of Baltimore
  • Acquired by the Navy, 26 October 1940
  • Converted to a Transport and renamed Heywood
  • Commissioned USS Heywood (AP-12), 7 November 1940, at Portland, OR.. CAPT. Rivers J. Carstarphen USN in command
  • Reclassified Amphibious Attack Transport, (APA-6), 1 February 1943
  • During WWII USS Heywood was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Twelve, COMO. H.B. Knowles USN (17);
    TransDiv Thirty-Five, CAPT. R.C. Bartman, and participated in the campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings, 7 to 9 August 1942 Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944
    Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll, 17 to 25 February 1944
    Capture and defense of Guadalcanal, 28 November to 5 December 1942 Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 16 June to 28 July 1944
    Aleutians operation
    Attu occupation, 11 to 27 May 1943     		Tinian capture and occupation, 24 to 28 July 1944
    Gilbert Islands operation, 20 November to 4 December 1943 Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, San Pedro Bay, 20 October 1944

  • Following World War II USS Heywood was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    6 to 25 September 1945
    12 to 26 October 1945

  • Decommissioned, 16 April 1946, at Boston, MA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 3 June 1946
  • USS Heywood earned eight battle stars for World War II service
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 2 July 1946 for disposal, name reverted to SS City of Baltimore
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 30 April 1957, to Bethlehem Steel Corp.(PD-X-533 dated 29 March 1957) for $228, 464.00, withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet, 8 May 1957
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,000 t.(lt) 14,450 t.(lim)
    Length 507'
    Beam 56'
    Draft 25' 6"
    Speed 16.8 kts.
    Complement Officers
    Officers 46
    Enlisted 504
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 75
    Enlisted 1203
    Cargo Capacity 2,000 DWT
    non-refrigerated 145,000 cu. ft.
    Armament
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Oil Capacity
    Navy Standard Fuel Oil 11.475 bbls
    Diesel 700 bbls.
    Propulsion
    one De Laval geared turbine
    four Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers 275psi 510°
    one De Laval double main reduction gear
    three turbo-drive ships service generators 150Kw 120V D.C.
    single shaft, designated shaft horsepower 9,500
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By/Source
    USS Heywood (AP-12)
    Heywood 126k
    Namesake

    Charles Heywood was born in Maine 3 October 1839. He was appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps 5 April 1858. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Heywood was attached to Cumberland and commissioned major by brevet for his gallant services during the fight between Cumberland and Confederate iron-clad Virginia. At the Battle of Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864, he commanded the Marine guard of Hartford, and for gallant service was commissioned lieutenant colonel by brevet. Heywood also took part in the capture of Forts Morgan, Gaines, and Powell, ram Tennessee. steamers Gaines and Selma, and the destruction of the steamer Morgan. In addition he served in Sabine and Ticonderoga during the Civil War. Heywood was appointed Colonel Commandant of the Marine Corps 30 January 1891; Brigadier General Commandant 3 March 1899; and Major General Commandant 1 July 1902. He was the first commandant to attain the rank of Major General. Ending 45 years of active service in the Corps. Major General Heywood retired 3 October 1903. He died 26 February 1915 at the age of 76.
    Photo: USMC History Division    		 Bill Gonyo
    Heywood 91k From left to right USS William P. Biddle (AP-15), USS Heywood (AP-12), and USS Harry Lee (AP-17) underway in convoy to Iceland, circa 7 September 1941.
    US Navy photo # NH 47005, from the collection of US Naval History and Heritage Command .    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 64k USS Heywood (AP-12), off Norfolk Navy Yard, 1 November 1941.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-25919, from the US Navy's Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 55k USS Heywood (AP-12), off Norfolk Navy Yard, 1 November 1941.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-25920, from the US Navy's Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood
    100300627    		 331k USS Heywood (AP-12) in the floating drydock at Wellington, New Zealand, 25 August 1942, having her hull scraped.
    Photo from Museum Of Wellington, used for educational and non-commercial purpose.    		 John Chiquoine
    USS Heywood (APA-6)
    Heywood 87k USS Heywood (APA-6), off San Pedro, CA., circa April 1943. The original photograph was received by the Bureau of Ships with a Commander 11th Naval District letter of 26 April 1943.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-43227, from the US Navy's Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 99k USS Heywood (APA-6), off San Pedro, CA., circa April 1943. The original photograph was received by the Bureau of Ships with a Commander 11th Naval District letter of 26 April 1943.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-43228, from the US Navy's Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 100k USS Heywood (APA-6), off San Pedro, CA., circa April 1943. The original photograph was received by the Bureau of Ships with a Commander 11th Naval District letter of 26 April 1943.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-43229, from the US Navy's Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood
    100300626    		 276k USS Heywood (APA-6) participated in the Aleutian Islands Campaign, June 1942 - August 1943, part of Battle of Attu, 11-29 May 1943. Across her crowded decks the Attu-Bound convoy stretching off into the distance can be seen. Note the Landing Craft, Mechanized (LCM)’s.
    US Library of Congress. (2015/11/06), Photo No. LC-Lot-803-27, a US Navy photo released in May 1943.    		 Mike Green
    Heywood 94k USS Heywood (APA-6) hoists out LCVPs, off Attu on the first day of the invasion, 11 May 1943. Note binnacle mounted in front of the ship's open bridge, in the lower left.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-54505, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 95k Troops boarding a LCM alongside USS Heywood (APA-6), in the fog off Attu, 11 May 1943.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-50773, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 91k Soldiers climb down cargo netting to board landing craft alongside USS Heywood (APA-6), off Attu, 11 May 1943.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-50770, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 47k USS Pruitt (DM-22) leads landing craft from USS Heywood (APA-6) toward their landing beaches in Massacre Bay, Attu, 11 May 1943. Pruitt used her radar and searchlight to guide the boats nine miles through the fog. The searchlight beam is faintly visible pointing aft from atop her pilothouse.
    US Navy photo # NH 78232, Courtesy of US Naval Institute Photo Collection, Collection of James C. Fahey.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 99k USS Heywood (APA-6) putting her troops ashore at Attu Island , Alaska. The foggy weather screened the landing allowing the troops to go ashore undetected.
    US Navy photo for "All Hands" magazine, April 1945 issue.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Heywood 89k Soldiers unloading LCPR and LCM type landing craft on the beach at Massacre Bay, Attu, 12 May 1943. Boats are from USS Heywood (APA-6). Note the Military Policeman overseeing operations from his position near the right side of the image.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-50848, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 143k Soldiers unload landing craft on the beach at Massacre Bay, Attu, on 13 May 1943. LCVPs in the foreground are from USS Zeilin (APA-3) and USS Heywood (APA-6).
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-50921, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 130k USS Heywood (APA-6), photographed by Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 13 May 1944. She is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 9T.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-410707, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 103k USS Heywood (APA-6), off Mindoro, Philippine Islands, during the later stages of the campaign there, February 1945. She is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 9T.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-325420, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    William P Biddle 86k USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) off Mindoro, Philippine Islands, in February 1945, during the later stages of the campaign there. USS Heywood (APA-6) is in the right center background, beyond USS William P. Biddle's bow. Both ships wear camouflage Measure 32, Design 9T.
    US National Archives photo 80-G-325409, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.     		Scott at LBS Products
    Heywood 137k USS Heywood (APA-6) refitting at San Francisco, 23 May 1945, with alteration indicated. The 5" gun aft has already been replaced by a twin 40 mm mount, with a Mk.51 director. Boats carried athwartships on deck aft are LCM(3)s with LCVPs nested inside. Other boats are LCVPs, with a single LCPL, provided with a canopy as a ship's boat, forward. OpNav had rejected a 1943 call for this modification, but by 1945 LCPLs were commonly being fitted with such canopies by ships' crews, to act as Captain's gigs. Note the new anti-aircraft gun mounts forward, a symptom of the growing air (largely kamikaze) threat.
    US Navy Yard Mare Island photos from " US Amphibious Ships and Craft", by Norman Friedman.    		 Robert Hurst
    Heywood 146k
    Heywood 85k USS Heywood (APA-6), in San Francisco Bay, 23 May 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-90745, from the US Navy's Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 74k USS Heywood (APA-6), in San Francisco Bay, 23 May 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-90744, from the US Navy's Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 80k USS Heywood (APA-6), in San Francisco Bay, 23 May 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-90746, from the US Navy's Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Heywood 78k USS Heywood (APA-6), in San Francisco Bay, 23 May 1945. Among the ships in the distance are USS Arneb (AKA-56), at left, and USS Clearfield (APA-142), at right.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-90748, from the US Navy's Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Heywood (AP-12 / APA-6)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Carstarphen, Rivers Johnson, USN (USNA 1911)7 November 1940 - 17 December 1941AP-12
    02CAPT. Knowles, Herbert Baim USN (USNA 1917) :COMO 17 December 1941 - 13 October 1943AP-12
    04LCDR. Stuart, Alexander Lunde, USNR13 October 1943 - 25 October 1943APA-6
    05CAPT. Dugan, Paul Fleming, USN (USNA 1923)25 October 1943 - 22 July 1944APA-6
    06CAPT. Jones, Gordon Michael, USNR22 July 1944 - 29 March 1945APA-6
    07CAPT. Fitzgerald, Justin Stephen USN (USNA 1923)29 March 1945 - 16 April 1946APA-6
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Camouflage Measure 32, Design 9T
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Type Index Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Transport (AP) Photo Index Back To The Attack Transport (APA) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 28 April 2023