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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AP-39 / APA-20 President Hayes


President Jackson Class Transport
  • Laid down, 26 December 1939, as SS President Hayes, a Maritime Commission type (C3 P & C) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 55), at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Corp., Newport News, VA.
  • Launched, 4 October 1940
  • Delivered to American President Lines, 20 February 1941
  • Acquired by the Navy, 7 July 1941
  • Converted for Naval service as a Transport
  • Commissioned USS President Hayes (AP-39), 15 December 1941
  • Redesignated Attack Transport, (APA-20), 1 February 1943
  • Decommissioned, 30 June 1949, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Stockton Group, Stockton, CA., 28 November 1950
  • Struck from the Naval Register and transferred to the Maritime Commission, 1 October 1958
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in February 1973
  • President Hayes earned 7 battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,500 t.(lt), 16,175 t.(fl)
    Length 491'
    Beam 69' 6"
    Draft 26' 6"
    Speed 17 kts.
    Complement 36 Officers, 472 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations 76 Officers, 1,312 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 2,500 t.
    Armament
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    fourteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion geared turbine drive, two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, single screw, designed shaft horsepower 8,500hp

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    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    President Hayes 134k President Hayes (AP-39) at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 2 January 1942. Note the embarkation ladder and boat boom stowed on the hull side, and the kingposts and booms forward of the bridge structure.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-26562, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 117k Aft plan view of President Hayes (AP-39) at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 2 January 1942. Note the landing craft davits on her superstructure and the LCV landing craft alongside, below the lowered after davits.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-26563, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 117k Overhead view of President Hayes (AP-39) looking forward from just off the starboard quarter, while the ship was at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 2 January 1942. Note the after 3"/50 guns in the lower part of the image, and men handling a container of garbage at the head of the gangway nearby. The lighter YF-244 is alongside the battleship in upper left.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-26559, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 185k Overhead view of President Hayes (AP-39) looking forward from just off the starboard side amidships, while the ship was at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 2 January 1942. Note her large smokestack, with a rather small exhaust at its after end, ship's bell mounted on the smokestack base, and the landing craft davits on the midships' superstructure. The lighter YF-244 is alongside the battleship at left.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-26561, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 186k Scene on board President Hayes (AP-39), while the ship was at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 2 January 1942. The view looks forward from the bridge, with an open hatch in the foreground, cargo-handling gear and a motor launch beyond. The elevated 3"/50 gun platform at the bow is beyond the boat.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-26560, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 142k President Hayes (AP-39), at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 2 January 1942. The view looks aft from just below the forward gun position, with a motor launch and boat stowage cradles in the foreground.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-26557, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 169k President Hayes (AP-39), while the ship was at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 2 January 1942. The view looks forward from the after gun position, with cargo-handling booms visible on kingposts and associated winches nearby.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-26558, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 58k President Hayes (AP-39), loading supplies, probably at San Diego, CA., during the first half of 1942. The lighter YC-362 is alongside, with partially disassembled aircraft on board.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-457907, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 111k US Marine Corps LVT(1) amphibian tractors move toward the beach on Guadalcanal Island. This view was probably taken during the 7-9 August 1942 initial landings on Guadalcanal. President Hayes (AP-39) is in the background.
    US Navy photo # NH 97749, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 132k View of President Hayes (AP-39), port side amidships, taken while she was at the U.S. Naval Drydocks Hunters Point, San Francisco, CA., 19 January 1945. Note the LCVP landing craft stowed below davits amidships and on deck by the kingposts; 20mm gun positions atop the kingposts, cargo-handling gear on deck, and life rafts with provisions casks. Circles mark recent alterations.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-81337, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 100k View of President Hayes (AP-39), port side amidships, taken while she was at the U.S. Naval Drydocks at Hunters Point, San Francisco, California, on 19 January 1945. Note the LCVP landing craft stowed below davits amidships and life rafts with provisions casks hung on the ship's side. Circles mark recent alterations.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-81335, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    President Hayes 121k President Hayes (APA-20) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    .
    President Hayes 186k President Hayes (APA-20) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Tom Edrington
    President Hayes 268k President Hayes (APA-20), wardroom farewell dinner menu, date unknown. Tom Edrington

    View the President Hayes (APA-20)
    DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
    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.