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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed By Mike Smolinski

USS Monrovia (APA-31)
ex
 USS Monrovia (AP-64) (1942 - 1943)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Delta - Whiskey
NIDW
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Elbow W
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba) - China Service Medal (extended)
Third Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6)
Fourth Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Fifth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Lebanon, 1-Cuba, 1-Dominican Republic) - Philippine Liberation Medal (2)
Crescent City Class Transport:
  • Laid down, 26 March 1942, as the Maritime Commission type (C3-Delta) hull, SS Del Argentino for the America South-African Line under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 152) at Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Sparrows Point. MD.
  • Launched, 19 September 1942
  • Commissioned, USS Monrovia (AP-64), 1 December 1942, CAPT. C. D. Leffler in command
  • Reclassified Attack Transport (APA-31), 1 February 1943
  • During WWII USS Monrovia was assigned first to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Twelve, COMO. H.B. Knowles USN (17);
    TransDiv Thirty-Six (flagship) CAPT. G.W. Johnson USN (18) and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Sicilian occupation, 9 to 15 July 1943 Gilbert Islands operation
    Tarawa Atoll capture and occupation, 20 to 25 November 1943
      Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944
      Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 to 22 June 1944
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 22 to 29 July 1945
      Leyte operation
    Leyte landings 30 October 1944 and 18 November 1944
      Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 January 1945
      Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 5 April 1945

  • After World War II USS Monrovia (APA-31) was assigned to Occupation service and China service for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    Asia - 13 to 19 September 19451 October to 16 November 1945
    Asia - 26 January to 5 February 19461 to 25 April 1946
    Asia - 26 to 28 April 194610 June to 2 July 1946
    Europe - 24 January to 8 May 1952 
    Europe - 4 May to 17 October 1953 
    Europe - 18 January to 16 May 1955 

  • Decommissioned, 31 July 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Recommissioned, 30 November 1950
  • Decommissioned, 31 October 1968
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 November 1968
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in 1968
  • USS Monrovia earned seven battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,889 t.(lt), 14,247 t.(fl)
    Length 491'
    Beam 65' 6"
    Draft 24' (lim)
    Speed 16.5 kts. (Trial speed)
    Complement
    55 Officers
    500 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    103 Officers
    1,352 Enlisted
    Flag Staff
    43 Officers
    108 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 130,000 cu. ft., 2,700 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    one twin 40mm AA gun mount
    eleven twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NFSO 12,925 Bbls.
    Diesel 450 Bbls.
    Propulsion
    one General Electric geared turbine
    two Babcock & Wilcox header type boilers 450psi 740°
    Double General Electric Main Reduction Gear
    three Ship's Service Generators 350Kw 120/240V D.C.
    single propeller, 7,800shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Monrovia 74k USS Monrovia (APA-31) at anchor, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in World War II web site
    Monrovia 33k USS Monrovia (APA-31) underway, circa 1954, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Monrovia 590k USS Monrovia (APA-31) moored at Genoa, Italy, 6 February 1955 Photos by Carlo Martinelli
    Monrovia 664k
    Monrovia 88k USS Monrovia (APA-31), underway, circa early 1960s, location unknown. Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 80k USS Monrovia (APA-31) underway in either the Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea in 1964 conducting a high line transfer with USS Capricornus (AKA-57). Photo by Rich Kerbs USS Capricornus
    Monrovia 674k USS Monrovia (APA-31) coming alongside USS Capricornus (AKA-57), circa 1963-65. Tom Crowe
    Monrovia 123k USS Monrovia (APA-31), underway, Hampton Roads, 9 August 1965
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 123k USS Monrovia (APA-31), underway, Hampton Roads, 9 August 1965
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 200k USS Monrovia (APA-31), underway, Hampton Roads, 9 August 1965
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 986k USS Monrovia (APA-31) and USS Telfair (APA-210) moored at Genoa, Italy, December 1965 Photo by Carlo Martinelli
    Monrovia 81k USS Monrovia (APA-31) at anchor, circa 1960s, date and location unknown. Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 120k USS Monrovia (APA-31) at anchor, date and location unknown. Tom Crowe
    Monrovia 602k USS Monrovia (APA-31) underway, date and location unknown. John W. Klar
    Monrovia 671k USS Monrovia (APA-31) underway, date and location unknown. John W. Klar
    Monrovia 4341k USS Monrovia (APA-31) moored outboard of another ship, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 John W. Klar

    For more photos and information about USS Monrovia, see:
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • USS Monrovia (APA-31) Association
  • Memorabilia
  • Commanding Officers
    		•
    USS Monrovia (APA-31) 2012 Reunion
    Date: 10 - 14 October 2012
    Place: Dearborn MI, The Henry Hotel
    Hosted by: Tom & Kathy Crowe
    Contact: Tom Crowe
    Address: 13670 Terra Santa / Sterling Heights, MI 48312-4169
    Telephone: H: 586-979-4958 C: 248-214-7446
    Email: Tom Crowe - apa-31@comcast.net
    Web Site: http://www.uss-monrovia.com/
    Remarks: 28th Annual Reunion
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship 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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 9 March 2012