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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed By Mike Smolinski

AP-64 / APA-31 Monrovia


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Delta - Whiskey
Tactical Voice Radio Call "Elbow W"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1)
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Fourth Row - National Defense Service Medal - 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 Monrovia was assigned to both the European and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters and participated in the following campaigns:
    European Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Sicilian occupation, 10 to 15 July 1943

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Gilbert Islands operation
    Tarawa Atoll capture and occupation, 20 to 27 November 1943     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings 20 to 21 October 1944
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 11 January 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, June 1944
    Capture and occupation of Guam, July 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 5 June 1945

  • 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
  • Monrovia earned seven battle stars during World War II
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,889 t.(lt), 14,247 t.(fl)
    Length 491'
    Beam 65' 9"
    Draft 25' 8"
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 55 Officers, 500 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations 103 Officers, 1,352 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
    Propulsion General Electric geared turbine drive, 2 boilers, single shaft, design shaft horsepower 7,800
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Monrovia 74k Monrovia (APA-31) at anchor, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in World War II web site
    Monrovia 33k Monrovia (APA-31) underway, circa 1954, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Monrovia 88k Monrovia (APA-31), underway, circa early 1960s, location unknown. Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 123k Monrovia (APA-31), underway, Hampton Roads, 9 August 1965
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 123k Monrovia (APA-31), underway, Hampton Roads, 9 August 1965
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 200k Monrovia (APA-31), underway, Hampton Roads, 9 August 1965
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 81k Monrovia (APA-31) at anchor, circa 1960s, date and location unknown. Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia 120k Monrovia (APA-31) at anchor, date and location unknown. Tom Crowe
    Monrovia 602k Monrovia (APA-31) underway, date and location unknown. John W. Klar
    Monrovia 671k Monrovia (APA-31) underway, date and location unknown. John W. Klar
    Monrovia 4341k Monrovia (APA-31) moored outboard of another ship, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 John W. Klar
    Monrovia (APA-31) Memorabilia
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Monrovia
    1966
    Welcome Aboard Cover    		 Monrovia
    1966
    Monrovia History Part 1    		 Monrovia
    1966
    Monrovia History Part 2    		 Monrovia
    1966
    Monrovia Statistics
    View the Monrovia (APA-31)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    2008 Reunion Information
    Place:Bloomington MN
    Hosted by: Dave and Shirley Stookey
    Date: 17 - 20 September 2008
    Contact: Dave Stookey
    Phone: (952) 432-9456
    E-mail: Dave Stookey (APA-31) 2008 Reunion
    OR
    Contact: Tom Crowe (USS Monrovia Assoc.)
    Phone: (586) 979-4958
    E-mail: Tom Crowe (APA-31) 2008 Reunion
    Remarks: 24rd Annual Reunion
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MSN Groups USS Monrovia APA-31
    MIL.COM Units USS Monrovia PA-31
    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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 7 December 2007