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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AP-83 / APA / LPA-38 Chilton

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Delta - India
Tactical Voice Radio Call "Frying Pan"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Expeditionary Medal (4-Cuba)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (4-Lebanon, 1-Cuba, 1-Dominican Republic)
Bayfield Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down as Sea Needle, a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract at Western Pipe and Steel Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Launched, 29 December 1942
  • Assigned to the Navy as Naval Transport (AP-83)
  • Reclassified Attack Transport (AKA-38), 1 February 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 29 May 1943 and placed in partial commission for transit to her fitting out yard at New York
  • Decommissioned at New York and completed as an Attack Transport at New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Recommissioned USS Chilton (APA-38), 7 December 1943, CDR. A. C. Geisenhoff, USNR, in command
  • During World War II Chilton was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
  • Reclassified an Amphibious Transport (LPA-38), 1 January 1969
  • Decommissioned in August 1971
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1972
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition, sold by MARAD, 15 July 1974, to Ships Incorporated of Camden, N.J., for scrapping
  • Chilton earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,100 t.(lt) 16,100 t.(fl)
    Length 492' 6"
    Beam 69' 6"
    Draft 26' 6"
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement 51 Officers, 524 Enlisted
    Flag Accommodation 43 Officers, 108 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodation 80 Officers, 1,146 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 200,000 cu. ft., 4,700 t.
    Boats
    twelve LCVP
    four LCM (Mk-6)
    three LCP(L) (MK-IV)
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts one fore and one aft
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    eighteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion General Electric geared turbine, two Combustion Engineering D-type boilers, single propeller, Design shaft horsepower 8,500
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Chilton 27k Chilton (APA-38) at anchor, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Chilton 33k Chilton (APA-38) at anchor, circa 1952, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Chilton 141k Chilton (APA-38) at NOB Norfolk, VA., August 1964 © Richard Leonhardt
    Chilton 57k Chilton (APA-38) underway, date and place unknown. Courtesy, Chuck Ulrich, coordinator/historian AP Transport Group
    Chilton 28k Chilton (APA-38) at anchor in the Bay of Marmaris, southern Turkey in April 1963. Julia Flowers
    USS Chilton web site
    Chilton 88k Chilton (APA-38) in the vicinity of Sardinia, circa 1968 Photo by Jerry Search
    Chilton 137k Chilton (APA-38) at anchor, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Chilton 138k Chilton (APA-38) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Chilton 129k Chilton (APA-38)'s 5"/38 gun mount, circa 1968-69 Bill Foss USS Chilton 1968-69
    Chilton 64k Chilton (APA-38) with a mock up of the Apollo space capsule on her #3 hatch, circa May 1969 Bill Foss USS Chilton 1968-69
    Chilton 134k Chilton (APA-38) with a mock up of the Apollo space capsule on her #3 hatch, circa May 1969 Bill Foss crew member 1968-69
    View the Chilton (APA-38)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    2007 Reunion/Contact Information
    Location: Orlando Florida
    Dates: 8-11 November 2007
    Contact: Bob and Bonnie Kovner
    Phone: 1-(407) 644-8338
    Email Address: Chilton Reunion
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Chilton APA-38
    APA 38 The USS Chilton Association
    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 28 September 2007