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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AP-84 / APA-39 Clay


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Echo - Alpha

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)


Bayfield Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 14 October 1942, as SS Sea Carp, a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 274) at Western Pipe and Steel Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Assigned to the Navy as Transport (AP-84)
  • Launched, 23 January 1943
  • Reclassified Attack Transport (APA-39), 1 February 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 29 June 1943 and placed in partial commission for transit to her fitting out yard at New York
  • Decommissioned at New York
  • Completed as an Attack Transport and recommissioned USS Clay (APA-39), 21 December 1943, CAPT. E. W. Abdill in command
  • During WWII Clay was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 June 1944
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 and 27 January 1945
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 20 to 24 October and 13 to 14 November 1944
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 15 May 1946, at New York, N.Y.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal
  • Commercial Service,/f>
    Sold 12 September 1946 to American President Lines, renamed SS President Johnson
    Sold to Waterman Steamship Corp, date unknown, renamed SS La Salle
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1974
  • Clay received four battle stars 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 quad 1.1" gun mounts, aft port and starboard, replaced by two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts forward, port and starboard
    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
    USS Clay (APA-39)
    Clay 34k Clay (APA-39) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    US Naval Historical Center
    Commercial Service
    Clay 90k Ex-Clay (APA-39) underway, location unknown, as the American President Lines vessel SS President Johnson, circa late 1950s early 1960s. Photo originally copyrighted by American President Lines. Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Clay 59k Ex-Clay (APA-39) underway in the Malacca Strait as the Waterman Steamship Corp. vessel SS La Salle, circa 1970. Photo originally copyrighted by Airfoto Malacca. Gerhard Mueller-Debus

    View the Clay (APA-39)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    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
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    Last Updated 1 June 2007