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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Russ Padden

AP-87 / APA-42 Elmore

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Golf - Charlie
 NJGC
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (8)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal (2)
Personal Awards

Purple Hearts (1-KIA, 5-WIA Leyte)
Bayfield Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down (date unknown), as SS Sea Panther, Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 390) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.
  • Assigned to the Navy as Naval Transport (AP-87)
  • Launched, 29 January 1943
  • Reclassified Attack Transport (APA-42), 1 February 1943
  • Completed and accepted by the War Shipping Administration for the Navy, 30 March 1943
  • Placed in partial commission for transit to her fitting out yard at Baltimore, MD.
  • Fitted out for Naval service at Maryland Dry Dock Co., Baltimore, MD.
  • Fully commissioned USS Elmore (APA-42), 25 August 1943, CDR. D. Harrison in command
  • During WWII Elmore was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January 1944     		Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 15 September 1944
    Bismarck Archipelago operation
    Emirau Island landings, 11 April 1944     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 20 October 1944
    Capture and defense of Guadalcanal
    April through June 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 January 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 July 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 5 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 13 March 1946, at Mobile, AL.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 15 May 1946, for disposal, name reverted to SS Sea Panther
  • Commercial Service
    Sold for commercial service, 22 May 1947, to Pacific Transport Lines, renamed SS China Transport
    Sold to States Marine Lines in August 1957, renamed SS Oregon
    Renamed SS Idaho, 30 December 1959
    Title transferred to the Maritime Administration, 20 May 1966 (trade-in program)
    Returned to the Maritime Administration, 4 August 1969, at Olympia, WA.
    Final Disposition sold for scrapping, 13 April 1971, to American Ship Dismantlers Inc.
  • Elmore received eight 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, 2 Foster-Wheeler D-type boilers, 1 propeller, Design shaft horsepower 8,500
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Elmore 72k Elmore (APA-42) underway, date and location unknown. USS Elmore web site
    Elmore 151k Transports steam in column off Pavuvu, Russell Islands, August 1944, probably during exercises preceding the Palaus operation. Photographed from Fayette (APA 43) looking forward, showing her kingposts and LCVPs stowed on deck. Pinkney (APH 2) is leading the column, followed by Elmore (APA 42) and DuPage (APA 41). Photo by Sgt McBride, USMC, 1st Division.
    USMC photo # 94719    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Elmore 544k Elmore (APA-42) APA-42 hoisting an LCVP on A-day at Leyte Island, Philippine Islands, 20 October 1944.
    US Army Signal Corps photo by Pvt Robert Sorace from the collections of the US National Archives Still Pictures Branch, College Park, MD. Researcher-Margaret Johnson, Digital photo by-Michael Campbell.    		 John Clingman
    Elmore 523k 3rd Bn, 19th Inf Reg disembarking from Elmore (APA-42) before hitting the beach at Leyte. Note landing craft circling near Elmore, awaiting their turn to load troops and then waiting for the signal to form waves. US Army Signal Corps photo by Pvt Robert Sorace from the collections of the US National Archives Still Pictures Branch, College Park, MD. Researcher-Margaret Johnson, Digital photo by-Michael Campbell. John Clingman
    Elmore 23k Elmore (APA-42) underway, date and location unknown. Her camouflage is Measure 32 Design 16D. USS Elmore web site
    View the Elmore (APA-42)
    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 18 January 2008