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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AP-88 / APA-43 Fayette

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Tango - Hotel
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 (6)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Bayfield Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, date unknown, as SS Sea Hawk, a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 391) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 25 February 1943
  • Assigned to the Navy as a Transport and renamed Fayette (AP-88)
  • Reclassified as Attack Transport (APA-43), 1 February 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 30 April 1943 and placed in partial commission for transit to her fitting out yard
  • Decommissioned, 24 May 1943
  • Recommissioned USS Fayette (APA-43), 14 October 1943, CDR. J. C. Lester in command
  • During WWII Fayette was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 1 to 5 February 1944     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 20 October 1944
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 to 25 July 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 10 January 1945
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupationj of southern Palau Islands, Peleliui, 15 to 20 September 1945     		Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 24 February 1945

  • Decommissioned, 6 March 1946, at Mobile AL.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 15 May 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Commercial Service
    Sold for commercial service in 1947, renamed SS Robin Gray
    Renamed SS Gray
  • Final Disposition scrapped at Kaohsiung (Taiwan) in 1971.
  • Fayette received six 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 Accommodations 80 Officers, 1,146 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 175,000 cu. ft., 4,700 t.
    Boats
    twelve LCVPs
    four LCM (Mk-6)s
    three LCP(L) (MK-IV)s
    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, 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
    Fayette 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
    Fayette 29k Fayette (APA 43) moored pierside, date and place unknown. Wayne VanDerVoort
    Fayette 35k Fayette (APA 43) moored pierside, date and place unknown. This is the same photo as above but with some crew members superimposed in the photo. Wayne VanDerVoort
    View the Fayette (APA-43)
    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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 1 June 2007