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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

AP-93 / APA-48 Leon


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Victor - Kilo

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 (5)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)


Bayfield Class Attack Transport:<
  • Originally assigned the name SS Sea Dolphin by the Maritime Commission
  • Assigned to the Navy as a Transport and renamed Leon (AP-93)
  • Reclassified an Attack Transport (APA-48), 1 February 1943
  • Laid down, 6 February 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 428) at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 19 June 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 11 September 1943 and placed in partial commission, 11 September 1943 through 27 September 1943, for transit to her fitting out yard at Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Fitted out at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Recommissioned USS Leon (APA-48), 12 February 1944, CAPT. Bruce B. Adell in command
  • During WWII Leon 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 to 24 June 1944
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 11 and 22 January 1945
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of Southern Palau Islands (Angaur Island), 17 to 23 September 1944
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 4 April 1945
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 16 to 22 October and 23 November 1944
    .

  • Decommissioned, 7 March 1946, at Chickasaw, AL.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 2 April 1946, at the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, AL. Group, for disposal
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Sold for commercial service by the Maritime Commission to Isthmian Steamship Co., 11 April 1947, renamed SS Steel Chemist
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in Spain, 29 July 1971, to Hierros Ardes S.A.
  • Leon received five 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 Accommodations 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 Westinghouse geared drive turbine, 2 Foster-Wheeler D-type boilers, 1 propeller, Design shaft horsepower 8,500

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    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Commercial Service
    Leon 68k Ex-Leon (APA-48) in commercial service as the Isthmian Steamship Co.'s SS Steel Chemist underway in the harbor at Philadelphia, PA., date unknown. David Nixon

    View the Leon (AP-93 / APA-48)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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 21 December 2007