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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Banner (APA-60)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Papa - Charlie
NKPC

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)

Gilliam Class Attack Transport:

Laid down, 24 January 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BD1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract,(MC hull 1853) at Consolidated Steel Corp, Wilmington CA.

Launched, 3 May 1944

Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission, 15 September 1944

Commissioned USS Banner (APA-60), 16 September 1944, LCDR. James R. Pace in command

During World War II USS Banner was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
TransRon Fourteen, COMO. D. L. Ryan USN (16);
TransDiv Forty-One, CAPT. H.J. Wright USN and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Luzon operations Lingayen Gulf landing, 10 January 1945	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 5 April 1945

Following World War II USS Banner was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 19 to 27 September 1945

USS Banner (APA-60) was assigned to Joint Task Force 1, Task Unit 1.2.6 (Target Vessel Group - Merchant Type Units - Transport Division 91 (TRANSDIV 91) for Operation Crossroads the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946

Decommissioned at Bikini Atoll, 27 August 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 12 March 1948

USS Banner earned two battle stars for her World War II service

Final Disposition, scuttled off Kwajalein, 16 February 1948

Specifications:
Displacement 4,247 t.(lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
Length 426'
Beam 58'
Draft 16'
Speed 16.9 kts.

Complement

Officers 27

Enlisted 293

Troop Accommodations

Officers 47

Enlisted 802

Largest Boom Capacity 15 t.

Cargo Capacity 600 DWT

non-refrigerated 85,000 cu. ft.,

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

ten single 20mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacities

NSFO 9,695 Bbls

Diesel 375 Bbls

Propulsion

two Westinghouse steam turbines

two Babcock & Wilcox D-type boilers, 450psi 750°
Ship's Service Generators
two turbo-drive 250Kw 450V A.C.
one turbo-drive 150Kw 450V A.C.
one turbo-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.

two propellers, 6,000shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
76k	*USS Banner* (APA-60)** at anchor off the Naval Repair Base, San Diego, CA., 27 October 1945. US Navy BUAIR photo by Ens. R.G. Beidleman.	Bill Smith USS Banner
100k	*USS Banner* (APA-60)** Landing Craft Division, Joseph Villy Touchet, fourth row, tenth from the left. US Navy photo.	Joey Touchet for his father Joseph Villy Touchet USS Banner
70k	*USS Banner* (APA-60)** crew members, date unknown.	Wes Stone, Lusby, MD. In memory of the men who trained at the USNATB Solomons.
84k	One of *USS Banner* (APA-60)** boats underway, date and location unknown.	Wes Stone, Lusby, MD. In memory of the men who trained at the USNATB Solomons.

USS Banner (APA-60)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR./CDR. Pace, James Roland, USNR :RADM	16 September 1944 - 13 March 1946
02	CDR. Kitch, William Lawrence	13 March 1946 - 27 August 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 10 March 2023