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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

APA-63 Bladen

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Gilliam Class Attack Transport
  • Laid down, 8 March 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BD1) hull under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1856) at Consolidated Steel Corp, Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched, 31 May 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission, 17 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS Bladen (APA-63), 18 October 1944, Lcdr. Walter P. Hartung in command
  • During World War II Bladen was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 2 March 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 10 April 1945

  • Decommissioned, 26 December 1946, at Norfolk, VA
  • Berthed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until August 1953
  • Returned the Maritime Administration, 3 August 1953, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 20 October 1953
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in 1960
  • Bladen received two battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,247 t.(lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
    Length 426'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 16'
    Speed 16.9 kts.
    Complement
    27 Officers
    295 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    47 Officers
    802 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 85,000 cu. ft., 600 t.
    Armament
    1 single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    4 twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    10 single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    Westinghouse turbo-electric drive
    2 boilers
    2 propellers, design shaft horsepower 6,000
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Bladen 50k Bladen (APA-63) underway, date and place unknown. Norman Hinga in honor of his father Edward C. Hinga USS Bladen 1943-45.
    View the Bladen (APA-63)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    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 14 July 2006