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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Butte (APA-68)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - November - Delta
 NKND
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - Okinawa)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
 Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (2-WIA Okinawa)
Gilliam Class Attack Transport
  • Laid down, 4 May 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BD1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1861) at Consolidated Steel Corp, Wilmington, CA.
  • Launched 20 July 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission, 21 November 1944
  • Commissioned USS Butte (APA-68), 22 November 1944, at San Pedro, CA., CDR. Joseph A. Gillis, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Butte was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 14 April 1945
  • Following World War II USS Butte was assigned to Occupation service from 2 September to 15 October 1945 and to Operation Crossroads as a target vessel during July and August 1946
  • Decommissioned, 29 August 1946, at Kwajalein Atoll
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target off Kwajalein Atoll, 12 May 1948
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 May 1948
  • USS Butte earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,247 t.(lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
    Length 426'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 16.9'
    Speed 16.9 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 27
    Enlisted 295
    Troop Capacity
    Officers 47
    Enlisted 802
    Cargo Capacity 85,000 cu. ft., 2,600 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA radar-directed gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    two Westinghouse turbo-electric drive
    two Babcock & Wilcox 450psi 750° boilers
    Ships Service Generators
    one turbo-drive 250kW 450V A.C.
    one turbo-drive 150kW 450V A.C
    one turbo-drive100kW 120/240V D.C.
    Fuel Capacity
    NSFO 9,695 Bbls
    Diesel 375 Bbls
    two propellers 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Butte 65k USS Butte (APA-68) weighing anchor off San Pedro, CA., 3 December 1944. The SG radar on the foremast is for surface search; on the mainmast is an SC-2 air search set. Because both masts supported booms, she needed the odd mast fastened to her forefunnel for signal flags. The two gun tubs right forward and the two aft house twin radar-directed 40 mm guns; the weapons atop the bridge and at the after end of the superstructure are 20 mm guns. Butte served as a target ship for the Bikini nuclear test (Operation Crossroads) and was retained afterwards for structural and radiation studies; she was scuttled off Kwajalein on 12 May 1948.
    US Navy photo and text from "U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History" by Norman Friedman.    		 Robert Hurst
    Butte 124k
    USS Butte (APA-68)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    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
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    Last Updated 18 November 2011