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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179)
ex
 USAT James O"Hara (1946 - 1950)
 USS James O"Hara (APA-90) (1943 - 1946)
 USAT James O'Hara (1942 - 1943)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Xray - Romeo
 NIXR
Awars, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is top to bottom, from left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2)
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5)- World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (1) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
Fourth Row - Philippines Liberation Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Frederick Funston Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 16 June 1941, as a Maritime Commission type (C3-S1-A3) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 168) at Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, Tacoma, WA.
  • Launched, 30 December 1941
  • Delivered to the US Army Transportation Service, 30 November 1942
  • Commissioned, USAT James O'Hara
  • Acquired by the US Navy 15 April 1943
  • Commissioned USS James O'Hara (APA-90), 26 April 1943, CDR. Charles Allen in command
  • During World War II USS James O'Hara was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Sicilian occupation, 10 July 1943 Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 to 17 July and 23 to 24 June 1944
    Salerno landings, 9 September 1943 Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of Southern Palau Islands, Anguar Island, 17 to 23 September 1944
      Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, San Ricardo, 20 October 1944
      Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 January 1945
      Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 17 February to 5 March 1945

  • Following World War II USS James O'Hara (APA-90) was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East from 24 September to 2 November 1945
  • Decommissioned 5 April 1946 and returned to the US Army Transportation Service
  • Reacquired by the US Navy, 1 March 1950 and placed in service by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179), 28 April 1950
  • During the Korean War USNS James O'Hara participated in the following campaign:
    Korean War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Second Korean Winter, 7 to 18 November 1950

  • Inactivated, 30 November 1959
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration 14 January 1960
  • Assigned to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Puget Sound at Astoria, OR.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1961
  • Final Disposition, scrapped at Portland, OR. in 1968
  • USS James O'Hara (APA-90) earned seven battle stars for World War II service and as USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179 earned one battle star for Korean War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 10,067 t.(lt) 14,700 t.(fl)
    Length 492'
    Beam 69' 6"
    Draft 27' 3" (max)
    Speed 18.6 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 58
    Enlisted 480
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers150
    Enlisted 2,050
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    two single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    three twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    sixteen 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 11,935 Bbls
    Diesel 375 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Allis-Chalmers steam turbine engine
    two Foster-Wheeler "D" type boilers, 520psi, 765°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gears
    four turbo-drive 300Kw 240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS James O'Hara (APA-90)
    James O'Hara 67k
    Namesake

    James O'Hara, born in Ireland in 1752, came to Philadelphia, Pa., from England in 1772. The following year he moved to Pittsburgh and served as a frontier trader and government agent with the Indians in western Pennsylvania and western Virginia. After the start of the Revolutionary War, he enlisted as a private in a company of volunteers and was later elected captain. He journeyed west with a force under George Rogers Clark and participated in the struggle for control of the West. From 1781 to 1783 he served as assistant quartermaster for General Nathaniel Greene. After the war, he returned to Pittsburgh and became a successful businessman. President Washington appointed him Quartermaster General of the Army 19 April 1792. O'Hara resigned his appointment 1 May 1796. From 1796 to 1802 he filled many important government contracts as a businessman. Later he became a prominent manufacturer of glass, and he helped pioneer the cotton trade between the United States and England. In addition, he became a successful banker and an enterprising land speculator. O'Hara died 16 December 1819 in Pittsburgh.
    Photo from the U.S. Army Quartermasters Museum    		 Bill Gonyo
    James O'Hara 29k USS James O'Hara (APA-90) at anchor, 1 May 1943
    US Navy photo    		 Lou Sander
    James O'Hara 77k USS James O'Hara (APA-90) near New York Navy Yard, 1 May 1943, soon after commissioning.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, Photo # 19-N-44838, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Mike Green
    James O'Hara 74k USS James O'Hara (APA-90) underway, 2 May 1943, location unknown. She is newly converted, with triple Welin davits but as yet without her landing craft.
    US Navy photo from "US Amphibious Ships and Craft", by Norman Friedman.    		 Robert Hurst
    James O'Hara 41k USS James O'Hara (APA-90) underway, circa May1943 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    James O'Hara 96k USS James O'Hara (APA-90) photographed, 8 June 1943 from a blimp of squadron ZP-14, based at NAS Weeksville, N.C.
    US Navy photo # NH 98783 from the collection at the Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    James O'Hara 82k USS James O'Hara (APA-90) underway in San Francisco Bay, CA., in late 1945 or early 1946.
    US Navy photo # NH 98763 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Donation of Boatswain's Mate First Class Robert G. Tippins, USN Ret, 2003.    		 Robert Hurst
    USAT James O'Hara
    James O'Hara 71k USAT James O'Hara moored pierside at Seattle, WA., circa 19 January 1948 .
    US Navy photo # NH 98774 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179)
    James O'Hara 63k Stern view of USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) pierside, early 1950s, location unknown. Note she is still in ATS colors.
    US Navy photo # NH 98773 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 Robert Hurst
    James O'Hara 44k USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) underway, post 1950 MSTS Society
    James O'Hara 50k USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) underway, 4 September 1951, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 98779 from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    James O'Hara 69k USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) off Seattle, WA., 2 September 1952.
    US Navy photo # NH 98778 from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    James O'Hara 57k USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) underway, circa 1956, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 98780 from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    James O'Hara 99k USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) underway, circa 1950s, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 98781 from the Military Sealift Command Collection at the Naval Historical Center    		 US Naval Historical Center
    James O'Hara 92k USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) underway, early 1950s, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 90559-A from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 Robert Hurst
    James O'Hara 86k USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) pierside, early 1950s, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 98776 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 Robert Hurst
    James O'Hara 58k USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) pierside, early 1950s, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 98775 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 Robert Hurst
    James O'Hara 64k USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) arriving at Pier 91, Seattle, WA., 4 April 1958, bringing servicemen and dependents from Whittier, AK. The tug assisting her appears to be Foss Maritime's tug Shannon Foss. USNS Marine Lynx (T-AP-194) is in the left background, undergoing inactivation for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria, OR.
    US Navy photo # NH 98782 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 Robert Hurst
    USS James O'Hara (APA-90) / USNS James O'Hara (T-AP-179)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Allen, Charles Vern26 April 1943 - 1944
    02CDR. Irish, Elijah Warriner1944 - ?
    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
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    Last Updated 29 March 2013