Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

APA-94 Baxter


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Uniform - Tango
 NZUT
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 (3)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Sumter Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 18 March 1943, as SS Antinous, a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-E1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 483) at Gulf Shipbuilding Corp., Chickasaw, AL.
  • Launched, 19 September 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 30 November 1943 and placed in commission "in ordinary" for transit to her conversion yard at Atlantic Basin Iron Works, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Decommissioned at Brooklyn, 14 December 1943
  • Recommissioned USS Baxter (APA-94), 15 May 1944, CAPT. Valvin R. Sinclair USN in command
  • During World War II Baxter was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, Dulag, 20 to 24 October 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 6 April 1945
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 January 1945     		.

  • Decommissioned, 22 March 1946, at Mobile, AL.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 12 April 1946
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal
  • Sold for commercial service in 1947 to Waterman Steamship Corp., Mobile, AL, renamed SS La Salle
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1968
  • Baxter received three battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 13,810 t.(fl)
    Length 468' 8"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 23' 3"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 56 Officers, 498 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations 95 Officers 1,422 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 170,000 cu. ft, 1,450 t.
    Armament two 5'/38 dual purpose gun mounts, four twin mount 40mm, ten single mount 20mm
    Propulsion one General Electric geared drive turbine, two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers; single propeller, Design shaft horsepower 6,000
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Baxter (APA-94)
    Baxter 570k Baxter (APA-94) underway, date and location unknown. Russ Padden from the material of Frank E. Kwascigroh SKG3 USS Baxter
    Baxter 579k Baxter (APA-94) at anchor, date and location unknown. Russ Padden from the material of Frank E. Kwascigroh SKG3 USS Baxter
    Commercial Service
    Baxter 105k Ex-Baxter (APA-94) in commercial service as the Waterman Steamship. Corps SS La Salle being taken to her berth at Bremen, Germany, circa 1955. Gerhard Mueller Debus
    Baxter 112k SS La Salle berthed at Bremen, Germany, circa 1955. Gerhard Mueller Debus
    Baxter 51k SS La Salle departing Bremerhaven in February 1964. Photo by Gerhard Mueller Debus
    View the Baxter (APA-94)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Baxter (APA-94)
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Attack Transport (APA) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 4 January 2008