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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Cecil (APA-96)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Victor - Golf
 NZVG
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)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Bayfield Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 24 June 1943, as SS Sea Angler a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1544) at Western Pipe and Steel Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission 26 February 1944
  • Placed in reduced commission, 27 February 1944, as USS Cecil (APA-96) for transit to her fitting out yard at Portland, OR.
  • Fitted out as an Attack Transport at Continental Iron Works, Portland, OR.
  • Placed in full commission 15 September 1944, CAPT. P. G. Hale in command
  • During World War II USS Cecil 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 to 28 February 1945 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 9 to 15 April 1945

  • Following World War II USS Cecil was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    2 to 10 September 1945
    5 to 11 October 1945

  • Decommissioned 24 May 1946
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 25 May 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Sold, 7 August 1947, to Isthmian Steamship Co, renamed SS Steel Admiral
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1973
  • USS Cecil received two battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,100 t.(lt), 18,000 t.(fl)
    Length 492'
    Beam 69' 6"
    Draft 26' 6"
    Speed 18.4 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 60
    Enlisted 518
    Flag Accommodations
    Officers 43
    Enlisted 108
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 79
    Enlisted 1,423
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity 180,500 cu. ft, 4,500 DWT
    Boats 12 LCVP, 4 LCM (Mk-6), 3 LCP(L) (MK-IV)
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts, one fore and one aft
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    eighteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 8,510 Bbls
    Diesel 750Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric geared drive turbine
    two Babcock and Wilcox D-type boilers, 1465psi 765°
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 200Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Cecil 69k USS Cecil (APA-96) in the harbor at Batangas, Luzon, P.I., August 1945 Louis Shannon
    USS Cecil (APA-96)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Hale, Peter Gerald15 September 1944 - 1945
    02CAPT. Lyon, George Dunham1945 - 24 May 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Attack Transport (APA) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 25 November 2011