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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Mellette (APA-156)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Kilo - Golf
 NQKG
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) - National Defense Service Medal
Haskell Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 3 June 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 122) at Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 4 August 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and commissioned USS Mellette (APA-156), 27 September 1944, CDR. F. H. Spring, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Mellette (APA-156) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 to 25 February 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 11 April 1945
  • Decommissioned, 3 February 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Yorktown, VA.
  • Recommissioned, 18 October 1950
  • Decommissioned, 18 June 1955, at Charleston S.C.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Charleston Group
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration in June 1960 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1960
  • Final Disposition, scrapped at Taiwan in 1968
  • USS Mellette earned two battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 12,450 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Speed 17.7 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 56
    Enlisted 480
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 80
    Enlisted 1,440
    Largest Boom Capacity 35t.
    Cargo Capacity 2,900 DWT
    non-refrigerated 150,000 Cu. ft
    Boats 2 LCM, 12 LCVP, 3 LCPU
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual-purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    10 single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 7,780 Bbls
    Diesel 970 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Westinghouse geared turbine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 465psi 750°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Mellette 46k USS Mellette (APA-156) at anchor, location unknown, 1945 Russ Padden,
    Courtesy Dick Osborn, Secretary Mellette Reunion Group
    Mellette 21k USS Crockett (APA-148), USS Deuel (APA-160), USS Mellette (APA-156) and USS Clinton (APA-144) in the James River Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, VA., date unknown USS Deuel Association
    USS Mellette (APA-156)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Spring F. H.27 September 1944 - ?
     Decommissioned3 February 1946 - 18 October 1950
    05CAPT. Harper Jr., John Frank :RADMAugust 1952 - 13 September 1953
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Mellette (APA-156)
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 11 March 2011