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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Oconto (APA-187)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Victor - Romeo
 NDVR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Haskell Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 5 April 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 655), at Kaiser Shipbuilding Corp, Vancouver WA.
  • Launched, 20 June 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and Commissioned USS Oconto (APA-187), 2 September 1944, CAPT. Paul Jackson, in command
  • During World War II USS Oconto was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Fourteen, COMO. D. L. Ryan USN (16);
     TransDiv Forty and participated in the following campaign;

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 6 April 1945

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

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    6 to 15 September 19451 to 9 November 1945
    25 November to 2 December 1945 

  • Decommissioned, 22 May 1946, at Norfolk VA.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 31 May 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 June 1946
  • USS Oconto (APA-187) earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping 5 July 1974, to Luria Bros. & Co. (PD-X-975 dated 27 March 1974) for $285,989.00, withdrawn from the James River Reserve Fleet, 15 August 1974
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Draft 24' (limiting)
    Speed 17.7 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 56
    Enlisted 480
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 80
    Enlisted 1,440
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Cargo Capacity, 2,900 DWT
    non-refrigerated 150,000 cu. ft.
    Boats
    two LCMs
    one open LCPL
    one covered LCPL (Captain's Gig)
    two LCPRs
    eighteen LCVPs
    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 Allis-Chalmers geared turbine
    two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 465psi 750°
    double Falk 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
    Oconto 173k USS Oconto (APA-187) under way, probably near Vancouver, WA. soon after completion, circa September 1944.
    US Navy photo    		 Levi Ballard
    Oconto 86k USS Oconto (APA-187) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Joyce Neely, whose father served in Oconto
    Oconto 188k USS Oconto (APA-187) at anchor with men crowding her decks, probably upon returning to the United States from the Pacific war zone, circa late 1945 or early 1946. Note that her guns have been removed.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 78579. Courtesy of James Russel1.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Oconto (APA-187)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Jackson, Paul (Mytee O.), USN (USNA 1923)2 September 1944 - 13 October 1945
    02CAPT. Pritchard, James Alexander, USN (USNA 1927)13 October 1945 - 1 May 1946
    03CDR. Jones, Clarence Albert USNR1 May 1946 - 22 May 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 10 November 2017