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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Sarasota (LPA-204)
ex
 USS Sarasota (APA-204) (1944 - 1969)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - November - Mike
 NPNM
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
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
Haskell Class Attack Transport
  • Laid down, 11 April 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 552) at Permanente Metals Corp, Richmond, CA,
  • Launched, 14 June 1944
  • Commissioned USS Sarasota (APA-204), 16 August 1944, CDR. James I. MacPherson, USNR, in command
  • During WWII USS Sarasota was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Fourteen, COMO. D.L. Ryan USN (16);
    TransDiv Forty (flagship) and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 9 January 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 22 April1945
    Manila Bay-Bicol operation
    Zambales-Subic Bay, 29 to 31 January 1945     		 

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

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    Asia - 2 to 28 September 194529 September to 2 December 1945
    Asia - 3 to 10 December 1945 
    Europe - 24 January to 8 May 1952 
    Europe - 19 May to 20 September 1954 

  • Decommissioned, 5 August 1946, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Stockton Group
  • Recommissioned, 3 February 1951
  • Decommissioned, 2 September 1955, at Charleston, S.C.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Charleston Group
  • Returned to Maritime Administration (MARAD) custody, 24 February 1960, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Permanent custody transferred to MARAD, 30 June 1960
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1966
  • USS Sarasota earned three battle stars for World War II service
  • Redesignated Amphibious Transport (LPA-204) 1 January 1969
  • Final Disposition, trade out for scrapping, 1 August 1983, to Waterman Steamship Corp. under a Ship Exchange Contract. Resold to Balbao Desquaces Maritimos for scrapping in Spain, Removed, 15 November 1983, scrapping completed, 25 April 1984
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t (fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Speed 17.7 kts (trial)
    Draft 24'
    Complement
    Officers 99
    Enlisted 593
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 87
    Enlisted 1,475
    Largest Boom Capacity 35t.
    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
    ten 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
    Sarasota 1086k USS Sarasota (APA-204) at Lingayen Gulf, 8 January 1945. Glen Jensen
    Sarasota
    APA 204 2061-46    		 260k Port side and stern view of USS Sarasota (APA-204) in San Pablo Bay after departing Mare Island Naval Ship, 18 June 1946.
    US Navy photos File name: APA 204 2061-46 and Navy Photo, 6/18/46 and File name: APA 204 2062-46. Navy Photos, 6/18/46    		 Darryl Baker
    Sarasota
    APA 204 2062-46    		 235k
    Greenlet 105k USS Sarasota (APA-204) moored forward of USS Greenlet (ASR-10) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 21 May 1946. Outboard of Sarasota is USS Sanborn (APA-193).
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1885-46    		 Darryl Baker
    Sarasota 55k USS Sarasota (APA-204) at anchor in 1954, location unknown. Glen Jensen
    Sarasota 66k USS Sarasota (APA-204) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Sarasota 220k USS Sarasota (APA-204) at anchor, probably at the Island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea, in May 1952.
    US National Archives Photo 80-G-441565    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    USS Sarasota (APA-204 / LPA-204)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. MacPherson, James Ian, USNR16 August 1944 - 17 November 1945
    02CAPT. Pogue, William Grady, USN (USNA 1923)17 November 1945 - 1 August 1946
     Decommissioned1 August 1946 - 3 February 1951
    03CDR. Roby Sr., Allan Barkhurst, USN (USNA 1930) :RADM1952 - May 1953
    04CDR. Payson Jr., Harold, USN (USNA 1931)May 1953 - 27 July 1954
    05CAPT. Whelchel, David Lee, USN (USNA 1930) :RADM27 July 1954 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and 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 19 May 2017