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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Navarro (LPA-215)
ex
 USS Navarro (APA-215) (1944 - 1969)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Quebec - Hotel
 NPQH
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Vietnam)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (4) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (7) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Haskell Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 27 June 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 563), at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No. 2, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 3 October 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on loan-charter
  • Commissioned USS Navarro (APA-215), 15 November 1944, CDR. Fred E. Angrick USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Navarro was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater;
    TransRon Eleven, COMO. D.W. Loomis USN (18);
    TransDiv Thirty-One and participated in the following campaign campaign;
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 7 April 1945

  • Following World War II USS Navarro 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 1945 
    9 October to 25 November 19459 October to 25 November 1945
    20 January to 1 February 1946 

  • Decommissioned, 15 March 1946, for lay up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Stockton Group
  • Recommissioned, 2 December 1950, CAPT. Richard E. Westbrook in command
  • USS Navarro was also assigned to Occupation service in Europe from 3 May to 8 October 1952
  • During the Vietnam War USS Navarro participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    4 July to 23 August 1965
    25 September to 23 December 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    28 to 31 August 1967
    8 to 26 September 1967
    5 November to 3 December 1967
    18 December 1967 to 29 January 1968
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    16 January 1966 to 18 February 1966     		Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 19 February 1968

  • Redesignated Amphibious Transport (LPA-215), 1 January 1969
  • Decommissioned, 20 August 1970, at San Diego, CA. and returned to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Permanent custody transferred to MARAD, 1 September 1971
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1982
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by MARAD exchange, 19 February 1982, to C. W. Enterprises and Suisun Bay Investment Co. for scrapping in Taiwan or South Korea, delivered 16 June 1982
  • USS Navarro earned one battle star for World War II service and six campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t (fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Draft 24' (lim)
    Speed 17.7 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 56
    Enlisted 480
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 86
    Enlisted 1,475
    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
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 7,780 Bbls
    Diesel 970 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Westinghouse geared turbine
    two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 465psi 750°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ships' Service Generators
    one propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Navarro 132k USS Navarro (APA-215) Welcome Aboard pamphlet cover. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Navarro 49k USS Navarro (APA-215) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo     		Tom Gonzalez
    Navarro 44k USS Navarro (APA-215) underway, date and location unknown. Edward L. Williams
    Navarro 46k USS Navarro (APA-215) moored pierside at Pearl Harbor, HI., May 1963. Photo by Fred Finks taken from USS Archerfish (AGSS-311) while moored at Sail 1-B, Pearl Harbor. Ken Henry USS Archerfish Historian
    USS Navarro (APA/LPA-215)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Angrick, Fred E.15 November 1944 - February 1946
    02CAPT. Goulett, Wilfred BradleyFebruary 1946 - 15 March 1946
     Decommissioned15 March 1946 - 2 December 1950
    03CAPT. Westbrook, Richard Evans2 December 1950 - March 1952
    04CAPT. Estabrook Jr., William SearsMarch 1952 - 2 January 1953
    05CAPT. Kirvan, William Henderson2 January 1953 - 5 December 1953
    06CAPT. Wilkinson, Robert Holden5 December 1953 - 18 November 1954
    07CAPT. Ellsworth Jr., Ernest Bradford :RADM18 November 1954 - 22 February 1956
    08CAPT. Pelling, Albert George22 February 1956 - March 1957
    09CAPT. Smith, James Edward (Jimmy)March 1957 - 15 November 1957
    10CAPT. Wilson, J. C. Gillespie15 November 1957 - 1958
    11CAPT. Murphy, Francis Joseph1958 - January 1960
    12CAPT. Hack, John AdrianJanuary 1960 - June 1962
    13CAPT. Borden, John CorbettJune 1962 - 20 July 1963
    14CAPT. Brink, John Daniel20 July 1963 - ?
    15CAPT. Whitmire, Donald Boone :RADM1969 - ?
    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
    U.S.S. Navarro (APA-215) Association
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 18 January 2013