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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS New Kent (APA-217)


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


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Haskell Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down. 11 July 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 565) at Permanente Metals Corp. Yard No.2, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 12 October 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission on loan-charter
  • Commissioned USS New Kent (APA-217), 22 November 1944, CAPT. Frank Monroe, Jr. USN (23), in command
  • During World War II USS New Kent was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Nineteen, COMO C. D. Edgar USN (12);
    TransDiv Fifty-Five and participated in the following 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 New Kent was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 12 to 27 October 1945
  • Decommissioned, 29 July 1949
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange, TX.
  • Recommissioned, 10 October 1951
  • USS New Kent was assigned to Occupation service in Europe from 29 July to 1 August 1952
  • Decommissioned, 12 July 1954
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 October 1958
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 28 October 1971, to Union Minerals & Alloys Corp., Delivered 24 July 1972
  • USS New Kent earned one battle star during World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 12,450 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Speed 17.7 kts (trial)
    Draft 24'
    Complement
    Officers 56
    Enlisted 480
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 80
    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
    10 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. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    New Kent 69k USS New Kent (APA-217) at anchor, date and location unknown. Photo by Edward D. Wolf Jr. USS New Kent
    New Kent 111k USS New Kent (APA-217) underway with assistance of tugs, on Lake Washington, 12 June 1945. Jonnie Enloe for her father John L. Enloe USS New Kent
    New Kent 822k Ex-USS New Kent (APA-217) laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James Rive Group, Lee Hall, VA., circa early 1970's. Photo from the Chris Howell collection with copyright
    USS New Kent (APA-217)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Monroe Jr., Frank22 November 1944 - 15 June 1945
    02CDR. Baker, James Ellis S.15 June 1945 - 26 November 1945
    03CAPT. Swanson, Clarence Floyd26 November 1945 - ?
    04CAPT. Weaver, Paul Leicester Ford :RADMOctober 1947 - October 1948
     Decommissioned29 July 1949 - 10 October 1951
    05CAPT. Cook, Lawrence Blanchard12 July 1954 - ?
    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 5 April 2013