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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Tom Gonzalez USS Rockbridge 1961-64

USS Rockbridge (APA-228)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Romeo - Xray
 NPRX.
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive - Okinawa) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia/Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (4-Lebanon)
Haskell Class Amphibious Transport:
  • Laid down, 2 September 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 674), at Kaiser Shipbuilding Co. Vancouver, WA.
  • Launched, 28 October 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and commissioned USS Rockbridge (APA-228) 18 November 1944, CAPT. William W. Cone USN (21) in command
  • During World War II USS Rockbridge was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Twenty, COMO. H.W. Grap USN (15);
    TransDiv (Flagship), CAPT. J.K. Davis and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 6 to 16 March 1945

  • Following World War II USS Rockbridge was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 9 September to 7 October 1945
  • Decommissioned, 8 March 1947
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 23 December 1950
  • USS Rockbridge was assigned to Occupation service in Europe from 4 May to 17 October 1955
  • Decommissioned, 29 November 1968
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 December 1968 and returned to the Maritime Administration for disposal
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 27 May 1969 to Boston Metals Co., Baltimore MD.
  • USS Rockbridge received one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t. (lt) 14,837 t (fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Draft 24' (lim)
    Speed 17.7 kts. (Trial speed)
    Complement
    56 Officers
    593 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    87 Officers
    1,475 Enlisted
    Largest Boom Capacity 35 t.
    Cargo Capacity 2,900 DWTs
    non-refrigerated 150,000 cul ft.
    Boats
    two LCMs
    one open LCPL
    one covered LCPL (Captain's Gig)
    two LCPRs
    eighteen LCVPs
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual-purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NFSO 7,780 Bbls
    Diesel 970 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Westinghouse geared turbine
    two Combustion Engineering header-type boilers, 465psi 765°
    Double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gear
    three Ships' Service Generators 300Kw 120/240V D.C.
    single propeller, design shaft horsepower 8,500
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Rockbridge 149k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Rockbridge 29k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) underway, date and location unknown. Rockbridge (APA-228)
    Web Site
    Rockbridge 517k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) moored pierside, Savannah, GA. 1952 Steve Anderson
    Rockbridge 566k
    Rockbridge 194k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Rockbridge 103k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Tom Gonzalez USS Rockbridge
    Rockbridge 72k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Everett M. Ellestad USNR
    Rockbridge 60k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, June 1958    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Rockbridge 126k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) at anchor during amphibious exercises, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1960    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Rockbridge 85k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) underway while enroute to Norfolk, VA. for Radar Antenna repair or replacement, circa early-1963. Tom Gonzalez USS Rockbridge
    Rockbridge 344k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) underway with the aid of a tug, circa second half of 1963, location unknown. Tom Gonzalez USS Rockbridge
    Rockbridge 70k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) underway in either the Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea in 1964 conducting either a high line transfer or a replenishment at sea with USS Capricornus (AKA-57). Photo by Rich Kerbs USS Capricornus
    Rockbridge 94k
    Rockbridge 94k
    Rockbridge 94k USS Rockbridge (APA-228) 28 June 1967 Change of Command Program. Ron Reeves

    For more photos and information about USS Rockbridge, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • Commanding Officers
    • 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 22 February 2013