Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

DD-186 / AVP-17 / AVD-4 / APD-31 Clemson


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Zulu - Tango
 NEZT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - Presidential Unit Citation - American Defense Service Medal (with Destroyer clasp)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (8)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal
Clemson Class Destroyer:
  • Laid Down, 11 May 1918, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.
  • Launched, 5 September 1918
  • Commissioned, USS Clemson (Destroyer No. 186), 29 December 1919, LCDR. G. C. Dichman in command
  • Reduced to Commissioned in Reserve, 13 June 1920
  • Designated (DD-186) 17 July 1920
  • Decommissioned, 30 June 1922
  • Converted to Aircraft Tender (Small) (AVP-17), 16 November 1939
  • Recommissioned, 12 July 1940
  • Redesignated Seaplane Tender (Destroyer) (AVD-4), 6 August 1940
  • Reverted to (DD-186), 1 December 1943
  • Convert to a High-speed Transport and designated (APD-31), 17 July 1944
  • Decommissioned, 12 October 1945
  • During World War II Clemson was first assigned to the European Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater participating in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Task Group 21.13 (4 Stars) Marianas operation (1 Star)
    . Western Caroline Islands operation (1 Star)
    . Leyte operation (1 Star)
    . Luzon operation (1 Star)
    . Okinawa Gunto operation (1 Star)

  • Struck from the Naval Register, 24 October 1945
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 21 November 1946
  • Clemson received the Presidential Unit Citation as a unit of TG 21.13 and nine battle stars for her actions in the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II.
    Specifications:
    Displacement; 1,215 t.
    Length; 314' 4"
    Beam; 31' 8"
    Draft; 9' 10"
    Speed; 33.3 kts.
    Complement; 130
    Boats; 4 LCP(L) landing craft
    Armament
    three single 4"/50 gun mounts
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    five single 20mm AA gun mounts
    one depth charge track
    four depth charge projectors
    Propulsion; geared turbines, 26,500shp, two propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Clemson 28k Clemson (APD-31) underway, date and location unknown. CWO3 Curt Clark, USN Ret.
    Secretary/Treasurer American APD Corporation
    View the Clemson (APD-31)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    American APD Corporation
    Four Stack APD Veterans

    Contact: CWO3 Curt Clark Secretary/Treasurer
    Address: 3384 Grim Ave., San Diego, CA 92104
    Phone: 619-282-0971
    E-mail: apdsec@cox.net
    Reunion Schedule
    2008 Reno, Nevada. Site and date to be determined
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    "The Green Dragons" Four-stack APD destroyer-transports in World War Two
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To USS Clemson (DD-186) Page Back To The Small Seaplane Tender (AVP) Photo Index Back To The Seaplane Tender, Destroyer (AVD) Photo Index Back To The High-speed Transport (APD) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 21 December 2007