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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

DE-637 / APD-40 Bowers

USS Bowers (APD-40) was transferred to the Philippines, renamed RPS Rajah Soliman (D-66)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal

Charles Lawrence High-speed Transport:

Laid down, 28 May 1943, as a Buckley Class Destroyer Escort at Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco, CA.

Launched, 31 October 1943

Commissioned USS Bowers (DE-637), 27 January 1944

Converted to a Charles Lawrence High-speed Transport at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA.

Redesignated (APD-40), 25 June 1945

Decommissioned, 10 February 1947, at Green Cove Springs FL.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs

Recommissioned, 6 February 1951

Decommissioned, 18 December 1958

Transferred, on loan, 31 October 1960, to the Republic of the Philippines; renamed RPS Rajah Soliman (D-66)

Sold outright to the Philippines, 21 April 1961

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1961

RPS Rajah Soliman (D-66) was sunk in June 1962

Raised and struck from the Philippine Naval List in December 1964

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in 1966

Bowers received four battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 1,400 t.
Length 306' (ovl)
Beam 36' 10"
Draft 13' 6" (max)
Speed 24 kt.
Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
Complement 186
Troop Accommodations 162
Boats 4 LCVP landing craft
Armament

one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

three twin 40mm gun mounts

eight single 20mm gun mounts

two depth charge tracks
Propulsion

two GE Turbines (turbo-electric drive)

two boilers

twin shafts

12,000 Shaft Horsepower

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Bowers (APD-40)
	93k	Bowers (APD-40) and Laning (APD-55) moored pierside at Norfolk, VA., circa 1951-52. Note the bedding spread across the Bowers railings. Crews aired bedding on a weekly basis.	George Panos, QMS2C USS Earle B. Hall
	37k	Bowers (APD-40) at anchor, Golfe Juan, July, 1954. During May to October 1954 Med Cruise.	Bill Fuzak
	35k	Bowers (APD-40) Officers, Left to Right: LT Carpenter USN, Executive Officer; LTjg Elliot Shapiro, Engineering Officer; LTjg Kahle, CIC Officer; Ens Hosking, Assistant Gunnery Officer; LTjg William G Fuzak Jr., First Lieutenant and Gunnery Officer; LTjg Howe, Damage Control Officer; LTjg John M Harrison, Operations Officer; Ensign Lester Lawtenslager, Supply Officer. Photo was taken at change of command ceremony, July 1955 at Charleston SC. when CDR Clyde C Sapp was relieved. At the time Bowers was assigned to Charleston as a Naval Reserve Training ship.	Bill Fuzak
	53k	Bowers (APD-40) First Class Petty Officers of the Deck and Gunnery Dept, July, 1955, Charleston, SC. Left to right; Gunners Mate First Class Cooke, Fire Control Technician First Class Procopio, and Bosuns Mate First Class Kurtz	Bill Fuzak
RPS Rajah Soliman (D-66)
	52k	ex Bowers (APD-40) in Mississippi ready to become the Philippine ship *RPS Rajah Soliman* (D-66)*. US Navy photo from "All Hands"* magazine September 1961	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.

View the Bowers (APD-40)
DANFS history entry Located on the Hazegray & Underway Web Site.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

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Last Updated 23 September 2005