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

DE-69 / APD-48 Blessman

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Delta - Victor NPDV

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Third Row- World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippine Liberation Medal (1)

USS Blessman (APD-48) was transferred to Taiwan, renamed ROCS Chung Shan (PF-843)

Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport:

Laid down as a Buckley Class Destroyer Escort at Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham MA.

Launched 19 June 1943

Commissioned USS Blessman (DE-69), 19 September 1943, Lt. Comdr. Joseph A. Gillis, USNR, in command

Converted to a High-speed Transport

Redesignated (APD-48) 31 July 1944

Decommissioned, 15 January 1947, at San Francisco, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet

Struck from the Naval Register 1 June 1967

Transferred to Taiwan, 3 July 1967, renamed ROCS Chung Shan (PF-843)

Struck by Taiwan Naval Register in May 1995

Final Disposition, broken up for scrap

Specifications:
Displacement 1,400 t.
Length 306' ovl.
Beam 37"
Draft 12' 7" (limiting)
Speed 23.6 kts. (trial)
Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
Complement 12-15 Officers, 189-192 Enlisted
Troop Accommodations 12 Officers, 150 Enlisted
Boats 4 LCVP landing craft
Troop Accoutrements

six 1/4 ton trucks

two 1 ton trucks

four ammunition carts

four pack howitzers
Storage

Ammunition 6,000 cu. ft.

General Cargo 3,500 cu. ft.

Gasoline 1,000 cu. ft.
Armament

one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

three twin 40 mm gun mounts

six single 20 mm gun mounts

two depth charge tracks
Propulsion 2 Combustion Engineering DR boilers, 2 GE Turbines, (turbo-electric drive), 2 shafts, Shaft horsepower 12,000

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Blessman (APD-48)
	140k	Blessman (APD-48) at Mare Island, 7 August 1945. She was undergoing repairs at the yard from 23 April until 11 August 1945. Owen (DD-536) is just visible in the background. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5826-45.	Darryl Baker
	147k	Forward plan view of Blessman (APD-48) at Mare Island, 7 August 1945. Owen (DD-536) is seen to the right and Endicot (YM-12) is aft of *Blessman. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5827-45.*	Darryl Baker
	62k	Blessman (APD-48) underway, August 1945, place unknown. US Navy photo	Nick Tiberio
ROCS Chung Shan (PF-843)
	46k	Ex-Blessman (APD-48) in Republic of China service as Chung Shan (PF-843) at anchor, 16 August 1977, place unknown.	Perry Huang
	53k	Chung Shan (PF-843) moored at Keelung Harbor in 1994.	Perry Huang
	69k	Chung Shan (PF-843) underway, in 1995, place unknown.	Perry Huang
	69k	Chung Shan (PF-843) ship's flag.	Perry Huang

View the Blessman (APD-48)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center

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

USS Blessman (DE-69/APD-48) Contact Information
Contacts Charles T. Thifault Chairman USS Blessman Reunions

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
NavSource DE Pages, USS Blessman (DE-69)
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index

Back To The High-speed Transport (APD) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

Last Updated 13 July 2007