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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Burke (APD-65)
ex
 USS Burke (DE-215) (1943 - 1945)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Hotel - Xray
 NZHX
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


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

USS Burke (APD-65) was transferred to Colombia, renamed ARC Almirante Brion (DT-07)
Buckley Class Destroyer Escort / Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 1 January 1943, as Burke (DE-215), a Buckley Class Destroyer Escort, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Launched, 3 April 1943
  • Commissioned USS Burke (DE-215), 20 August 1943, LCDR. Edwin K. Winn, USNR in command
  • Converted to a Charles Lawrence Class High-speed Transport at Sullivan Dry Dock and Repair Corp., Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Redesignated (APD-65), 24 January 1945
  • During World War II USS Burke (APD-65) was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 27 to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS Burke (APD-65) was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    2 to 19 September 1945
    9 October to 1 November 1945

  • Decommission, 22 June 1949, at Charleston S.C.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Charleston Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1968
  • Transferred to Colombia, 8 December 1968, renamed ARC Almirante Brion (DT-07)
  • Struck from the Colombian Navy in 1974
  • USS Burke (APD-65) earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, broken up for scrap
    APD Specifications:
    Displacement 1,400 t.(lt), 2,130 t.(fl)
    Length 306' ovl.
    Beam 37'
    Draft 12' 7" (limiting)
    Speed 23.6 kts. (trial)
    Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 12
    Enlisted 192
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 12
    Enlisted 150
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    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 single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    three twin 40 mm AA gun mounts
    six single 20 mm AA gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 2,216 Bbls
    Diesel 93 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Combustion Engineering "D" Express boilers, 435psi 750°
    two General Electric turbines, (turbo-electric drive)
    Ship's Service Generators
    two 300Kw 450V A.C.
    two 40Kw 120V D.C.
    two propellers, 12,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Burke (APD-65)
    Burke 138k USS Burke (APD-65) detailed profile drawing. ©John Robert Barrett
    Burke 26k USS Burke (APD-65) under way, date and location unknown. DESA Archives
    Burke 34k USS Burke (APD-65) under way, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in World War II
    Burke 19k USS Burke (APD-65) crew members at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for training after the ship's conversion to an APD, circa February 1945
    Photos by Paul Johnson USS Burke    		 Paul Stich
    Burke 19k
    Burke
    100406515    		 54k USS Burke (APD-65) underway off Norfolk, VA., 15 April 1945. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 20L.
    U.S. Navy photo # 80-G-419620    		 Robert Hurst
    Burke 48k USS Burke (APD-65) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    Photo by Paul Johnson USS Burke    		 Paul Stich
    Burke 67k USS Burke (APD-65) crew photo, date and location unknown.
    Photo by Paul Johnson USS Burke    		 Paul Stich
    Burke 38k USS Burke (APD-65) in the Panama Canal, date and location unknown.
    Photos by Paul Johnson USS Burke    		 Paul Stich
    Burke 15k
    Burke 17k
    Burke 31k USS Burke (APD-65) Engineering Officer, LT. Simpson
    Photo by Paul Johnson USS Burke    		 Paul Stich
    Earheart 247k Left to right, USS Earheart (APD-113), USS Kline (APD-120), USS Burke (APD-65) and on the opposite side of the pier USS Hubbard (APD-53) laid up in reserve at the US Navy's Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Florida site, September 1960. John Chiquoine
    ARC Almirante Brion (DT 07)
    Burke 85k ARC Almirante Brion (DT 07) (ex-USS Burke (APD-65) at anchor in 1971, location unknown.
    Colombian navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Burke (DE-215 / APD-65)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Winn, Edwin Kevin, USNR20 August 1943 - 16 January 1944DE-215
    02LT. Dommerich, William Louis, USNR16 January 1944 - 28 February 1945DE-215 / APD-65
    03LCDR. Newman, Robert Emil28 February 1945 - 1 November 1946APD-65
    04LCDR. McNulty, Willard Jerrold1 November 1946 - March 1947APD-65
    05LCDR. McKee, John Raymond, USNMarch 1947 - April 1947APD-65
    06LT. Kelchner, William WarrenApril 1947 - June 1947APD-65
    07LCDR. Rommel Jr., Herbert Fox, USNRJune 1947 - 1948APD-65
    08LT. Reddington, Thomas Francis, USN (USNA 1944)1948 - 22 June 1949APD-65
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 2 February 2024