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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Kirwin (LPR-90)
ex
 USS Kirwin (APD-90) (1945 - 1969)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Xray - Foxtrot - Golf
 NXFG
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Iceland (S)ierra - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort - Crosley Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 14 February 1944, as Kirwin (DE-229), a Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Launched, 15 June 1944
  • Reclassified a Crosley Class High-speed Transport, 17 July 1944
  • Commissioned USS Kirwin (APD-90), 4 November 1945, LCDR. Lloyd G. Benson, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 6 April 1946
  • Laid up in the Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 15 January 1965
  • Decommissioned, 16 December 1968 at Orange TX.
  • Laid up in Reserve Fleet at Orange, TX.
  • Designation changed to Amphibious Transport, Small (LPR-90), 1 January 1969
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 September 1974
  • Final Disposition, sold 11 August 1975 for scrapping to J. R. Steel Inc., Houston, TX., for $79,002
    APD Specifications:
    Displacement 1,630 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
    12 Officers
    192 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    12 Officers
    150 Enlisted
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Boats four 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
    two Babcox and Wilcox "D" Express type boilers, 435 PSI 750°
    two General Electric turbines, (turbo-electric drive) Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 300Kw 450V A.C.
     two turbo-drive 40Kw 120V D.C.
    two shafts, shaft horsepower 12,000
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Kirwin 298k
    Namesake
    LTjg. John Joseph Kirwin, USN was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions aboard USS Savannah (CL-42) in September 1943, during which he lost his life. DE-229 / APD-190 is named in his honor
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # NH 86081    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Kirwin 37k Kirwin (DE-229) (left) and Ruchamkin (DE-228) (right) dual launching, 15 June 1944, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA. Mike Smolinski
    Kirwin 65k USS Kirwin (APD-90) at anchor in 1968, location unknown. William Mennel
    Boxer 125k "Carib 1-68 Patrol" Caribbean Ready Group steams in formation as it patrols the Caribbean Sea. Commanded by Capt. J.B. Drachnik, USN, Commander Amphibious Squadron Four. Homeported in Norfolk, Va., are: (l-r) Attack Cargo Ship, USS Rankin (AKA-103); Dock Landing Ship, USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30); Amphibious Assault Ship, USS Boxer (LPH-4); Tank Landing Ship, USS Graham County (LST-1176); and High Speed Transport, USS Kirwin (APD-90). Photographed by PH2 A.P. Gonthier, Jr. US Navy photo # NH 97284. US Naval Historical Center
    Kirwin 233k USS Kirwin (APD-90) underway in Hampton Roads, Virginia, 25 October 1965.
    US National Archives Photo # USN 1120113, now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command.    		 Paul Rebold
    Graham County
    1016117615    		 420k Carib 1-68 Patrol Caribbean Ready Group steams in formation as it patrols the Caribbean Sea. Commanded by Capt. J. B. Drachnik, USN, Commander Amphibious Squadron Four, its mission is the promotion of peace and goodwill and the protection of U.S. citizens and property ashore in time of crisis. Homeported in Norfolk, VA., the Group has been deployed since March. Ships of the Ready Group are: (l-r)
    Attack Cargo Ship USS Rankin (AKA-103);
    Dock Landing Ship, USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30);
    Amphibious Assault Ship, USS Boxer (LPH-4);
    Tank Landing Ship, USS Graham County (LST-1176); and
    High Speed Transport, USS Kirwin (APD-90).
    The original photograph and caption was released by USS Boxer in 1968. .
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 97284 by PH2 A. P. Gonthier, Jr..    		 Mike Smolinski
    USS Kirwin (APD-90 / LPR-90)
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Benson, Lloyd George, USNR3 November 1945 - 1 January 1946
    02LCDR. Tucker Jr., Harry Vincent, USNR1 January 1946 - 16 February 1946
    03LT. Murray, Arthur Michael, USNR16 February 1946 - March 1946
    04LTjg. Eschen, James Charles, USNRMarch 1946 - 6 April 1946
     Decommissioned6 April 1946 - 15 January 1965
    05LCDR. Cotten Jr., Thomas Randolph15 January 1965 - July 1966
    06LCDR. Cross, Charles Himrod, USNJuly 1968
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    "1941 Lucky Bag" - LT. John J. Kirwin Biography and Navy Cross Citation
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The High-speed Transport (APD) Photo Index
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    Last Updated 3 April 2020