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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Rogers Blood (APD-115)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Papa - Whiskey
 NTPW
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort - Crosley Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 12 April 1945, as Rogers Blood (DE-605), a Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort, at Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Co, Hingham, MA.
  • Launched, 2 June 1945
  • Redesignated a Crosley Class High-speed Transport, 17 July 1945
  • Commissioned USS Rogers Blood (APD-115), 22 August 1945, CDR. John W. Higgins, Jr. USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 19 March 1946, at St Johns River, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register 1 June 1960
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping 14 December 1961 to Southern Scrap Metal Co. of Louisiana
    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
    Rogers Blood 6k
    Namesake

    Rogers Blood, born at Manchester, N.H., 29 January 1922. Rogers Blood was a popular all-around high school athlete. In his extensive activities about the school, he displayed rare qualities as a leader, scholar, organizer, athlete and all-around good fellow. Rogers served as president of the Hi- Y Chapter, president of the Maskers, editor-in-chief of the Oracle, moderator of the Discussion Club, and was a member of both the tennis and ski teams. He was awarded the Rotary Cup in his senior year as the most outstanding student in his class. Rogers then entered Dartmouth College, Class of 1944. On January 3, 1942, just weeks after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and received a commission as a second lieutenant 13 January 1943, and was promoted to first lieutenant 1 February 1944. He served at the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va., and at Camp Lejeune, N.C. From 21 May 1943, he served in the Pacific Theater of World War II. On 18 February 1944, while leading his platoon in a valiant charge across open terrain in the face of severe hostile machine gun, mortar, and rifle fire to dislodge the heavily entrenched enemy, on the Japanese stronghold of Engebi, he was killed. Lieutenant Blood was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity. His memory was honored further when the U.S. Navy named a troop transport, the APD 115, for him. When this vessel was decommissioned, the ship's bell was loaned to the school by the Navy Department with the understanding that it would be kept on permanent display at the school in a place of prominence. It continues on display to this day.
    Photo: Central High School, Manchester, New Hampshire    		 Bill Gonyo
    Rogers Blood
    100411502    		 184k Rogers Blood (APD-115) being assisted by tugs at Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, MA. immediately after launching on 2 June 1945.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-267059, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Mike Smolinski
    Bray
    100413901    		 288k U.S. Navy high-speed transports laid up at Green Cove Springs, FL., circa 1947 (l-r):
    USS Ruchamkin (APD-89),
    USS Bray (APD-139),
    USS Rogers Blood (APD-115),
    USS Cread (APD-88),
    USS Upham (APD-99),
    USS Hubbard (APD-53),
    USS Walter S. Gorka (APD-114).
    RM2/c Ken Adams, U.S. Navy. U.S. Navy photo from the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Rogers Blood (APD-115)
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Higgins Jr., John Worthen, USNR22 August 1945 - November 1945
    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
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 17 November 2023