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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

APL-35 / APB-35 Benewah
IX-311

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom,left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (5) - Presidential Unit Citation (3)
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation (4) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (11)
Fourth Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (4) - Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Benewah Class Self-propelled Barracks Ship:
  • Authorized, 17 December 1943, as Barracks Ship (non-self propeller) (APL-35)
  • Reclassified Barracks Ship (self-propelled) (APB-35), 8 August 1944
  • Laid down, 2 January 1945, at Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston, MA.
  • Launched, 6 May 1945
  • Commissioned USS Benewah (APB-35), 9 March 1946, Lcdr. John M. Kilcullen, Jr., USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 30 August 1946, at Boston Naval Shipyard
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Boston Group
  • Moved to Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs, February 1947
  • Recommissioned, 9 November 1951, Lcdr. Clifford E. Baxter in command
  • Decommissioned, December 1955, at Green Cove Springs. FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs
  • Recommissioned, 28 January 1967
  • During the Vietnam War Benewah participated in the following campaigns
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    21 April to 31 May 1967     		Tet 69/Counteroffensive
    23 February to 4 March 1969
    7 May to 8 June 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    9 June to 31 October 1969
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 1 April 1968     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 April to 30 June 1968     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 May to 30 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 July to 1 November 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    1 July to 26 November 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969     		.

  • Decommissioned, 26 February 1971, at Subic Bay, P.I.
  • Placed in service and reclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary (IX-311), 28 February 1971
  • Placed out of service, 1 September 1973
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1973
  • Transferred to the Philippines in 1 May 1974
  • Final Disposition, sunk by the Philippine Navy in 1975 and used as a barrier reef
  • Benewah earned eleven campaign stars for Vietnam War service in addition to five Combat Action Ribbons, three Presidential Unit Citations, four Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,189 t.
    Length 328'
    Beam 50'
    Draft 11' 2"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 160
    Troop Capacity 990
    Armament
    two 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    two quad 40mm AA gun mounts
    twenty .50 and .30 cal machine guns
    Propulsion 2 General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Benewah 22k Benewah (APB-35) at NAB Little Creek, February 1967 MRFA
    Benewah 73k Benewah (APB-35) as Mobile Riverine Force Flagship TF117
    Vietnam    		 MRFA
    Benewah 80k Benewah (APB-35) circa January 1968
    Mobile Riverine Force Flagship TF117
    Mekong Delta, Vietnam    		 MRFA
    Benewah 32k Benewah (APB-35) circa January 1968
    Tet, Vietnam    		 Bruce Schulze
    MRFA
    Benewah 48k Benewah (APB-35) circa 1967, Vietnam Bruce Schulze
    MRFA
    View the Benewah (APB-35)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    For the Vietnam history of USS Benewah (APB-35)
    see Mobile Riverine Force Association History of USS Benewah (APB-35)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Benewah (APB-35)
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Non-Self-propelled Barracks Ship (APL) Photo Index Back To The Self-propelled Barracks Ship (APB) Photo Index Back To The Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 7 April 2006