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

APL-39
ex
Mercer (IX-502) (1975 - 2001)
USS Mercer (APB-39) (1945 - 1975)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform- India - Quebec
NUIQ

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon(4)
Second Row - Presidential Unit Citation - Naval Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (4)
Fourth Row - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (3) - Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Personnel Awards

Purple Hearts: (1 KIA - CS1 Thomas E. Sheppard, 22 NOV68)

Benawah Class Self-propelled Barracks Ship:

Authorized, 17 December 1943, as Barracks Ship (non-self propeller) APL-39

Reclassified Barracks Ship (self-propelled) APB-39, 8 August 1944

Laid down, 24 August 1944, at Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston, MA.

Launched, 17 November 1944

Commissioned USS Mercer (APB-39), 19 September 1945, LCDR. Edward E. Vezey, Jr., USNR, in command

Decommissioned, 18 June 1947, at Green Cove Springs, FL.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs

Recommissioned, 12 October 1951, at Green Cove Springs

Decommissioned, 17 February 1956, at Green Cove Springs, FL.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs

Recommissioned, 11 May 1968, at Long Beach CA.

During the Vietnam War USS Mercer participated in the following campaigns:

**Vietnam War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 29 July 1968 to 1 November 1968	Tet 69/Counteroffensive 23 February to 8 June 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 June to 24 August 1969

Decommissioned, date unknown

Reclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary (IX-502) a messing and berthing barge

Placed in service, 1 November 1975 at the US Naval Ship Repair Facility, Sasebo Japan

Reclassified Barracks Ship (non-self propelled) APL-39, 7 March 2001

USS APL-39 is part of the CincPacFlt Berthing and Messing Program and is berthed at SRF Det. Sasebo, Japan

USS Mercer earned four campaign stars for Vietnam War service in addition to the Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Unit Commendation

APB Specifications:
Displacement 4,000 t.
Length 328'
Beam 50'
Draft 11' 2"
Speed 12 kts.
Complement

Officers 12

Enlisted 129
Troop Accommodation

Officers 26

Enlisted 1200
Armament

two quad 40mm AA gun mounts

twenty .50 and .30 cal machine guns
Fuel Capacity

Diesel 2,975 Bbls
Propulsion

two General Motors 12-567A Diesel engines

double Falk Main Reduction Gears

five Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V Ship's Service Generators

twin rudders

two propellers, 1,600shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Mercer (APB-39)
	166k	*USS Mercer* (APB-39) and USS Marlboro (APB-38)** under construction at Boston Navy Yard, 3 January 1945. Note the two-level superstructure running nearly the entire length of the ships with the pilot house on top forward. US Navy Yard Boston photo # 40-45 NYBos from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	Robert Hurst
	29k	*USS Mercer* (APB-39)** during sea trials, 17 September 1945, at off Boston, MA. USN photo, Naval History Magazine	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	16k	*USS Mercer* (APB-39)** underway with a tug alongside, circa 1955.	Mobine Riverine Force Association, courtesy Robert E. Blevins
	23k	*USS Mercer* (APB-39)** underway while docking/undocking, circa 1955.	Mobine Riverine Force Association, courtesy Robert E. Blevins
	60k	*USS Mercer* (APB-39)** crew photo, circa 1955.	Mobine Riverine Force Association, courtesy Robert E. Blevins
	26k	*USS Mercer* (APB-39)**, in support of Mobile Riverine Forces, South Vietnam,	MRFA
	38k	*USS Mercer* (APB-39)**, in support of Mobile Riverine Forces, South Vietnam, circa 1969	Bruce Schulze MRFA
	114k	*USS Mercer* (APB-39)** moored pierside at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point, circa late 1969.	Ron Reeves
Mercer (IX-502)
	129k	Mercer (IX-502) moored at Naval Station San Diego, summer 1985.	Photo by Ed Zajkowski
	139k	Mercer (IX-502) moored at Naval Station San Diego, summer 1985. Note *USS Duluth* (LPD-6) moored astern of Mercer**.	Photo by Ed Zajkowski
	31k	Mercer (IX-502) moored at SRF Det., Sasebo Japan, circa 2000	Bob Gregory, Dep Requirements & Special Programs Officer, COMPACFLT N43
APL-39
	50k	*APL-39* moored at SRF Det., Sasebo Japan, circa 2002. Department of Defense photo # DSCN 0898	Bob Gregory, Dep Requirements & Special Programs Officer, COMPACFLT N43
	1398k	*APL-39* moored at SRF Det., Sasebo Japan, 13 December 2012.	Bob Gregory, Dep Requirements & Special Programs Officer, COMPACFLT N43

USS Mercer (APB-39)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
Mobile Riverine Force Association Vietnam War history

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Mobile Riverine Force Association

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index

Back To The Self-propelled Barracks Ship (APB) Photo Index

Back To The Self-propelled Barracks (APB) Ship Photo Index

Back To The Miscellaneous Unclassified (IX) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 11 January 2013

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

APL-39ex Mercer (IX-502) (1975 - 2001) USS Mercer (APB-39) (1945 - 1975)

APL-39
ex
Mercer (IX-502) (1975 - 2001)
USS Mercer (APB-39) (1945 - 1975)