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 / APB-39 / IX-502 Mercer

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



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

Combat Action Ribbon (crew members attached spring 1969)
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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • APL-39 is part of the CincPacFlt Berthing and Messing Program and is berthed at SRF Det. Sasebo, Japan
    APB Specifications:
    Displacement 2,189 t.
    Length 328'
    Beam 50'
    Draft 11' 2"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 160
    Troop Accommodation 990
    Armament 2 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts, 2 quad 40mm gun mounts, 20 .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
    Mercer 29k Mercer (APB-39) during sea trials, 17 September 1945, at off Boston, MA.
    USN photo, Naval History Magazine    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Mercer 26k Mercer (APB-39), in support of Mobile Riverine Forces, South Vietnam, MRFA
    Mercer 38k Mercer (APB-39), in support of Mobile Riverine Forces, South Vietnam, circa 1969 Bruce Schulze
    MRFA
    Mercer 31k Mercer (IX-502) moored at SRF Det., Sasebo Japan, circa 2000 Photo by Robert Gregory,
    Source MRFA
    Mercer 50k Mercer (APL-39) moored at SRF Det., Sasebo Japan, circa 2002. Department of Defense photo # DSCN 0898 Robert Gregory
    View the Mercer (APB-39)
    DANFS history entry located on the Mobile Riverine Force Association web site.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.