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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Belet (APD-109
ex
 (DE-599)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Zulu - November
 NTZU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS Belet (APD-109) was transferred to Mexico and renamed ARM California (H-3)
Crosley Class High-speed Transport
  • Laid down, 26 January 1944, as (DE-599), a Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort at Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Co, Hingham MA.
  • Launched, 3 March 1944
  • Redesignated a Crosley Class High-speed Transport, 17 July 1944
  • Commissioned USS Belet (APD-109), 15 June 1945, LCDR. Albert P. Merrill in command
  • Decommissioned, 22 May 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 12 December 1963
  • Transferred to Mexico, 12 December 1963, renamed ARM California (H-3)
  • Final Disposition, run aground off Baja California, destroyed 16 January 1972
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,400 t.
    Length 306' ovl.
    Beam 37"
    Draft 12' 7" (limiting)
    Speed 23.6 kts. (trial)
    Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
    Complement 12-15 Officers, 189-192 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations 12 Officers, 150 Enlisted
    Boats 4 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 2 Combustion Engineering DR boilers, 2 GE Turbines, (turbo-electric drive), 2 shafts, Shaft horsepower 12,000
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Belet 73k Ex-USS Belet (APD-109) in the service of Mexico as ARM California (B-3) while underway in full dress ship, 2 April 1970.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    View the USS Belet (APD-109)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    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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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 3 August 2007