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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Alpha - November
NTAN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (7) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippine Liberation Medal (2)


Appalachian Class Amphibious Force Command Ship:
  • Laid down, 4 December 1942, as a Maritime Commission type (C2-S-B1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC 202) at Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Kearny, N.J.
  • Launched, 7 March 1943
  • Acquired by the Navy, 13 March 1943
  • Converted for Naval Service at Bethlehem Steel Co., Hoboken, N.J.
  • Commissioned USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3), 16 October 1943, CAPT. Stanley F. Patten in command
  • During World War II USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation ok Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls - 31 January to 8 February 1944
    Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll - 17 February to 2 March 1944
    Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings - 9 January
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan - 15 June to 10 August 1944
    Capture and occupation of Guam - 21 July to 15 August 1944
    Consolidation and capture of Southern Philippines
    Mindanao Island landings - Zamboanga - 8 to 23 March 1945
    Tinian capture and occupation
    21 July to 15 August 1944
    Borneo operations
    Tarakan Island operation - 27 April to 5 May 1945
    Brunei Bay operation - 7 to 12 June 1945
    Leyte operations
    Leyte landings - 20 October 1944
     

  • Following World War II USS Rocky Mount was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal

    China Service Medal (extended)
    9 to 13 September 194514 September to 10 November 1945

  • Decommissioned, 22 March 1947, at San Francisco, CA.
  • Transferred to the San Francisco Group Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Laid up, 15 June 1960, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Permanent custody to the Maritime Administration, 30 June 1960
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1960
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 1 March 1973, (PD-X-954 dated 24 January 1973) to Zidell Explorations, Portland, OR., for $170.000.00, for non-transportation use, delivered, 28 March 1973
  • USS Rocky Mount earned seven battle stars, and the Navy Unit Commendation for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,240 t.(lt) 13.910t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 24'
    Speed 16.4 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 31
    Enlisted 472
    Flag Accommodations
    Officers 92
    Enlisted 351
    Largest Boom Capacity 15 t.
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    fourteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 23,400 Bbls
    Diesel 665 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one De Laval geared steam turbine
    two Combustion Engineering D-type boilers, 465psi 765°
    double De Laval Main Reductions Gears Ship's Service Generators
    four turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    one Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
    single propeller, 6,000shp

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    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Rocky Mount 120k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) under way, 21 October 1943, location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 84630 courtesy D.M. McPherson, 1976
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Rocky Mount
    19-N-54447
    111k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) under way, 23 October 1943.
    US National Archives photo # RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-54447 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com, and US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 107686
    Robert Hurst
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Rocky Mount
    NH 107686
    265k
    Rocky Mount
    10010335
    183k RADM. Forrest B. Royal, USN, VADM. R. Kelly Turner, USN, Commander Amphibious Forces Pacific, and RADM. Walter S. Delaney, USN, planning shore operations on board USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3), June 1944.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-307679 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Rocky Mount
    10010340
    374k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) and USS Oak Hill (LSD-7) moored at the site of the former coaling dock at Navy Base Pearl Harbor, 21 March 1944. Rocky Mount was scheduled to start an overhaul the next day and Oak Hill had temporarily tied off following an aborted journey to the west coast that was cancelled two hours in following boiler problems.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-221095 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, College Park, MD.
    Tracy White
    Rocky Mount
    10010337
    196k VADM. R. Kelly Turner, USN, Commander Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet, and numerous officers aboard USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) during Saipan island action, June 1944.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-307705 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Rocky Mount
    10010338
    175k VADM. Richard K. Turner, USN, Commander Amphibious Forces Pacific Fleet aboard his flagship USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) off Saipan, 17 June 1944.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-231988 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Rocky Mount
    10010339
    163k LT. GEN. Holland M. Smith, USMC (left) with VADM. Richard K. Turner, USN on board USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3), at H-hour of D-day off Saipan, 15 June 1944.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-307681 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Rocky Mount 40k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) at anchor, circa 1944-45, location unknown.  
    Rocky Mount 47k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) at anchor, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Rocky Mount
    10010333
    10,027k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) at anchor at Zamboanga, Mindanao, P.I., 9 March 1945. Aboard Rocky Mount are Commander Amphibious Group Six, RADM. Forrest B. Royal USN, Commanding General US 8th Army, LTGEN. Robert L. Eichelberger, USA and Commanding General US Army 41st Division, MGEN. Jens Doe, USA.
    Photo from ©PHoM1/c Ken Kracht's WWII Photo Album, Restoration, ©2020 Carl Kracht
    Carl Kracht
    Rocky Mount
    10010336
    125k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3), 29 April 1945, shortly before the Tarakan, Borneo operation. Those present include (left-right): Mr. William Hipple war correspondent, air commodore A.H. Cobby, air vice marshal W.D. Bostock, RADM. Forrest B. Royal, USN, Brigadier D.A. Whitehead commander, 26th Australian brigade, Brigadier White, and Mr. Caswell.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-359925 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Rocky Mount 84k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo courtesy Tomitch.
    Robert Hurst
    Rocky Mount 1934k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) at anchor off Morotai looking NNE toward the beach, 7 April 1945. Carl Kracht for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht
    Rocky Mount 2047k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) fire station, port side forward. Carl Kracht for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht
    Rocky Mount
    10010334
    153k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) preparing to moor in the Whangpoo River, Shanghai, China, 19 September 1945.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-259763 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Rocky Mount 2246k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) fog oil barrels and wooden crates is starboard side aft, looking aft, 01 level. Carl Kracht for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht
    Rocky Mount 1813k USS Nashville (CL-43) moored forward of USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) moored inboard of USS Estes (AGC-12) on the Whangpoo River, at Shanghai, China in November 1945. Carl Kracht for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht
    Rocky Mount 2584k USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3) drydocked at San Francisco, CA., in February 1946. Carl Kracht for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht

    USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3)
    Memorabilia
    Rocky Mount
    Plank owners certificate
    Contributed by Jessica Leon
    for her uncle Ellwood Harris RDM1/c USNR
    USS Rocky Mount
    Rocky Mount
    Command Amphibious Group Six Citation
    issued to Ellwood G. Harris RDM2/c USNR
    USS Rocky Mount for outstanding performance of duty.
    Contributed by Jessica Leon for her uncle Ellwood Harris RDM1/c USNR
    USS Rocky Mount
    Rocky Mount
    Shellback Certificate
    Contributed by Carl Kracht
    for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht
    Rocky Mount
    1944 Christmas Day Menu
    Contributed by Carl Kracht
    for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht
    Rocky Mount
    1945 Thanksgiving Day Menu
    Contributed by Carl Kracht
    for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht
    Rocky Mount
    1945 Christmas Card
    Contributed by Carl Kracht
    for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht
    Rocky Mount
    1945 Navy Day
    Contributed by Carl Kracht
    for his father PHom1/c Ken Kracht
    Rocky Mount
    "Leyte - Philippine Islands"
    Booklet produced after the Invasion of of the Philippine Islands
    Rocky Mount
    "Lingayen Gulf - Luzon - Philippine Islands"
    Booklet produced after the Invasion of of the Philippine Islands
    Rocky Mount
    "Japan Surrenders - And"
    Booklet produced at the Conclusion of World War II in the Pacific
    Rocky Mount
    "Brass Hat' Queen Out in Open"
    article by Ken Kracht PhoM1/c, North China Press, 8 Oct. 1945
    Rocky Mount
    "Kinkaids's Flagship Rocky Mount Holds Imposing War Record; Led 9 Invasions"
    Shanghai Herald, 28 Sept. 1945
    Rocky Mount
    "CPO Shellback Times"

    USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3)
    Interior Views - 4 January 1944
    Source: NARA II, College Park, CINCPAC Confidential Files, 1943-45
    Contributed by Tracy White

    Rocky Mount
    CIC looking to port
    Rocky Mount
    Radio #1 port forward
    Rocky Mount
    Intelligence office-forward
    Rocky Mount
    Main Com Room port side
    Rocky Mount
    Radio #1 stbd forward
    Rocky Mount
    Joint Operations Room, port
    Rocky Mount
    Joint Operations Room, fwd
    Rocky Mount
    Sup desk & control patch Boards

    USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3)
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Patten, Stanley Fletcher, USN :RADM15 October 1943 - November 1944
    02CAPT. Hardesty, Fred Archibald, USN November 1944 - 6 August 1945
    03CAPT. Katz, Benjamin Jacob, USN :RADM6 August 1945 - 31 May 1946
    04CDR. Wilkinson, Roland C., USNR31 May 1946 - 22 March 1947
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    LST-667 and LSM-151 at Sadau and Tarakan a story by Carl Kracht
    The History of the USS Rocky Mount (AGC-3)

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo.
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    Last Updated 6 January 2023