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SS Independence (ID#3676), (USS Neville (AP-16), 24 October 1918, at her builders yard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Union Plant, Potrero Works,
San Francisco, CA. Behind her is a later sister, SS Eclipse (USS William P. Biddle (AP-15)).
US National Archives, RG-32-S. Photo #: None, courtesy Shipscribe.com. |
Robert Hurst |
Merchant Service
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SS City of Hamburg underway, circa 1939-40.
| David C. Hoover |
USS William P. Biddle (AP-15)
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NamesakeWilliam Phillips Biddle—born in Philadelphia, Pa., on 17 December 1853—was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 22 June 1875. After sea duty in Hartford and Powhatan, he served at the Marine Barracks at Philadelphia and New York before he returned to sea duty in Kearsarge in 1882. Promoted to 1st lieutenant two years later and to captain in 1894, Biddle served in the cruiser Baltimore in June 1895 and shortly afterwards was transferred to the cruiser Olympia, in which he served during the Spanish-American War, and took part in the Battle of Manila Bay in April 1898. He later commanded the marines ashore in the Philippines who had secured the Cavite Navy Yard and established outposts covering the approaches to Manila. Biddle next served in Marine expeditionary forces in the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and in pacification operations during the Philippine Insurrection from 1901 to 1903 before he returned to the United States for duty at Headquarters, Marine Corps. Promoted to lieutenant colonel on 23 March 1903, Biddle commanded a reinforcing battalion of marines embarked in the auxiliary cruiser Dixie sent to Panama when a revolution broke out there in November 1903. The ship arrived just in time to participate in the celebrations honoring the independence of that country from Colombia. Later promoted to colonel in 1905, Biddle was chosen commandant of the Marine Corps on 3 February 1911 and served in that post until his retirement on 24 February 1914 with the rank of major general. During his tenure, Biddle emphasized training and established recruit depots at Philadelphia; Port Royal, S.C.; Mare Island, Calif.; and Puget Sound, Wash. Recalled to active duty during World War I, Biddle served primarily on court-martial duty at San Diego before returning to private life after a second retirement. On 24 February 1923—exactly nine years after his initial retirement, Biddle died at Nice, France. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Photo from the USMC Historical Division
| Bill Gonyo |
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USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) in San Francisco Bay after initial alterations, Mare Island Navy Yard, CA. 21 February 1941.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) newly painted, anchored off Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA. in July 1941.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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From left to right USS William P. Biddle (AP-15), USS Heywood (AP-12), and USS Harry Lee (AP-17) underway in convoy to Iceland, circa 7 September 1941.
US Navy photo # NH 47005, from the collection of US Naval Historical Center. |
US Naval Historical Center |
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USS Fuller (AP-14), (left) and another transport [probably USS William P. Biddle (AP-15)), (right) unloading troops and equipment into landing craft outside the breakwater at Reykjavik, Iceland, circa 7-8 July 1941.
US Navy Photo # NH 47011, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. |
US Naval Historical Center |
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USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) underway in Hampton Roads, 12 May 1942, after overhaul and additional conversions at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA., 12 May 1942.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) off Norfolk Navy Yard, 12 May 1942, after receiving new boat davits and other modifications. This ship and USS George F. Elliot (AP-13) were the only units of the class to upgrade to heavier Welin davits early in the war. Of the others, USS Heywood (AP-12) received them in 1945 and the other two never got them. Note the original stern armament of one 5"/51 and two 3"/50 guns.
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM photo # 19-N-30471 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
| Mike Green |
100300832 |
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USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) at anchor, probably off Norfolk Navy Yard, circa 12 May 1942.
| Aryeh Wetherhorn |
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USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) at anchor in Hampton Roads, VA., 16 June 1942.
US National Archives photo # 80-G-K-463, a US Navy photo now in the collections of th US National Archives.
| Rick Davis and John Chiquoine |
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USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) in a Chesapeake anchorage between 25 and 27 June 1942 along with
USS Joseph P. Dickman (AP-26)
USS Thomas Stone (AP-59)
USS Harry Lee (AP-17)
USS Wyoming (AG-17)
USS John Penn (AP-51)
USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50)
USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52) and
USS Arcturus (AK-18) (not in the photo).
All 9 ships were participating in amphibious exercises near Solomons, MD.
US National Archives photo # 80-G-K-403, a US Navy photo now in the collections of th US National Archives.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) underway in Hampton Roads, 12 September 1942, with a fresh coat of paint and new radar, after overhaul at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (AP-15) underway in Hampton Roads, 12 September 1942, with a new radar, as marked, after overhaul at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA.
US Navy photo from "US Amphibious Ships and Craft," by Norman Friedman..
| Robert Hurst |
USS William P. Biddle (APA-8)
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Watercolor of USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) with LCM and LCVP, painted by Norman P. Volz S1c USS Biddle.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) combat loaded with the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division departing Norfolk, VA., 8 June 1943, for the Mediterranean and the invasion of Sicily.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) underway in the transport Task Group enroute to Sicily, 9 or 10 July 1943.
Photo was taken from USS Ancon (AGC-4).
US National Archives photo # 80-G-215093, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
| Rick Davis and John Chiquoine |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) under way in Hampton Roads, 4 August 1943, newly outfitted as an attack transport with Welin Davits and additional antiaircraft guns, after overhaul at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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Starboard bow view of USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) under way near Portsmouth Navy Yard in Hampton Roads, 20 August 1943, after being outfitted as an attack transport with
Welin Davits and additional antiaircraft guns, after overhaul at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, VA.
US Navy photo.
| Nancy Renna for her father Pete Renna William Biddle (APA-8) Oct. 1942 - Jan 1943 |
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USS Rixley (APH-3) in a floating drydock on the Wellington, N.Z.,
waterfront, 27 October 1943.
USS William P. Biddle (APA-8), USS Harris (APA-2) and USS Sheridan (APA-51)
are riding at anchor in the harbor and destroyers USS Anderson (DD-411) and
USS Russell (DD-414) are nested pierside. All units are in continuing TF53 exercises and drills for the coming assault of Tarawa in November.
Both destroyers were part of TF 53 that provided escort screen for the attack transports heading for Tarawa, screened heavier battle units as they shelled Betio Island
in support of the landings, and provided additional fire support for the attack transports as they collected Marine casualties.
Photo from the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, Wellington, New Zealand.
| David C. Hoover |
100300830 |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) at right in a landing boat exercise area near Wellington New Zealand, 31 Oct 1943. These were
Task Force 53's preparations for the Tarawa assault.
Photo from the Norm Hatch USMC collection, Museum of the Pacific War.
| Rick Davis and John Chiquoine |
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Marines of the 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division climb down nets into USS William P. Biddle (APA-8)'s LCVPs on D-Day, at Tarawa, 20 November 1943.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8)'s LCM #2 with portable field communications equipment and Marines of the 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division on D-Day at Tarawa, 20 November 1943. Navy Corpsmen are identified by the white circle on their helmets.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8)'s LCM #2 now fully loaded, Coxswain Curt Anderson checks behind as he pulls away and heads for the line of departure, 20 November 1943, at Tarawa.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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William P. Biddle (APA-8)'s Coxswain Curt Anderson and LCM #2 proceeds to line of departure, on D-Day, Tarawa, 20 November 1943.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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LCVPs from USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) being unloaded onto long pier, Beach Red 2, in the midst of continued fire from Japanese coastal defenses. D-Day + 1, Tarawa, 21 November 1943.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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301k |
USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) at Manus Island, Seeadler Harbor in October 1944 preparing for the invasion of Luzon. is loading Marines aboard and taking on fuel from the Mobile Floating Storage Tanker USS Silver Cloud (IX-143) at the same time.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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William P. Biddle (APA-8) off Mindoro, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in February 1945, during the later stages of the campaign there. USS Heywood (APA-6) is in the right center background, beyond USS William P. Biddle's bow. Both ships wear camouflage Measure 32, Design 9T.
US National Archives photo 80-G-325409, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
| Scott at LBS Products |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) underway in San Francisco Bay after a major six week overhaul at Moore Dry Dock Co., San Francisco, CA., 12 June 1945.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) underway in San Francisco Bay after a major
six week overhaul at Moore Dry Dock Co., San Francisco, CA., 12 June 1945.
| Hyperwar US Navy in WWII |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) crew’s mess shown here converted to a medical station for care of the wounded during amphibious assaults.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) officer’s mess shown here converted to an operating room for care of the wounded during amphibious assaults.
US Navy photo.
| David C. Hoover |
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Plaque dedicated to those who served in USS William P. Biddle (APA-8) during World War II.
| Nancy Renna for her father Pete Renna William Biddle (APA-8) Oct. 1942 - Jan 1943 |
