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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Hampton (APA-115)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Whiskey - Oscar
 NZWO
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Bayfield Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, date unknown, as a Maritime Commission type (C3-S-A2) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC Hull 876) at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, MS.
  • Launched, 25 August 1944
  • Commissioned USS Hampton (APA-115), 17 February 1945, CDR. William H. Ferguson USN in command.
  • During World War II USS Hampton was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Hampton was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    12 September to 9 October 194510 to 13 October 1945

  • Decommissioned, 30 April 1946, at Norfolk, VA.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 1 May 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 May 1946
  • Merchant History
    Towed, 20 November 1946, by Moran Towing and Transportation Co., 20 November 1946, under a Special Agreement, from Lee Hall, VA. to Brooklyn, N.Y.
    Custody transferred, 22 November 1946, to Todd Shipyards Corp., Erie Basin, Brooklyn, N.Y.
    Sold, 20 June 1947, Pope and Talbot Inc. renamed SS P&T Explorer
    Sold to American Foreign Steamship Corp. in September 1963, renamed SS American Falcon
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 17 May 1973, to Yung Tai Steel and Iron Works Co. Ltd, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,100 t.(lt) 16,100 t.(fl)
    Length 492' 6"
    Beam 69' 6"
    Draft 26' 6"
    Speed 18.4 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 41
    Enlisted 437
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 91
    Enlisted 1,470
    Largest Boom Capacity 30 t.
    Cargo Capacity, 4,500 DWT
    non-refrigerated 180,500 Cu ft.
    Boats
    twelve LCVPs
    four LCM (Mk-6)s
    three LCP(L) (MK-IV)s
    Armament
    two single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts, one fore and one aft
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    eighteen single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 8,510 Bbls
    Diesel 750 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric geared drive turbine engine
    two Foster-Wheeler D-type boilers, 465psi 765°
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gears
    four turbo-drive 300Kw 240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    one propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Hampton (APA-115)
    Hampton
    100311507    		 2692k USS Hampton (APA-115) Commissioning Day (17 February 1945) dinner menu at Ingalls Shipbuilding Co., Pascagoula, MS. Aaron Isbell
    Hampton 102k USS Hampton (APA-115) docking at Portland, OR. while returning troops from the Pacific during operation "Magic Carpet." John M. Braun Jr.
    Hampton 446k USS Hampton (APA-115) docking at Portland, OR., 29 October 1945 while returning troops from the Pacific during operation "Magic Carpet."
    Photo from the "Oregon Journal", October 29, 1945.    		 John M. Braun Jr.
    Hampton
    100311506    		 102k USS Hampton (APA-115) at anchor, probably in San Francisco Bay, date unknown.
    Same as U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 83407    		 Darryl Baker
    Merchant Service
    Hampton 472k Ex-USS Hampton (APA-115) in merchant service as American Foreign Steamship Corp.'s SS American Falcon moored in the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, March 1968. Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Hampton 579k
    USS Hampton (APA-115)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Ferguson, William Hays USN (USNA 1919)17 February 1945 - 30 April 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Data Base
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Attack Transport (APA) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 5 January 2024