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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Napa (LPA-157)
ex
 USS Napa (APA-157) (1944 - 1969)


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Sierra - Echo
 NDSE
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 (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Haskell Class Attack Transport:
  • Laid down, 7 June 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 123), at Oregon Shipbuilding Group, Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 12 August 1944
  • Acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Commission and commissioned USS Napa (APA-157), 1 October 1944, Captain Francis J. Firth in command
  • During World War II USS Napa was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    TransRon Fifteen, CAPT. W.S. Popham USN (14);
    TransDiv Forty-Four, CAPT. J. H. Seyfried USN and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 18 to 25 February 1945

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

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    13 to 19 September 194511 to 17 October 1945
     2 to 19 November 1945
     25 January to 7 February 1946

  • Decommissioned, 24 May 1946, at Baltimore, MD.
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 30 May 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 17 June 1946
  • USS Napa (APA-157) earned one battle star for her service during World War II
  • Redesignated Amphibious Transport (LPA-157), 1 January 1969
  • Final Disposition, sold to Connecticut Transport Inc., 17 September 1983. Trade out for SS Connecticut MARAD contact # MA-11433. Withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet an delivered to Filia Oil N.V., Netherlands Antilles, 15 December 1983
    Specifications:
    Displacement 6,873 t.(lt) 14,837 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Speed 17.7 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 56
    Enlisted 480
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 80
    Enlisted 1,440
    Largest Boom Capacity 35t.
    Cargo Capacity 2,900 DWT
    non-refrigerated 150,000 Cu. ft
    Boats
    two LCMs
    one open LCPL
    one covered LCPL (Captain's Gig)
    two LCPRs
    eighteen LCVPs
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual-purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    one quad 40mm AA gun mount
    10 single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 7,780 Bbls
    Diesel 970 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Westinghouse geared turbine
    two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 465psi 750°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    three turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Napa 51k Port bow view of USS Napa (APA-157) at anchor off Naval Station Astoria, OR., 14 October 1944.
    Naval Station Astoria photo # AST10646 10-12-44 now in the collections of the NARA, Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle).    		 Tracy White
    Napa 28k Port quarter view of USS Napa (APA-157) underway off Naval Station Astoria, OR., 14 October 1944.
    Naval Station Astoria photo # AST10647 10-12-44 now in the collections of the NARA, Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle).    		 Tracy White
    Napa 308k USS Napa (APA-157) moored to a buoy in the Whangpoo River, Shanghai, China, 24 January 1946. Other ships present include USS LST-935 in the distance forward of Napa's bow and USS LST-866 in the distance aft of Napa's stern. Jose Maria Casanova, Cartagena (Murcia) Spain and
    Stephen C. Hopkins for his father LTjg. Jonathan H. Hopkins USS Napa
    Napa 209k USS Napa (APA-157) under way circa 1945, probably in San Francisco Bay, CA. Note "Homeward Bound" pennant flying from the aft masthead.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # 60668    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    USS Napa (APA-157)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Firth, Francis Joseph :RADM1 October 1944 - 14 April 1945
    02CAPT. Loomis, Frederick Kent, USN (USNA 1925)14 April 1945 - 15 December 1945
    03CDR. Forster, Guido Francis, USNR (USNA 1917)15 December 1945 - 24 May 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and 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 28 April 2017