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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 98702:  USS President Hayes in San Francisco Bay, circa late 1945 or early 1946

Online Library of Selected Images:
U.S. NAVY SHIPS -- Listed by Hull Number

APA/LPA -- Attack Transports

In the early 1940s, as the Navy expanded in response to the threat of involvement in World War II, a large number of civilian passenger ships and larger freighters were acquired, converted to transports and given hull numbers in the AP series. Some of these were outfitted with heavy boat davits and other arrangements to enable them to handle landing craft for amphibious assault operations. In 1942, when the AP number series had already extended beyond 100, it was decided that these amphibious warfare ships really constituted a separate category of warship from conventional transports. Therefore, the new classification of Attack Transport (APA) was created and new numbers were assigned to fifty-eight APs (AP #s 2, 8-12, 14-18, 25-27, 30, 34-35, 37-40, 48-52, 55-60, 64-65 and 78-101) then in commission or under construction.

The actual reclassification of these ships was not implemented until February 1943, by which time two ships that had APA numbers assigned (Joseph Hewes and Edward Rutledge) had been lost. Another two transports sunk in 1942, George F. Elliot and Leedstown, were also configured as attack transports but did not survive to be reclassified as such.

As World War II went on, dozens of new construction merchant ships of the Maritime Commission's S4, C2, C3 and VC2 ("Victory") types were converted to attack transports, taking the list of APA numbers to 247, though fourteen ships (APAs 181-186 and APAs 240-247) were cancelled before completion. In addition, as part of the 1950s modernization of the Navy's amphibious force with faster ships, two more attack transports (APA-248 and APA-249) were converted from new "Mariner" class freighters.

However, by the end of that decade, it was clear that boats would soon be superseded by amphibious tractors (LVTs) and helicopters for landing combat assault troops. These could not be supported by attack transports in the numbers required, and new categories of amphibious ships began to replace APAs throughout the 1960s. By 1969, when the surviving attack transports were redesignated LPA (retaining their previous numbers), only a few remained in commissioned service. The last of these were decommissioned in 1980 and sold abroad, leaving only a few throughly obsolete World War II era hulls still laid up in the Maritime Administration's reserve fleet. The APA/LPA designation may, therefore, now be safely considered extinct.

This page provides the hull numbers of all U.S. Navy attack transports numbered in the APA series, as implemented in February 1943, with links to those ships with photos available in the Online Library.


See the list below to locate photographs of individual attack transports numbered in the APA series.

If the attack transport you want does not have an active link on this page, contact the Photographic Section concerning other research options.


Left Column --
Attack Transports numbered
APA-1 through APA-99:

  • APA-1: Doyen (1943-1946),
    originally AP-2
  • APA-2: Harris (1940-1948),
    originally AP-8
  • APA-3: Zeilin (1942-1948),
    originally AP-9
  • APA-4: McCawley (1940-1943),
    originally AP-10
  • APA-5: Barnett (1940-1946),
    originally AP-11
  • APA-6: Heywood (1940-1946),
    originally AP-12
  • (No APA #): : George F. Elliot (1941-1942) (AP-13) -- would have become an APA if she had not been lost
  • APA-7: Fuller (1941-1946),
    originally AP-14
  • APA-8: William P. Biddle (1941-1946), originally AP-15
  • APA-9: Neville (1941-1946),
    originally AP-16

  • APA-10: Harry Lee (1940-1948),
    originally AP-17
  • APA-11: Feland (1943-1964),
    originally AP-18
  • APA-12: Leonard Wood (1941-1946),
    originally AP-25
  • APA-13: Joseph T. Dickman (1941-1946), originally AP-26
  • APA-14: Hunter Liggett (1941-1946),
    originally AP-27
  • APA-15: Henry T. Allen (1941-1946), originally AP-30; later AG-90
  • APA-16: J. Franklin Bell (1941-1946), originally AP-34
  • APA-17: American Legion (1941-1946), originally AP-35
  • APA-18: President Jackson (1942-1973), originally AP-37
  • APA-19: President Adams (1941-1974), originally AP-38

  • APA-20: President Hayes (1941-1973), originally AP-39
  • APA-21: Crescent City (1941-1948),
    originally AP-40
  • APA-22: Joseph Hewes (1942-1942), originally AP-50. APA # not actually used
  • APA-23: John Penn (1942-1943), originally AP-51
  • APA-24: Edward Rutledge (1942-1942), originally AP-52. APA # not actually used
  • APA-25: Arthur Middleton (1942-1973), originally AP-55
  • APA-26: Samuel Chase (1942-1973), originally AP-56
  • APA-27: George Clymer (1942-1968), originally AP-57
  • APA-28: Charles Carroll (1942-1977), originally AP-58
  • APA-29: Thomas Stone (1942-1945), originally AP-59

  • (No APA #): : Leedstown (1942-1942) (AP-73) -- probably would have become an APA if she had not been lost

  • APA-30: Thomas Jefferson (1942-1973), originally AP-60
  • APA-31: Monrovia (1942-1969), originally AP-64
  • APA-32: Calvert (1942-1977), originally AP-65

    Note: APA-33 through APA-56 were originally designated AP-78 through AP-101, respectively. None of these ships had any service as APs.
  • APA-33: Bayfield (1943-1969)
  • APA-34: Bolivar (1943-1972)
  • APA-35: Callaway (1943-1946)
  • APA-36: Cambria (1943-1971)
  • APA-37: Cavalier (1944-1969)
  • APA-38: Chilton (1943-1974)
  • APA-39: Clay (1943-1946)

  • APA-40: Custer (1943-1947)
  • APA-41: Du Page (1943-1947)
  • APA-42: Elmore (1943-1947)
  • APA-43: Fayette (1943-1947)
  • APA-44: Fremont (1943-1974)
  • APA-45: Henrico (1943-1976)
  • APA-46: Knox (1943-1946)
  • APA-47: Lamar (1943-1948)
  • APA-48: Leon (1943-1946)

  • APA-49: Ormsby (1943-1947)
  • APA-50: Pierce (1943-1947)
  • APA-51: Sheridan (1943-1947)

  • APA-52: Sumter (1943-1947)
  • APA-53: Warren (1943-1946)
  • APA-54: Wayne (1943-1947)

  • APA-55: Windsor (1943-1946)
  • APA-56: Leedstown (1943-1946)

  • APA-57: Gilliam (1944-1946)
  • APA-58: Appling (1944-1955)
  • APA-59: Audrain (1944-1972)

  • APA-60: Banner (1944-1948)
  • APA-61: Barrow (1944-1948)
  • APA-62: Berrien (1944-1966)
  • APA-63: Bladen (1944-1955)
  • APA-64: Bracken (1944-1948)
  • APA-65: Briscoe (1944-1948)
  • APA-66: Brule (1944-1948)
  • APA-67: Burleson (1944-1968),
    later IX-67
  • APA-68: Butte (1944-1948)
  • APA-69: Carlisle (1944-1946)

  • APA-70: Carteret (1944-1948)
  • APA-71: Catron (1944-1948)
  • APA-72: Clarendon (1944-1946)
  • APA-73: Cleburne (1944-1965)
  • APA-74: Colusa (1944-1965)
  • APA-75: Cortland (1945-1966)
  • APA-76: Crenshaw (1945-1964)
  • APA-77: Crittendon (1945-1947)
  • APA-78: Cullman (1945-1965)
  • APA-79: Dawson (1945-1948)

  • APA-80: Elkhart (1945-1964)
  • APA-81: Fallon (1945-1948)
  • APA-82: Fergus (1945-1965)
  • APA-83: Fillmore (1945-1966)
  • APA-84: Garrard (1945-1965)
  • APA-85: Gasconade (1945-1948)
  • APA-86: Geneva (1945-1966)
  • APA-87: Niagara (1945-1950)
  • APA-88: Presidio (1945-1965)

  • APA-89: Frederick Funston (1943-1969), originally AP-48, later T-AP-178
  • APA-90: James O'Hara (1943-1968),
    originally AP-49, later T-AP-179

  • APA-91: Adair (1944-1946)

  • APA-92: Alpine (1943-1946)
  • APA-93: Barnstable (1943-1946)

  • APA-94: Baxter (1943-1946)

  • APA-95: Burleigh (1944-1946)
  • APA-96: Cecil (1944-1946)

  • APA-97: Dauphin (1944-1946)
  • APA-98: Dutchess (1944-1946)

  • APA-99: Dade (1944-1946)

Right Column --
Attack Transports numbered
APA-100 through APA-249:

  • APA-100: Mendocino (1944-1946)
  • APA-101: Montour (1944-1946)
  • APA-102: Riverside (1944-1946)
  • APA-103: Queens (1944-1946)
  • APA-104: Westmoreland (1944-1946)

  • APA-105: Shelby (1945-1946)

  • APA-106: Gladwin (1944-1946)
  • APA-107: Goodhue (1944-1946)
  • APA-108: Goshen (1944-1946)
  • APA-109: Grafton (1945-1946)

  • APA-110: Griggs (1944-1946)
  • APA-111: Grundy (1945-1946)
  • APA-112: Guilford (1945-1946)
  • APA-113: Sitka (1945-1946)
  • APA-114: Hamblon (1945-1946)
  • APA-115: Hampton (1945-1946)
  • APA-116: Hanover (1945-1947)

  • APA-117: Haskell (1944-1973)
  • APA-118: Hendry (1944-1973)
  • APA-119: Highlands (1944-1973)

  • APA-120: Hinsdale (1944-1974)
  • APA-121: Hocking (1944-1974)
  • APA-122: Kenton (1944-1973)
  • APA-123: Kittson (1944-1973)
  • APA-124: La Grange (1944-1975)
  • APA-125: Lanier (1944-1973)
  • APA-126: St. Mary's (1944-1975)
  • APA-127: Allendale (1944-1988?)
  • APA-128: Arenac (1945-1974)
  • APA-129: Marvin H. McIntyre (1944-1973)

  • APA-130: Attala (1944-1974)
  • APA-131: Bandera (1944-1974)
  • APA-132: Barnwell (1945-1986)
  • APA-133: Beckham (1944-1974)
  • APA-134: Bland (1944-1974)
  • APA-135: Bosque (1944-1973)
  • APA-136: Botetourt (1945-1974)
  • APA-137: Bowie (1944-1973)
  • APA-138: Braxton (1944-1973)
  • APA-139: Broadwater (1945-1974)

  • APA-140: Brookings (1945-1992)
  • APA-141: Buckingham (1945-1974)
  • APA-142: Clearfield (1945-1973)
  • APA-143: Clermont (1945-1973)
  • APA-144: Clinton (1945-1984)
  • APA-145: Colbert (1945-1974)
  • APA-146: Collingsworth (1945-1983)
  • APA-147: Cottle (1944-1973)
  • APA-148: Crockett (1945-1985)
  • APA-149: Audubon (1944-1973)

  • APA-150: Bergen (1944-1973)
  • APA-151: La Porte (1944-1973)
  • APA-152: Latimer (1944-1971)
  • APA-153: Laurens (1944-1988)
  • APA-154: Lowndes (1944-1983)
  • APA-155: Lycoming (1944-1973)
  • APA-156: Mellette (1944-1987)
  • APA-157: Napa (1944-1983)
  • APA-158: Newberry (1944-1983)
  • APA-159: Darke (1944-1974)

  • APA-160: Deuel (1944-1974)
  • APA-161: Dickens (1944-1974)
  • APA-162: Drew (1944-1974)
  • APA-163: Eastland (1944-1974)
  • APA-164: Edgecombe (1944-1987)
  • APA-165: Effingham (1944-1973)
  • APA-166: Fond du Lac (1944-1974)
  • APA-167: Freestone (1944-1973)
  • APA-168: Gage (1944-20--)
  • APA-169: Gallatin (1944-1983)

  • APA-170: Gosper (1944-1974)
  • APA-171: Granville (1944-1973)
  • APA-172: Grimes (1944-1974)
  • APA-173: Hyde (1944-1983)
  • APA-174: Jerauld (1944-1974)
  • APA-175: Karnes (1944-1974)
  • APA-176: Kershaw (1944-1982)
  • APA-177: Kingsbury (1944-1983)
  • APA-178: Lander (1944-1983)
  • APA-179: Lauderdale (1944-20--)

  • APA-180: Lavaca (1944-1992)
  • APA-181: unnamed (cancelled, 1944)
  • APA-182: unnamed (cancelled, 1944)
  • APA-183: unnamed (cancelled, 1944)
  • APA-184: unnamed (cancelled, 1944)
  • APA-185: unnamed (cancelled, 1944)
  • APA-186: unnamed (cancelled, 1944)
  • APA-187: Oconto (1944-1974)
  • APA-188: Olmsted (1944-1983)
  • APA-189: Oxford (1944-1974)

  • APA-190: Pickens (1944-1973)
  • APA-191: Pondera (1944-1974)
  • APA-192: Rutland (1944-1982)
  • APA-193: Sanborn (1944-1971)
  • APA-194: Sandoval (1944-ca.1993)
  • APA-195: Lenawee (1944-1975)
  • APA-196: Logan (1944-1979)
  • APA-197: Lubbock (1944-1975)
  • APA-198: McCracken (1944-1975)
  • APA-199: Magoffin (1944-1980)

  • APA-200: Marathon (1944-1975)
  • APA-201: Menard (1944-1975)
  • APA-202: Menifee (1944-1975)
  • APA-203: Meriwether (1944-1975)
  • APA-204: Sarasota (1944-1983)
  • APA-205: Sherburne (1944-20__),
    later Range Sentinel (T-AGM-22)
  • APA-206: Sibley (1944-1975)
  • APA-207: Mifflin (1944-1975)
  • APA-208: Talladega (1944-1982),
    later LPA-208
  • APA-209: Tazewell (1944-1972)

  • APA-210: Telfair (1944-1969)
  • APA-211: Missoula (1944-1975)
  • APA-212: Montrose (1944-1970)
  • APA-213: Mountrail (1944-1990)
  • APA-214: Natrona (1944-1975)
  • APA-215: Navarro (1944-1982)
  • APA-216: Neshoba (1944-1975)
  • APA-217: New Kent (1944-1971)
  • APA-218: Noble (1944-1964)
  • APA-219: Okaloosa (1944-1971)

  • APA-220: Okanogan (1944-1979)
  • APA-221: Oneida (1944-1975)
  • APA-222: Pickaway (1944-1980)
  • APA-223: Pitt (1944-1980)
  • APA-224: Randall (1944-1971)
  • APA-225: Bingham (1944-1983)
  • APA-226: Rawlins (1944-1987)
  • APA-227: Renville (1944-1982)
  • APA-227: Rockbridge (1944-1969)
  • APA-229: Rockingham (1944-1979)

  • APA-230: Rockwall (1945-1983)
  • APA-231: Saint Croix (1944-1979)
  • APA-232: San Saba (1944-1975)
  • APA-233: Sevier (1944-1980)
  • APA-234: Bollinger (1944-1982)
  • APA-235: Bottineau (1944-1983)
  • APA-236: Bronx (1945-1979)
  • APA-237: Bexar (1945-1982)
  • APA-238: Dane (1945-1975)
  • APA-239: Glynn (1945-1983)

  • APA-240: Harnett (cancelled, 1945)
  • APA-241: Hempstead (cancelled, 1945)
  • APA-242: Iredell (cancelled, 1945)
  • APA-243: Luzerne (cancelled, 1945)
  • APA-244: Madera (cancelled, 1945)
  • APA-245: Maricopa (cancelled, 1945)
  • APA-246: McLennan (cancelled, 1945)
  • APA-247: Mecklenburg (cancelled, 1945)
  • APA-248: Paul Revere (1958-1980)
  • APA-249: Francis Marion (1961-1980)


To the best of our knowledge, the pictures provided in the "Online Library of Selected Images" are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 23 November 2003
Link added 29 December 2006