Ordered as type VC2-S-AP5 Commissioned 30 October 1944 Struck date unknown Launched 24 September 1944 Draft 7.32 m | Laid down date unknown Decommissioned 31 January 1947 Fate fate unknown Length 139 m | |
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USS Edgecombe (APA-164) was a Haskell-class attack transport acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas.
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World War II service
The second ship to be named Edgecombe by the Navy, APA-164 was launched 24 September 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Oregon, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. Esther S. Wilson; and commissioned 30 October 1944, Commander F. W. Wauchope, USNR, in command.
From the West Coast to New Guinea
Edgecombe began transport duty along with her shakedown when she carried the 68th CB's from Seattle, Washington, to San Francisco, California, in November 1944. After training at San Pedro, California, she sailed the last day of 1944 from San Francisco with cargo for Finschhafen. She joined a convoy at Hollandia and arrived at Leyte 6 February 1945 to land reinforcements.
Landing troops and equipment at Okinawa
After intensive training with the 5th Amphibious Force, Edgecombe sailed 27 March 1945 for Okinawa. She landed her troops in the initial assault 1 April and remained off the beach 5 feverish days unloading cargo and embarking casualties for evacuation to Saipan. She sailed on to Pearl Harbor and reached San Francisco in May.
End-of-war operations
Assigned to carry troops from the U.S. West Coast to the Philippines, Edgecombe was on the second such voyage when the war ended. In September she transported occupation troops from Leyte to Aomori, Honshū. Returning to the west coast, Edgecombe was assigned "Operation Magic Carpet" duty, and twice went to the western Pacific Ocean to bring home servicemen eligible for discharge.
Post-war decommissioning
On 11 February 1946 she got underway from Portland, Oregon, for Norfolk, Virginia, which she reached 16 March. There she was placed out of commission in reserve 31 January 1947. Edgecombe was returned to the Maritime Commission 1 October 1958.
Edgecombe received one battle star for World War II service.