Name USS Elkhart (APA-80) Sponsored by Mrs. J. B. Bonny Commissioned 8 February 1945 Launched 5 December 1944 Displacement 3.853 million kg | Namesake A county in Indiana Acquired 7 February 1945 Decommissioned 12 April 1946 Length 130 m | |
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Builder Consolidated Steel Corporation | ||
USS Elkhart (APA-80) was a Gilliam-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II. Commissioned late in the war, she was initially assigned to transport duties and consequently did not participate in combat operations.
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Elkhart was named after a county in Indiana. She was launched 5 December 1944 by Consolidated Steel at Wilmington, California, under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the Navy 7 February 1945; and commissioned the following day, Lieutenant Commander C. R. Frazier, USNR, in command.
World War II
Sailing from San Diego 3 April 1945, Elkhart during her brief war service carried cargo in or out of Eniwetok, Ulithi, Leyte, Peleliu, Guam, and Okinawa. In July she supported the occupation of Kume Shima in Okinawa Gunto.
After hostilities
With the end of hostilities, she made one trip to Tokyo Bay to deliver occupation cargo, then transported 6th Marine Division from Guam to reoccupy Tsingtao, China. Arriving at Haiphong in November, she embarked Chinese troops for transportation to Chinwangtao, then continued on to Jinsen (Inchon) to embark servicemen eligible for discharge upon return home. They reached the Golden Gate 3 January 1946.
Decommission
Elkhart was decommissioned at Seattle 12 April and returned to the Maritime Commission 28 June 1946.