USS Bladen

USS Bladen (APA-63) was a Gilliam-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

USS Bladen (APA-63)
History
United States
Name	USS Bladen (APA-63)
Namesake	Bladen County, North Carolina
Builder	Consolidated Steel
Laid down	8 March 1944
Launched	31 May 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. John McNerney
Acquired	17 October 1944
Commissioned	18 October 1944
Decommissioned	26 December 1946
Honours and awards	Two battle stars for World War II service
Fate	Scrapped 15 July 1955
General characteristics
Class and type	Gilliam-class attack transport
Displacement	4,247 tons (lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
Length	426 ft (130 m)
Beam	58 ft (18 m)
Draft	16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion	Westinghouse turboelectric drive, 2 boilers, 2 propellers, Design shaft horsepower 6,000
Speed	16.9 knots
Capacity	86 Officers 1,475 Enlisted
Crew	47 Officers, 802 Enlisted
Armament	1 x 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun mount, 4 x twin 40 mm gun mounts, 10 x single 20mm gun mounts
Notes	MCV Hull No. 1851, hull type S4-SE2-BD1

Bladen was named after Bladen County, North Carolina. She was launched 31 May 1944 by Consolidated Steel at Wilmington, Los Angeles, under a Maritime Commission contract; acquired by the Navy 17 October 1944; and commissioned 18 October 1944.

Operational history

World War II

Bladen departed the west coast for Pearl Harbor 20 November 1944 and upon arrival embarked personnel of the 103rd and 109th Construction Battalions for Guam.

Invasion of Iwo Jima

Returning to Pearl Harbor 13 January 1945 the ship commenced combat loading and training maneuvers. On 27 January she set sail for Iwo Jima, via Saipan. The attack transport debarked troops and provided logistic support during the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima (19–28 February).

Invasion of Okinawa

After a brief layover at Saipan, Bladen prepared for the invasion of Okinawa. She performed her logistic services during the initial strikes against, and occupation of, Okinawa (1–10 April). In the middle of April she returned to Saipan where she remained at anchor for six weeks.

On 4 June she got underway for Tulagi, Solomon Islands, and thence to Nouméa, New Caledonia. She returned to San Francisco 21 July for a brief yard period.

After hostilities

With a passenger list of army and naval personnel, Blade sailed in August for Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Ulithi. She then steamed to the Philippines where she remained until 20 September. She next transported army personnel and equipment to Wakayama, Honshū, Japan. On 26 September she departed Wakayama and returned to the Philippines.

Bladen made another trip to Japan before getting underway for San Francisco, where she arrived 23 November. In December she made a return voyage to the Philippines.

Operation Crossroads

On 22 January 1946 she proceeded to Pearl Harbor where she remained until 18 May undergoing preparations for Operation Crossroads, the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. She participated in the operation between 31 May and 30 August 1946. Bladen departed Kwajalein Atoll 30 August for San Francisco, where she arrived 13 September.

Decommission

Bladen departed the west coast 1 November and steamed to Norfolk, Virginia. Upon arrival she reported for inactivation and was decommissioned 26 December 1946. She was transferred to the Maritime Commission 3 August 1953. She was scrapped on 3 August 1955 by Boston Metals Co., Baltimore, MD.

Decorations

Bladen earned two battle stars for her World War II service.

References

• USS Bladen (APA-63), Hyperwar website (from DANFS)
• APA-63 Bladen, Navsource Online.
• "USS Bladen", at Hullnumber.com: Crew roster, registry, photos

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.