_in_San_Francisco_Bay%2c_California_(USA)%2c_circa_in_late_1945_(NH_98739).jpg) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSLowndes |
| Namesake | |
| Ordered | as type VC2-S-AP5 |
| Laid down | date unknown |
| Launched | 18 July 1944 |
| Acquired | 14 September 1944 |
| Commissioned | 14 September 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 17 April 1946 |
| Stricken | 1 May 1946 |
| Fate | Scrapped, 1983 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 12,450 tons (full load) |
| Length | 455 ft 0 in (138.68 m) |
| Beam | 62 ft 0 in (18.90 m) |
| Draught | 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m) |
| Speed | 19 knots |
| Complement | 536 |
| Armament |
|
USSLowndes (APA/LPA-154) was aHaskell-classattack transport in service with theUnited States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1983.
Lowndes was launched under aMaritime Commission contract by Oregon Shipbuilding Co.,Portland, Oregon, 18 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Fred J. Lundberg; acquired by the Navy 14 September 1944; and commissioned the same day.
After shakedown,Lowndes departedSan Pedro, California, 23 October for amphibious training in theHawaiian Islands. She continued landing rehearsals for the rest of the year in preparation for theIwo Jima andOkinawa operations.
DepartingPearl Harbor 27 January 1945,Lowndes carried troops and equipment to staging areas inSaipan before continuing towardIwo Jima. She arrived off the southeast coast of the volcanic island 19 February and lowered her boats for the massive amphibious assault. She carried the 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines and C Co 133NCB (their assigned Shore Party). For the next eight daysLowndes stood by as her beach party went ashore to attend and evacuate casualties to salvage boats, and to clear the beaches forlanding craft. The transport returned toSaipan 3 March to prepare for the final leg on the island hopping campaign which was pushingJapan back to her home islands.
Lowndes sailed 27 March for the 1 Aprilinvasion of Okinawa arriving there in the morning hours of D Day. The transport waited in the retirement area until 12 April when under constant enemy air raids she debarked troops and unloaded cargo for the vigorous campaign ashore. ReturningSaipan 18 AprilLowndes performed training exercises there and in the SouthwestPacific Ocean until she departedGuam 11 July forSan Francisco, California.
The transport made another cruise to the western Pacific (August October) carrying troops and cargo to thePhilippines and Japan for occupation duty. Loaded with homeward bound veteransLowndes departedSaipan 6 October for theUnited States. Sailing to theU.S. East Coast in February 1946, she decommissioned atNorfolk, Virginia, 17 April 1946, and returned to War Shipping Administration (WSA) for disposal.
Lowndes received twobattle stars forWorld War II service.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
