_underway_in_San_Francisco_Bay%2c_California_(USA)%2c_circa_1945-1946_(NH_65019).jpg) Marathon underway in San Francisco Bay, California (USA), circa 1945-1946 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSMarathon |
| Namesake | Marathon County, Wisconsin |
| Ordered |
|
| Laid down | 4 July 1944 |
| Launched | 7 October 1944 |
| Acquired | 27 October 1944 |
| Commissioned | 28 October 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 8 May 1946 |
| Stricken | 8 May 1946 |
| Fate | Returned to owners, 8 May 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 14,833 (full load) |
| Length | 455 ft 0 in (138.68 m) |
| Beam | 62 ft 0 in (18.90 m) |
| Draft | 28 ft 1 in (8.56 m) |
| Speed | 17 knots |
| Boats & landing craft carried | two LCM, twelve LCVP, three LCPU |
| Capacity | 150,000 cu. ft, 2,900 tons |
| Complement | 56 Officers 480 Enlisted |
| Armament |
|
USSMarathon (APA-200) was aHaskell-classattack transport acquired by theU.S. Navy duringWorld War II for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas.
Marathon (APA 200), built underMaritime Commission contract, was laid down by theKaiser Shipbuilding Co.,Vancouver, Washington; launched 7 October 1944; sponsored by Mrs. E. L. Greene; acquired by the Navy on loan charter 27 October 1944; and commissioned 28 October 1944.
Followingshakedown exercises,Marathon underwent amphibious training operations off the southernCalifornia coast and in theHawaiian Islands. On 24 January 1945, she departedPearl Harbor, with army, marine, and naval passengers, and steamed independently forEspiritu Santo andGuadalcanal. She arrived in theNew Hebrides 2 February, disembarked her army passengers and general cargo and continued on to theSolomons, arriving at Guadalcanal on the 7th. At the end of the month, the transport commenced a period of intensive amphibious exercises in preparation for the upcomingOkinawa campaign.
On 22 March she got underway forUlithi, conducting gunnery drills en route, and 27 March sailed with the fleet for theRyukyus. Just before dawn, 1 April,Marathon began dispatching her boats toward the beaches. Commencing with smoke boats, she continued unloading troops and cargo into the afternoon. losing only one of herlanding craft, with no casualties, to enemy fire.
The transport remained in the assault zone until 5 April when she headed for theMarianas. FromSaipan, she returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving on the 20th for maintenance. Following training,Marathon called atSan Francisco, California, to embark troops bound forHawaii. She returned toPearl Harbor 8 June and headed for the westernPacific Ocean 2 days later, steaming viaEniwetok andUlithi, forOkinawa.Marathon reached that island 14 July and proceeded into newly namedBuckner Bay, where she discharged passengers and cargo.
On 22 July, while at anchor in Buckner BayMarathon’s hull trembled with a force of a violent explosion. Postwar examination of Japanese records indicates that the explosion, which resulted in extensive damage, was caused by akaiten, a one-man suicide Japanesesubmarine.
Following prolonged repairs, on 16 SeptemberMarathon sailed toNagasaki to embark ex-prisoners of war of varying nationality for transport toOkinawa. From October to February she swept minefields in theNagoya,Hiro Wan, andIse Wan areas.
Marathon headed for theUnited States in late February 1946. She decommissioned and returned to her owners at San Francisco 8 May.
Marathon received twobattle stars forWorld War II service atOkinawa.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
