USS Dutchess (APA-98)

USS Dutchess (APA-98) was a Windsor-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

The former USS Dutchess (APA-98) in commercial service as Oriental Jade, 1973
History
United States
Name: USS Dutchess (APA-98)
Namesake: A county in New York State
Builder: Bethlehem Steel
Launched: 26 August 1944
Sponsored by: Miss Dorothy Unger
Christened: Dutchess
Acquired: 4 November 1944
Commissioned: 4 November 1944
Decommissioned: 4 April 1946
Renamed: Excalibur, Oriental Jade
Honours and
awards:		 One battle star for World War II service
Fate: Scrapped, 1974
General characteristics
Class and type: Windsor-class attack transport
Displacement: 7,970 tons (lt), 13,143 t. (fl)
Length: 473 ft 1 in
Beam: 66 ft
Draft: 25 ft
Propulsion: Bethlehem geared turbine drive, 2 × Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers, single propeller, designed shaft horsepower 8,000
Speed: 18.6 knots
Capacity:
  • Troops: Officer 94 Enlisted 1,463
  • Cargo: 150,000 cu ft, 1,600 tons
Complement: Officer 42 Enlisted 434
Armament: 1 x 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun mounts, 2 x Bofors 40mm gun mounts, 2 x twin 20mm gun mounts, 18 x single 20mm gun mounts
Notes: MCV Hull No. 1676, hull type C3-S-A1

Dutchess (APA-98) was named after a county in New York State. She was launched 26 August 1944 by Bethlehem Sparrow's Point Shipyard, Sparrow's Point, Maryland, under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the Navy 4 November 1944; and commissioned the same day, Commander A. B. Leggett in command.

World War II

Arriving at Newport, Rhode Island, 8 December 1944, Dutchess served as schoolship for precommissioning crews until 27 February 1945 when she got underway from Davisville, Rhode Island, for the Pacific.

Invasion of Okinawa

She reached Pearl Harbor 19 March for training exercises, then sailed by way of Eniwetok to Okinawa where she landed reinforcements and combat cargo on 1 May. A week later she sailed for Saipan to debark casualties, and continued to San Francisco, arriving 29 May.

Transport missions

Dutchess sailed from Portland, Oregon, 13 June 1945 with troops for Pearl Harbor, then transported men of the IXth Corps, U.S. Army, to San Pedro, Leyte, arriving 15 July. She voyaged to carry troops from San Francisco to Manila between 21 July and 12 September, then sailed in the Philippines in local redeployment of troops.

After hostilities

Dutchess arrived at Wakayama, Japan, 7 October 1945, and landed occupation troops at Nagoya on the 26th and 27th. She was assigned to Operation Magic Carpet and sailed from Nagoya 1 November to embark returning servicemen at Manila and carry them to San Francisco arriving 25 November. A similar voyage was made between 8 December 1945 and 25 January 1946.

Decommission

Dutchess left San Francisco 1 February for the East Coast, arriving at Norfolk 19 February. She was decommissioned there 4 April 1946 and delivered to the War Shipping Administration the next day for disposal.

Awards

Dutchess received one battle star for World War II service.

Commercial service

In 1948, Dutchess was sold to American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines and renamed Excalibur. She was later resold to C. Y. Tung of Hong Kong, reflagged in the Republic of China, and renamed Oriental Jade. She was scrapped in 1974.

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References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.


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