USS Elkhart (APA-80)

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.

USS Elkhart (APA-80) underway, date and location unknown
History
United States
Name: USS Elkhart (APA-80)
Namesake: A county in Indiana
Builder: Consolidated Steel
Launched: 5 December 1944
Sponsored by: Mrs. J. B. Bonny
Acquired: 7 February 1945
Commissioned: 8 February 1945
Decommissioned: 12 April 1946
Fate: Scrapped, 1964
General characteristics
Class and type: Gilliam-class attack transport
Tonnage: 85,000 cu. ft., 600 t.
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: 17 knots
Capacity: 47 Officers, 802 Enlisted
Crew: 27 Officers, 295 Enlisted
Armament: 1 x 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun mount, 4 x twin 40mm gun mounts, 10 x single 20mm gun mounts
Notes: MCV Hull No. 1873, hull type S4-SE2-BD1

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.

Operational history

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.

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References

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

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