Menifee (APA 202) - Naval Cruise Book

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Under the Shadow of a Tropic Squall, an APfl Convoy Saipan — and a glimpse of versatile float units. Funny, though, it ' s hard to get and keep a good tan in the tropics.

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THE ATTACK TRANSPORT Since Guadalcanal and Tunisia, the Navy ' s APA ' s, attack transports, have been carrying Allied fighting men and their gear to the coasts and on to the beaches of enemy-held territories. APA ' s are fitted to land 1500 assault troops on a schedule timed to the second and to put ashore the cargo of war behind the troops during a few succeeding hours. Although this landing of assault troops against opposition is the special- ized job of the APA, the more frequent duty is that of carrying men and cargo between friendly ports. Between in- vasions, the APA ' s ply the seas without letup, so that after a few months on an attack transport, a sailor has seen more lands than the average person does in a lifetime. What kind of a vessel has the Navy built for this duty? The U.S.S. Menifee, typical of the latest APA class, is a modified version of the Maritime Commission ' s Victory ship. It is 455 feet in length, 62 feet in beam, and of 10,452 long tons displacement. A 8500 h.p. steam turbine and the newly-developed high pressure boilers form the heart of the engineering plant. Sufficient fuel is carried for a non-stop 13,000 mile trip. A 5-inch gun, five multiple-barrel 40mm mounts, and 10 20mm guns enable the Navy transport to defend herself against aerial attack. The twenty-odd assault boats carried on these ships are the reason APA ' s are not ordinary passenger and cargo vessels, but attack transports. Twenty-two of the Menifee ' s 26 assault boats are LCVP ' s, that is Landing Craft, carrying vehicles and personnel. They ' re 36 feet long, weigh nearly nine tons, can do 10 knots on a 225 h.p. diesel engine, and are manned by a crew of four. Similar in size, slightly differ- ent in appearance, are the LCPR and LCPL, one of each being carried on the Menifee. They are ordinar- ily used for boat salvage and control, and are armed like LCVP ' s with two .30-cal. machine guns. The remaining two boats carried on APA 202 are LCM ' s, the granddaddies of assault boats. LCM ' s are from 50 to 56 feet long, weigh 27 tons, do 10 knots on two 225 h.p. diesel engines, and have a crew of five. An LCM can take a medium tank ashore. It has more armor them the smaller boats, and carries two .50-cal. machine guns. Manning these boats are the 130 officers and men of the Boat Group. Another group of specialists, approximately 50 of the 500 man total complement aboard, are the Beach Party members. They are the ship ' s representatives on the beach during an amphibious opera- tion, and in their battle dress are indistinguishable from Marines. The Beach Party receives intensive training ashore before reporting aboard for duty. Now the APA ' s, which were in every operation during the long way up from Guadalcanal, are concluding an honorable war record with their part in the occupation of Japan. And the last job, as well as the happiest, will be the returning of veterans to the States.

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in reply refer to: APA 202 Serial I S S. MENIFEE IAPA-202I % Fleet Post Office San Francisco, California By the time this book goes to press, the Menifee will have been in commission for a little more than a year. During this year, it has been my privilege to watch the ship develope into a fine and well-functioning unit, of which you and the Navy can well be proud. It is with a feeling of pride that I remember the organization of the ship ' s crew. Most of you were somewhat green when you first came aboard; and it is a credit to the nation that you worked hard and were willing to learn from the old salts the business of running a ship. If you had failed the ship, she would have failed with you. lou learned your work well, and further than that, you took and still take pride in your ship. That ' s what makes a ship pride in her appearance and performance. The Menifee may not have seen as much action as some ships, but whatever job she has been assigned, she has done well. Much of the credit goes to our former commanding officer, Captain Spaulding, who so ably commanded the Menifee. I have endeavored to carry on his policies after taking command. But, however much credit is given to Captain Spaulding or to me, a larger amount is due to you, the officers and men of the U35 Menifee. ' Without your whole-hearted and spirited co- operation and diligence, no man, however well qualified, could have made this ship what she is today. 1 aeem it an honor and a privilege to have served with you. j kfe azmadrt