Dauphin (APA 97) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY OF THE SHIP

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WHAT WE ' VE BEEN WAITING FOR

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rridioru of ike 14. 3. 3. = Dauplti rttach transport lumber 97 The U.S.S. DAUPHIN (APA 97) was commis- sioned 23 September 1944 at the Sparrows Point Yard of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Balti- more, Maryland. The ship, a modified C-3 Hull of American Export Line design, was built for the U. S. Maritime Commission and was launched on 10 July 1944, being the second of five sister ships. She was converted during building. APA ' s (Auxiliary Assault Transports) are named for Counties and the DAUPHIN takes her name from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. At 1100 on Commissioning Day, Captain N. B. Ward, USN (Ret), Assistant Industrial Manager in Baltimore, representing the Commandant of the 5th Naval District, formally accepted the DAUPHIN from the Maritime Commission and placed her in commission as a U. S. Naval Vessel. After the Commissioning ceremonies Captain Ward turned the ship over to her first (and present) Command- ing Officer, Commander, now Captain, Bailey Con- nelly, USN. The Ship ' s Roster included the Officers and men comprising Ship ' s Company, Beach Platoon, and Boat Group; as set out in Annex A . All sections of our country were represented by the crew with the Northeastern section contributing the greater number. After the brief reception for guests of the Officers and men the DAUPHIN departed Sparrows Point, and sailed for Port Covington in Baltimore Harbor, where for the next several days stores, commis- sioning allowance, supplies and equipment were loaded. This being completed on 29 September 1944, the Ship departed Port Covington and sailed for NOB Norfolk, Virginia, docking at Pier 4 on 1 October 1944. There, additional supplies and ammunition were taken aboard. The DAUPHIN then fueled at Craney Island and reported on 4 Oc- tober 1944 to Commander Amphibious Training Command, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, for duty. Lt. Comdr. Trower, USN, was senior member of the inspec- tion party for Administrative Command Amphibi- ous Forces, U. S. Atlantic Fleet. The DAUPHIN was then ordered to her shake- down cruise in Chesapeake Bay and sailed from Norfolk 5 October 1944. Captain C. L. Waters, USN., of the Bureau of Ships, and Captain, then Commander, A. B. Leggett, Prospective Command- ing Officer, of the U.S.S. DUTCHESS (APA 98) (a sister ship), were aboard as observers along with Lieutenants C. R. Boderick, USNR., and J. H. Os- borne, USNR., who represented Administrative Command, Amphibious Forces, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, on the shakedown. Commander Sherman, USN., was the training command shakedown officer and the DAUPHIN ' s schedule was prepared by that command. Most of the training took place off Solomon Islands, Maryland, and included general drills, target practice, ship handling, lowering and hoist- ing boats, practice landing by day and night in boats, paravane streaming and recovering and actual loading and discharging of cargo. Much valuable experience was gained during the shake- down, which was marred only by a fatal accident to one of the Ship ' s Officers, Ensign John B. Adams, USNR., who was struck by a vang from the Jumbo Boom during cargo operations. A failure of a ring link in the vang caused it to give away. The full power trial run was made between Annapolis and Cape Charles City during our return to Norfolk. The DAUPHIN then had her first availability at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, from 20 October 1944 to 28 October 1944, during which time various repairs and alterations were accom- plished and deficiencies disclosed by the shake- down corrected. An Ice Cream machine was then installed which proved to be a source of great pleasure during the hot days of the South Pacific yet to come. The DAUPHIN then reported to the Commander, Operational Training Command, Atlantic Fleet, and departed Norfolk for Newport, Rhode Island, where she served as a training ship for Pre- commissioning crews of APA ' s and AKA ' s, oper- ating as Task Unit 23.13.1. Commander Riddell, USNR., Lt. Comdr. B. C. Modin, USNR., Lt. Comdr. H. S. Cook, USNR., and Lt. Wallace, USNR., reported aboard for duty in connection with the intensive training program carried out. This tour of duty likewise proved invaluable to the DAUPHIN ' s crew. In Newport, the DAUPHIN ' s small boats, on Monday, would load the pre-commissioning crews, not only for our ship, but also for the U.S.S. VICKS- BURG and U.S.S. DULUTH, which were also train- ing ships. The DAUPHIN would then proceed to Long Island Sound for maneuvers. Anti-aircraft practice would be held south of Newport on Fri- days and Saturdays and the crews debarked upon the return to Newport. As a rule sea watches were stood in Newport Harbor due to the inability of anchors to hold. The week-end the DAUPHIN took the crew of the BON HOMME RICHARD (CV 31) to Brooklyn, New York, where she was commissioned, these light anchors — 104 —