Karnes (APA 175) - Naval Cruise Book

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Davits. A l'Boat Group Commander, 2 assistants, 8 Boat Officers and 120 men comprised the 'lBoat Group and were designated and supplied from the crew. The Karnes went into commission at Astoria, Ore- gon, December 3, 1945, with a complement of 440 of- ficers and men. This complement was later down to 375 on V. 1. Day,- and finally down to 250 prior to de- commissioning. Counted as part of and working with a crew was the Ship's Beach Party, consisting of a l'Beach Master, 1 assistant, l Medical Officer, and some 47 men. Their duties were to make the initial landing with the invading forces, secure and direct the activities on the beach, and finally to evacuate the wounded from the beach to the ship. The ship would then act secondarily as a hospital evacuation vessel and transport the casualties to the nearest available base hospital. 5 The ship was divided into the following Depart- ments: Medical, Navigating, Supply, Engineering, Re- pair, and Gunnery. From theseDepartments were divided these Divisions: 1-1, R, S, lst, 2nd, 3rd, N, A, B, E, and M. - The Karnes participated in several major activi- ties. 1-ler first was the evacuation of Iwo lima casual- ties from Saipan to Pearl Harbor on March 8, 1945. She next transported replacement troops to Okinawa, arriving there May 3, and remaining until May 8, dur- ing which time the operational area wassubjected to 72 separate air attacks from the enemy. She evac- uated casualties from Okinawa to' the Later, she spent a period of fmaneuv waiian lslands, later to be. a part. 'off Day activities of Sasebo, Kyushu,-I ber 22, 1945. She left Sasebo, only toi the Philippine Islands to pick troops and return to Sasebo on thePlla4t1fri: The Karnes returned to the United .States-2 of November to undergo repairs inthe California, Dry. Docks. Duringher trip-to lthfe Karnes spotted and sunk 3 ff1'oati1'1gfl On a return trip to the Pacific, fen route-A to Karnes experienced a 50 knot hurricane gree' roll. For whatwas supposed to be the Karnes took Occupation troops to on the 18th of December, and returned to States on lanuary 12, 1946. '

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V wi,-xwv i-,var-YA?-7ihY 4 . l70lll2WAll0 I Christen thee, U.S.S. Karnes Simultaneously with these words, the crash ofa champagne bottle, strains from the'National Anthem, cheers, and the roar and din from the Oregon Shipbuilding Yards at Portland, the U.S.S. Karnes, APA l75 slid down the launching ways and into the lives of several hundred who were to man her and love her and fight with her. Thus was born another of the Class AP '5 Attack Transports. Miraculously, these figures spelled her gestation: Keel laid: September 24, l944, Launched: November 7, l944, Delivered: November 30, l944. A 90-day War-Baby, yes, but the secret of the building of this sturdy 455' long, 62' wide, 38' deep vessel lay in the process of pre-fabrication and 24 hour produc- tion, the vital link between the loss or gain of a victory for a Nation at war. With a minimum displacement of approximately 9,000 tons, equipped with the latest and most scientific equipment, and manned by a ca- pable crew, the Karnes was subjected to an exhaus- tive shake-down trial period, and finally accepted for the duty for which she was intended. During a flank speed test, she had gone well over the l9 knot mark, and had responded effectively to her rugged maneuvers. The primary activity for which this ship was pro- duced was to act as a fighting Troop Transport and Attack vessel. To secure- these means, she was de- signed and constructed with 7 troop compartments capable of facilitating the transportation of some l,500 troops. An additional compartment could han- dle some 85 troop officers. She was given 5 cargo holds, in. which a varied assortment of cargo ranging from beer to belly-tanks was carried. 2 For transporting and assault purposes, the fol- lowing landing craft were supplied: 22 LCVP's, 2 LCM's, l LCPCLD, l LCPCRD. To handle these craft, as well as her cargo, she was fitted with l 35-ton, 8- 10- ton, and 4 5-ton booms, as well as 4 l3-ton Welin 140 ,I 4, saga.: - 5 f 4 ...N T . Q... 4.-yt ga if: . if .tif ' . .-'K 'T,i A . . 1

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The Heal I5 Laid SEPTEMBER 24, 1944 The embryonic Korrnes ot the Oregon Shipbuild ing Corporation, Portland, Oregon.