New Kent (APA 217) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE U. S. S. NEW KENT CAPA-2175 D4 .Slow Mdfory The U.S.S. NEW KENT CAPA-2171, a VC2S-APS type I-lull CMaritime Commission I-lull Number V- 565l was built for the U.S. Maritime Commission by the Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard No. 2, Richmond, Calif. The keel was laid on ll Iuly, 1944, and the ship was launched on 12 October, 1944. The ship was turned over by the builder to the Maritime Commission on 21 November, 1944, and was commissioned at the Parr-Richmond Ter- minal Number Three, Richmond, California, on 22 November, 1944, when Captain C. G. McCord, U.S.N. CRetl, representing the Commandant Twelfth Naval District, delivered the ship to Cap- tain Frank Monroe, Ir., U.S. Navy, the Command- ing Officer. The ship's company had been assem- bled at the Pre-Commissioning Training Center, Treasure Island, California. The Beach Party and Boat Group had been independently assembled and trained at the Beach Battalion School, Am- phibious 'Training Base, Oceanside, California, and Amphibious Training Base, Coronado, Cali- fornia, respectively. These two units joined the ship shortly after commissioning. The following were the senior officers at the time of commissioning: Commanding Officer - Captain Frank Monroe, Ir., USN-Coronado, Cali- fornia. Executive Officer-Lieutenant Commander Iames E. S. Baker CDD, USNR, Wilmette, Illinois. Engineering Officer-Lieutenant Commander Iohn C. Preston, CEMD, USNR, San Francisco, Cali- fornia. Senior Medical Officer-Lieutenant Commander William I. Schwab, CMCD, USNR, Providence, Rhode Island. Boat Group Commander-Lieutenant Robert L. Nipper, CDDL, USNR-Indianapolis, Indiana. Beachmaster-Lieutenant Frederic R. Pierce, CDJL, USNR-Sacramento, Calif. , Gunnery Officer-Lieutenant Richard L. Howell, CDD, USNR-Lynchburg, Virginia. Communication Officer-Lieutenant Spencer I-I. Bridge, CCD, USNR-Forrest City, Iowa. Navigator-Lieutenant Edward N. Hoffman, CDD, USNR-Long Island, New York. Chaplain-Lieutenant Ioseph S. Rice, CChCD, USNR-Richmond, Virginia. First Lieutenant-Lieutenant Cjgl Monroe D. Sel- igman, CDD, USNR-Brooklyn, New York. Supply Officer-Lieutenant Owen S. Davies, CSCI, USN,-San Leandro, Calif. Transport Quartermaster - Second Lieutenant Allie E. Cornwell, USMCR-Austin, Texas. The NEW KENT outfitted at Naval Supply De- pot, Oakland, California, and then had several days restricted availability at Naval Drydocks, 1-Iunter's Point, California, at which time many al- terations were accomplished. The ship remained in the San Francisco Bay Area completing loading and calibrating equipment until 8 December, 1944, when she sailed ,to San Pedro where she report- ed to Commander, San Pedro Shakedown Group, Fleet Operational Training Command Pacific for a two weeks shakedown period in the San' Pedro Area. On completion of this training the ship sailed to San Diego where she reported to Com- mander Amphibious Training Command. Pacific on 24 December, 1944. The ship then engaged in two ,weeks amphibious training in the vicinity of Coronado and Oceanside, California, at the con- clusion of which the ship was given a seven day period of availability at the U.S. Naval Repair Base, San Diego, California. On 20 January, 1945, the NEW KENT, escorted by the U.S.S. TI-IADDEUS C. PARKER CDE-3691, and carryingithe Ianuary replacements for the Fourth Marine Aircraft Wing and miscellaneous cargo destined for Majuro and Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, sailed for Pearl Harbor, T.1-I., arriving 26 Ianuary. On 30 Ianuary the ship sailed for Ma- juro escorted by the PC 825. En route, on the first

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Lt. G. W. Miller, USNR, Executive Otti cer, 21 Iune, 1945, to 4 Oct., 1945. LT. COMDR. E. N. HOFFMAN 4 Oct., 1945, to Dcxte

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night out, the escort, in attempting to regain proper station, rammed the NEW KENT'amidships, starboard side and sustained severe damage to herself but was able to proceed under her own power to Pearl Harbor. The NEW KENT proceeded to Majuro, rendezvousing with the USSBRACK- ETT CDE-411, an escort sent out from Majuro, on the early morning of 4 February, 1945. The ship arrived at Marjuro on 6 February and left for Kwajalein on 7 February, arriving there on 8 Feb- ruary. Upon completion of discharge of passen- gers and cargo, the ship sailed for Lunga Point, Guadalcanal on 10 February, arriving on 13 eb- ruary. En route, on 12 February, the ship entered the Domain of Neptunus Rex and the royal party was received on board with appropriate cere- monies. At Guadalcanal the NEW KENT reported to Commander Amphibious Group 4 and was fur- ther ordered to report to Commander Transport Division 53 in the Russell Islands for duty in con- nection with the Okinawa operation. The ship re- ported to Commander Transport Division 53 on 14 February. From this time until 15 March the ship was engaged in combat loading the troops and equipment of the Third Battalion, First Regiment of the First Marine Division and attached troops and in rehearsal exercises in the Guadalcanal- Russell Islands Area for the forthcoming operation. In company with the ships of Amphibious Group 4, the NEW KENT departed from Guadal- canal for Okinawa on 15 March, stopping en route at Ulithi from 21 March to 27 March. Ex- cept for continuous bad weather and high seas the trip to Okinawa was uneventful. The ship ar- rived off the western beaches of Okinawa during the early morning of 1 April and the Battalion Landing Team Cin Regimental Reservej and at- tached troops were landed that afternoon, after which cargo unloading was begun. The NEW KENT beach party was landed on 2 April and in conjunction with other beach parties of the Di- vision, operated on Yellow Beach 3 until with- drawn on 6 April. During the nights of 1 and 2 April the ships of the squadron retired but there- after they remained in the transport area. Fre- quent air battles took place in the vicinity of the objective, but enemy planes only reached the transport area for short periods on the 3rd, 5th and 6th of April. On 7 April, the ship in company with other transports got underway and proceeded to Guam in a convoy with the U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS KCA- 35j COTCJ arriving there on ll April. The next - . day the NEW KENT in company with eight other transports got underway for Pearl Harbor COTC in the NEW KENTJ arriving there on 23 April. The NEW KENT remained at Pearl Harbor en- gaged in upkeep until 10 May when she reported to Commander Transport Squadron 19 and en- gaged in Amphibious Training exercises off Maui, T.H., returning to Pearl Harbor on 14 May. A fur- ther upkeep period followed. From 17 May to 27 May the NEW KENT and U.S.S. NOBLE CAPA- 2l8j, in company with 2 PC's as escorts, acting as the target group, took part in a joint air-subma- rine training exercise under the direction of Com- mander Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in the Vicini- ty of Nihoa, T.H., the OTC of the target group was in the NEW KENT for this exercise. The ship re- turned to Pearl Harbor on 27 May and sailed for San Francisco on 29 May in a convoy under the operational control of Commander Transport Squadron 19, arriving there on 4 june. The NEW KENT sailed for Seattle, Washington on 6 june and upon arrival on 8 june was berthed at the Lake Washington Shipyards, Houghton, Washington. On 15 june Commander j. E. Baker, USNR, former Executive Officer, relieved Captain F. Monroe, USN, as Commanding Officer. During the stay at the Lake Washington Ship- yards, most of the yard workmen were out on strike so that very little work was accomplished. On 16 june the Commandant, 13th Naval District, ordered the ship moved to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, for docking and completion of voyage repairs. During this period the ship's bottom was given a coat of plastic paint and several important repairs and alterations were accomplished. Upon completion of this work on 23 june, the ship was moved to Seattle where general cargo and Army Casual Troops were loaded for Honolulu, T.H. The NEW KENT left Seattle on 26 june and arrived at Honolulu on 3 july. The ship sailed for San Francisco on 5 july carrying 300 japanese prisoners of war and Army and Navy Casuals, arriving San Francisco ll july, 1945. A period of voyage repairs and upkeep fol- lowed during which time Number 5 hold, 2nd deck, was converted to a troop berthing com- partment giving an additional troop capacity of 366. The ship was also docked and the propeller replaced during this period. On 28 july, the NEW KENT sailed for Eniwetok, Marshall Islands carrying Army Casual Troops and cargo for Leyte and Manila, P.I. The ship ar- rived at Eniwetok on 10 August and left the same