Noble (APA 218) - Naval Cruise Book

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U The NOBLE returned to her normal duties in the States, with a tour to the Western Pacific each 18 months. While on such a tour of the Far East in February 1955, she was ordered to sail for the Tachen Islands to assist in the evacuation of the Nationalist Chinese civilian and mili- tary personnel. The NOBLE had a busy week, but highly productive, she had carried over 4,800 Chinese Nationalists to Formosa. During the period 1955 to 1962 the ship participated in several amphibious operations and tours of duty in the Westem Pacific. The NOBLE even became a star in the movies. The ship's services were loaned to Hollywood, and the NOBLE appeared in three movies: MAWay All Boats, D-Day: Sixth of June, and MBetween Heaven and Hell. On 27 October 1962, the NOBLE departed San Diego for the Caribbean loaded with over 1,400 Marines. The Noble operated in that area until tensions subsided in Cuba and she returned to her home port in December. Since that time, the ship has continued to maintain its high state of readiness through refresher training, amphibious operations, and now another tour to the Western Pacific. CHARACTERISTICS Over-all-length ....... -,----- 4. 55' . 3 Beam ....,................ ,---- 6 2' . lwn Maximum Draft ....--. ---------- 2 LL' Maximum Speed ,,,.,,, --R-,----,-----.------------------ 1 3 kts 5hip'S Personnel .-...... ........ 3 15 Enlisted, 30 Officers TTOOP C3P3CitY ------ .... ..... 1 , 500 Enlisted, 100 Officers Afmament ------------------------------. 40 mm mounts f 1 quad, 4 dualj Water Capacity fdistillingj .,.... ,-,-,,,-,,..,,-,,-.-. 4 0,000 gals per day Displacement ...........,,,,,.,,,,. --------------- 9 ,500 tons Weight of Anchors C25 ........ r,,r..rr 1 1,00O1bS each Number of Landing Craft ,.,,-- --.-.------.---------- 2 4 ....f...e.-. uu-..,........ - 1... ..g-4.-...:..ua.4.-..:.......w ' ' ' H- u ' ' H ' - b- ,. Y'

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- f vT 'f f WWWWt'mmmw1'm MwF1wvW'mmwmvq nmvvv,w . . . . - . , . -nv-Q.,-..-.,-.,,.,.,.,,,.,.,.,.,,, ,m,, ,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , ,, , , U ,M In October with a full load of Marines and cargo, the NOBLE sailed up the Yellow Sea through a flood of floating mines, sinking several enroute to her destination, Tsingtao, China, where a successful landing was made. Operations immediately after the war' included participation in the HIVIACIC CARPET OPERA- TION,,' which was the returning of U.S. servicemen from the Pacific combat zone. The NOBLE made three trips carrying these men. In February 1946 she was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and passed through the Panama Canal. She participated in several exercises and was used as a Reserve Training ship. Then in September 1949, CNO ordered the NOBLE home, her period of TAD in the Atlantic was over. She then took part in local and Hawaiian Operations. In July 1950 while the NOBLE was in overhaul, work had to be accelerated by the news of the Communist invasion of South Korea. All in- complete projects were hastily completed and the NOBLE sailed for Korea in August. On 15 September 1950 found the NOBLE with dozens of other ships and thousands of troops anchored off Inchon Uinsenj, Korea, all massed for the Amphibious assault on this Communist held city. For the remainder of the year the NOBLE shuttled from area to area prckrng up and off loading frghtm men Besides carrying U S Marines she carried ROK troops and Puerto Rican artrllerymen The NOBLE sailed from Pusan to combat areas always in constant danger of attack This ended the NOBLE S part in the Korean Conflict She returned to San Diego and 111 July 1953 she sailed a arn for Korea In August she arrived at Koje Do Korea to participate rn Operatron BIC SWITCH the movin of Communist North Korean prisoners from Ixoje Do to Inchon pursuant to the armistrce agreement . , , . . . v Q . Q - , . 0. O- W 0- 7 D I . . - 1 0 ' O. . ' . . . . , . . . I 7 ' . 1 . 7 u 1 O- . . l ' - . M 1 Q . w Q 0. . 0- 1 . . 7 , C ' . . ' ' ' ' ' ' 4 L . 7 7 ' ' - , , O. -, 7 9 7 Q , , 5 ' ' g ' 7' - . . . , . -. O. - x. 1 ....-........ ' mf- .f.-..r....:-r..af..s-a-..... - -' -.-.-in-a.. ' Q ...-s-. 'f t ' a s-...s...:..-.. ' ' - i '- - ' ' -' ' K' ' L-3' ' '11 ' 'f ' f -f ' - ' '- ' .- ...aww-u---.....,..... .......... ' -.s.-..K.....,.. .. .M ,--..... -

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11Hs bbok is dedhxued.to the nunnory of JCHN F. KENNEDY 1917-1963