USS Crenshaw (APA-76)

Career (USA)
Name: USS Crenshaw (APA-76)
Namesake: A county in Alabama
Builder: Consolidated Steel
Launched: 27 October 1944
Sponsored by: Mrs. F. M. Earle
Acquired: 3 January 1944
Commissioned: 4 January 1945
Decommissioned: 19 April 1946
Fate: Unknown
General characteristics
Class and type:Gilliam-class attack transport
Tonnage:85,000 cu. ft., 600 t.
Displacement:4,247 tons (lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
Length:426 ft (130 m)
Beam:58 ft (18 m)
Draft:16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion:Westinghouse turboelectric drive, 2 boilers, 2 propellers, Design shaft horsepower 6,000
Speed:16.9 knots
Capacity:47 Officers, 802 Enlisted
Crew:27 Officers, 295 Enlisted
Armament:1 x 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun mount, 4 x twin 40mm gun mounts, 10 x single 20mm gun mounts
Notes:MCV Hull No. ?, hull type S4-SE2-BD1

USS Crenshaw (APA-76) was a Gilliam-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II. Commissioned late in the war, she was initially assigned to transport duties and consequently did not participate in combat operations.

Crenshaw was named after a county in Alabama. She was launched 27 October 1944 by Consolidated Steel at Wilmington, California, under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the Navy 3 January 1945; and commissioned the next day, Commander W. B. Studley, Jr., USNR, in command.

Operational history

World War II

Crenshaw arrived at Pearl Harbor 5 March 1945 and joined in amphibious training in the Hawaiian Islands until 9 June when she sailed with passengers for San Francisco. She sailed to Seattle for repairs and from there put to sea 7 July for Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Ulithi, and Okinawa, arriving just after the end of hostilities on 12 August.

Postwar transport missions

On occupation duty she carried Marines to Jinsen, Korea and to Taku, China, then sailed by way of Manila to Hong Kong to transport Chinese troops to Chinwangtao and Tsingtao. At Nagoya, Japan, she embarked homeward-bound troops and sailed 27 November for Tacoma, Washington, arriving 11 December.

Decommission

Crenshaw was decommissioned at Seattle 19 April 1946 and delivered to the War Shipping Administration 30 June 1946 for disposal. Her final disposition is unknown.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.