USS General J. C. Breckinridge: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎Vietnam War: wikilinks
mNo edit summary
 
(13 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= [[File:USS General J. C. Breckinridge AP-176.jpg|300px|USS ''General General J. C. Breckinridge'' (T-AP-176)]]
|Ship image= USS General J. C. Breckinridge AP-176.jpg
|Ship caption= USS ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' (T-AP-176) underway
|Ship caption= USS ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' (T-AP-176) underway
}}
}}
Line 44: Line 44:
|Ship honors= Four [[service star]]s for [[Korean War]] service and one for the [[Vietnam War]]
|Ship honors= Four [[service star]]s for [[Korean War]] service and one for the [[Vietnam War]]
|Ship captured=
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate= Scrapped 1988, [[Taiwan]]
|Ship fate= Scrapped 1988, [[Taiwan]]
|Ship status=
|Ship notes=
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
|Ship badge=
Line 52: Line 51:
|Hide header=
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[General John Pope class transport|''General John Pope'']] class [[troop transport|transport]]
|Ship class=[[General John Pope class transport|''General John Pope'']] class [[Troopship|transport]]
|Ship type=
|Ship type=
|Ship tonnage=
|Ship tonnage=
|Ship displacement=11,450 tons (lt)
|Ship displacement=*11,450 tons (lt)
|Ship tons burthen= 20,175 tons fully laden
*20,175 tons fully laden
|Ship length= {{convert|622|ft|7|in}}
|Ship length= {{convert|622|ft|7|in}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|75|ft|6|in}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|75|ft|6|in}}
Line 82: Line 81:
|Ship sensors=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament= 4 x single [[5"/38 caliber gun|5"/38 caliber]] dual purpose guns, 4 x [[Bofors 40 mm gun|40mm guns]], 20 x single [[Oerlikon 20mm cannon|20mm guns]]
|Ship armament= 4 x single [[5"/38 caliber gun|5"/38 caliber]] dual purpose guns, 4 x [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40mm guns]], 20 x single [[Oerlikon 20mm cannon|20mm guns]]
|Ship armor=
|Ship armor=
|Ship notes=
|Ship notes=
Line 88: Line 87:
|}
|}


'''USS ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' (AP-176)''' was a [[troopship]] that served with the [[United States Navy]] in [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]] and the [[Vietnam War]]. In October 1949 she was redesignated '''T-AP-176''' but retained her Navy crew. Her namesake was Confederate Major General [[John C. Breckinridge]] who served as [[Vice President of the United States]] from 1857 to 1861.
'''USS ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' (AP-176)''' was a [[troopship]] that served with the [[United States Navy]] in [[World War II]], the [[Korean War]] and the [[Vietnam War]]. In October 1949 she was redesignated '''T-AP-176''' but retained her Navy crew. Her namesake was United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Carson Breckinridge (1877-1942), who was the grandson of John Cabell Breckinridge, who served as Vice President of the United States from 1857 to 1861.


USS ''General J. C. Breckinridge'', a [[General John Pope class transport|''General John Pope'' class]] troop transport, was built under [[Maritime Commission]] contract by the [[Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Company]] at [[Kearny, New Jersey]].
USS ''General J. C. Breckinridge'', a [[General John Pope class transport|''General John Pope'' class]] troop transport, was built under [[United States Maritime Commission]] contract by the [[Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company]] at [[Kearny, New Jersey]].


==World War II==
==World War II==
Line 98: Line 97:
The transport made four more voyages to France to bring troops home, then was transferred to the Pacific, arriving at San Francisco in January 1946. A Navy crew replaced her Coast Guard crew there in February, probably after she was selected as one of six ships of her class to be retained in the postwar commissioned fleet. Following five trans-Pacific voyages, between October 1946 and January 1947 ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' was then converted at [[Philadelphia]] for peacetime employment, with special facilities for military dependents. She retained her armament but lost some of her lifeboats. ''Breckinridge'' then returned to the Pacific where she maintained a busy schedule of voyages between the west coast of the United States and numerous points in the Western Pacific.
The transport made four more voyages to France to bring troops home, then was transferred to the Pacific, arriving at San Francisco in January 1946. A Navy crew replaced her Coast Guard crew there in February, probably after she was selected as one of six ships of her class to be retained in the postwar commissioned fleet. Following five trans-Pacific voyages, between October 1946 and January 1947 ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' was then converted at [[Philadelphia]] for peacetime employment, with special facilities for military dependents. She retained her armament but lost some of her lifeboats. ''Breckinridge'' then returned to the Pacific where she maintained a busy schedule of voyages between the west coast of the United States and numerous points in the Western Pacific.


In April 1948, the ship destroyed two floating mines in the San Francisco-Hawaii shipping lanes with gunfire, one 990 miles off the coast and the other 545 miles. They were among more than a dozen sighted recently off the Pacific coast and were thought to be remnants of Japanese mine fields torn loose by storms in the Aleutians.<ref>Associated Press, "Floating Mines Found in Path of S.F.-Hawaii Ships", ''The San Bernardino Daily Sun'', San Bernardino, California, Wednesday 21 April 1948, Volume LIV, Number 201, page 3.</ref>
⚫
In October 1949 all the ships in the Naval Transportation Service were reassigned to the newly created [[Military Sea Transportation Service]] (MSTS). As a ship operationally subordinate to MSTS she was redesignated T-AP-176, but because she was a commissioned vessel with a Navy, not civilian, crew, ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' retained the designation "USS" instead of becoming "USNS."

⚫
In October 1949 all the ships in the Naval Transportation Service were reassigned to the newly created [[Military Sea Transportation Service]] (MSTS). As a ship, operationally subordinate to MSTS she was redesignated T-AP-176, but because she was a commissioned vessel with a Navy, not civilian, crew, ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' retained the designation "USS" instead of becoming "USNS."


==Korean War==
==Korean War==
In July 1950, immediately after the outbreak of the Korean War, ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' was reconverted to a troop transport at San Francisco and in August carried troops from Seattle to Yokosuka, Japan. She was diverted from her return voyage to support the assault on [[Inchon]], where she arrived with fresh troops the day after the landing. In November 1950 she assisted in the evacuation of [[Wonsan]], and in December she helped evacuate [[Hungnam]].
In July 1950, immediately after the outbreak of the Korean War, ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' was reconverted to a troop transport at San Francisco and in August carried troops from Seattle to Yokosuka, Japan. She was diverted from her return voyage to support the assault on [[Inchon]], where she arrived with fresh troops the day after the landing. In early November 1950 she sailed from Ft. Mason near San Francisco to Moji, Japan carrying about 3000 ground personnel of the 452nd USAFR Bomb Wing and later in that month assisted in the evacuation of [[Wonsan]], and in December she helped evacuate [[Hungnam]].


''General J. C. Breckinridge'' made two more troop voyages in the war in Korea and then returned to regular MSTS transport duty, carrying both military and civilian passengers throughout the Pacific area. In 1955 she was again modified, losing her armament and receiving additional lifeboats. She remained an active part of the MSTS nucleus fleet as one of its few commissioned ships until December 1965, when she was inactivated and turned over to the Maritime Administration for layup in its reserve fleet.
''General J. C. Breckinridge'' made two more troop voyages in the war in Korea and then returned to regular MSTS transport duty, carrying both military and civilian passengers throughout the Pacific area. In 1955 she was again modified, losing her armament and receiving additional lifeboats. She remained an active part of the MSTS nucleus fleet as one of its few commissioned ships until December 1965, when she was inactivated and turned over to the Maritime Administration for layup in its reserve fleet.
Line 108: Line 109:


==Vietnam War==
==Vietnam War==
''Breckinridge'' played a small role in the [[Vietnam War]] in 1965 and received a [[service star]] for her service there. She landed troops off the coast of [[Vung Tau]] in Vietnam in May 1965. In June 1965 she landed troops at [[Cam Ranh Bay]], [[Nha Trang]] and [[Qui Nhon]].<ref>Oral History Interview from Lee Lewandowski who spoke from personal experience.</ref>
''Breckinridge'' played a small role in the [[Vietnam War]] in 1965 and received a [[service star]] for her service there. She landed troops off the coast of [[Vũng Tàu]] in Vietnam in May 1965. In June 1965 she landed troops at [[Cam Ranh Bay]], [[Nha Trang]] and [[Qui Nhon]].<ref>Oral History Interview from Lee Lewandowski who spoke from personal experience.</ref>


''Breckenridge'' also made at least one other voyage to [[South Vietnam]] in 1965, dropping off troops at Cam Ranh Bay and Qui Nhon (and perhaps other ports) from 11–17 September. Point of departure was Oakland, California, on or about 10 August.
''Breckenridge'' also made at least one other voyage to [[South Vietnam]] in 1965, dropping off troops at Cam Ranh Bay and Qui Nhon (and perhaps other ports) from 11 to 17 September. Point of departure was Oakland, California, on or about 10 August.


==Decommission==
==Decommission==
Line 132: Line 133:
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/22176.htm USS ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' (AP-176)], Navsource Online.
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/22176.htm USS ''General J. C. Breckinridge'' (AP-176)], Navsource Online and also Naval History and Heritage Command website.
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g3/general_j_c_breckinridge.htm}}
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g3/general_j_c_breckinridge.htm}}

<!-- non-breaking space to keep AWB drones from altering the space before the navbox-->


{{General John Pope class transport}}
{{General John Pope class transport}}

Latest revision as of 04:54, 9 May 2024

USS General J. C. Breckinridge (T-AP-176) underway
History
United States
NameUSS General J. C. Breckinridge
NamesakeGeneral James Carson Breckinridge, US Marine Corps
BuilderFederal Shipbuilding & Drydock
Launched18 March 1945
Sponsored byMrs Dorothy T. Breckinridge
Commissioned30 June 1945
ReclassifiedT-AP-176 (1 October 1949)
Stricken1 December 1966
IdentificationMC hull type P2-S2-R2
Honors and
awards		Four service stars for Korean War service and one for the Vietnam War
FateScrapped 1988, Taiwan
General characteristics
Class and typeGeneral John Pope class transport
Displacement
  • 11,450 tons (lt)
  • 20,175 tons fully laden
Length622 feet 7 inches (189.76 m)
Beam75 feet 6 inches (23.01 m)
Draft25 feet 6 inches (7.77 m)
Installed power17,000 shp
Propulsion
Speed21 knots (39 km/h)
Capacity5,289
Complement466
Armament4 x single 5"/38 caliber dual purpose guns, 4 x 40mm guns, 20 x single 20mm guns

USS General J. C. Breckinridge (AP-176) was a troopship that served with the United States Navy in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In October 1949 she was redesignated T-AP-176 but retained her Navy crew. Her namesake was United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Carson Breckinridge (1877-1942), who was the grandson of John Cabell Breckinridge, who served as Vice President of the United States from 1857 to 1861.

USS General J. C. Breckinridge, a General John Pope class troop transport, was built under United States Maritime Commission contract by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Kearny, New Jersey.

World War II[edit]

She was commissioned with a United States Coast Guard crew in June 1945 and was en route to Marseille on her first operational voyage when the surrender of Japan ended World War II.

Peacetime service[edit]

The transport made four more voyages to France to bring troops home, then was transferred to the Pacific, arriving at San Francisco in January 1946. A Navy crew replaced her Coast Guard crew there in February, probably after she was selected as one of six ships of her class to be retained in the postwar commissioned fleet. Following five trans-Pacific voyages, between October 1946 and January 1947 General J. C. Breckinridge was then converted at Philadelphia for peacetime employment, with special facilities for military dependents. She retained her armament but lost some of her lifeboats. Breckinridge then returned to the Pacific where she maintained a busy schedule of voyages between the west coast of the United States and numerous points in the Western Pacific.

In April 1948, the ship destroyed two floating mines in the San Francisco-Hawaii shipping lanes with gunfire, one 990 miles off the coast and the other 545 miles. They were among more than a dozen sighted recently off the Pacific coast and were thought to be remnants of Japanese mine fields torn loose by storms in the Aleutians.[1]

In October 1949 all the ships in the Naval Transportation Service were reassigned to the newly created Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS). As a ship, operationally subordinate to MSTS she was redesignated T-AP-176, but because she was a commissioned vessel with a Navy, not civilian, crew, General J. C. Breckinridge retained the designation "USS" instead of becoming "USNS."

Korean War[edit]

In July 1950, immediately after the outbreak of the Korean War, General J. C. Breckinridge was reconverted to a troop transport at San Francisco and in August carried troops from Seattle to Yokosuka, Japan. She was diverted from her return voyage to support the assault on Inchon, where she arrived with fresh troops the day after the landing. In early November 1950 she sailed from Ft. Mason near San Francisco to Moji, Japan carrying about 3000 ground personnel of the 452nd USAFR Bomb Wing and later in that month assisted in the evacuation of Wonsan, and in December she helped evacuate Hungnam.

General J. C. Breckinridge made two more troop voyages in the war in Korea and then returned to regular MSTS transport duty, carrying both military and civilian passengers throughout the Pacific area. In 1955 she was again modified, losing her armament and receiving additional lifeboats. She remained an active part of the MSTS nucleus fleet as one of its few commissioned ships until December 1965, when she was inactivated and turned over to the Maritime Administration for layup in its reserve fleet.

From 1958 to 1959, Breckinridge was commanded by five time Navy Cross recipient Captain Roy M. Davenport. Davenport earned the decorations as a submarine commander during World War II and was the first person and the only sailor to receive five Navy Crosses.

Vietnam War[edit]

Breckinridge played a small role in the Vietnam War in 1965 and received a service star for her service there. She landed troops off the coast of Vũng Tàu in Vietnam in May 1965. In June 1965 she landed troops at Cam Ranh Bay, Nha Trang and Qui Nhon.[2]

Breckenridge also made at least one other voyage to South Vietnam in 1965, dropping off troops at Cam Ranh Bay and Qui Nhon (and perhaps other ports) from 11 to 17 September. Point of departure was Oakland, California, on or about 10 August.

Decommission[edit]

General J. C. Breckinridge was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register and permanently transferred to the Maritime Administration in December 1966. The Maritime Administration sold her in August 1987 to a Japanese firm for scrapping.

Awards[edit]

General J. C. Breckinridge received the following awards -

References[edit]

  1. ^ Associated Press, "Floating Mines Found in Path of S.F.-Hawaii Ships", The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Wednesday 21 April 1948, Volume LIV, Number 201, page 3.
  2. ^ Oral History Interview from Lee Lewandowski who spoke from personal experience.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=USS_General_J._C._Breckinridge&oldid=1222987108"