>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1969) Vol. 4, pp.19, 487.





LAGRANGE



		Lagrange:  A county in Indiana.





APA-124



Displacement: 6,873 t. (light displacement)

Length:  455’

Beam:  62’

Draft:  24’

Speed:  17.7 k.

Complement:  692

Troop Capacity:  1,561

Armament:  1 5”; 12 40mm; 10 20mm

Class:  HASKELL

Maritime Commission Standard Type:  VC-S-AP5





	Class Statistics



HASKELL Class (APA 117-180,187-239)



Overall Length:  455’

Extreme Beam:  62’

Trial Displacement:  14,837 t.

Limiting Draft:  24’

Speed:  19 k. (APA 117-196)

        18 k. (APA 197-206,208-239)

        19 k. (APA 207)

Accommodations:

	Ship’s Company:

		Officer:  56

		Enlisted:  480

	Troop Capacity:

		Officer:  86

		Enlisted:  1,475

Cargo Capacity:  150,000 cu.ft.; 2,900 t.

Armament:  (Aug 1945)

	 1 5”/38

	 1 40mm quad mount

	 4 40mm twin mounts

	10 20mm single mounts

Engines:  Geared turbine drive

	Westinghouse 

		(APA 117,122,129,131,133,141-145,151-180,204-231)

	Joshua Hendy

		(APA 118-121,123,125-128,130,132,134-140,146-150,

			232-239)

	Allis-Chalmers

		(APA 187-203)

Boilers:  2 each

	Babcock & Wilcox; header-type

		(APA 117-150,155,156,169-180,201,204,207-211,213,

			218,224,225,231-239

	Combustion Engineering; header-type

		(APA 151-154,157-168,187-200,202,203,205,206,212,

			214-217,219-223,226-230)

Propulsion:

	Propellers:  1

	Designed Shaft Horsepower:  8,500





	LAGRANGE (APA-124) was laid down under a Maritime 

Commission contract 26 June 1944 by the California 

Shipbuilding Corp., Wilmington, Calif.; launched 1 September 

1944; sponsored by Mrs. Albert Krutcher; acquired by the 

Navy 10 November 1944; and commissioned 11 November 1944, 

Capt. Frank R. Walker in command.



	After shakedown and amphibious training operations, 

LAGRANGE departed San Diego 1 January 1945 for the western 

Pacific.  Arriving Manus 18 January, the attack transport 

carried cargo and passengers to Hollandia and the 

Philippines before joining Transport Squadron 17.  Following 

a month of intensive preparations, LAGRANGE departed Dulag 

Harbor, Philippine Islands, as part of the western islands 

attack group in the greatest amphibious assault of the 

Pacific war, the invasion of Okinawa.  Arriving in the 

transport area off Kerama Retto, 26 March, LAGRANGE 

successfully landed advance forces who took that small 

cluster of islands which served as an advance naval base for 

fueling, repairs, and replenishment during the conquest of 

Okinawa itself.  She remained off Okinawa for the next 

30 days supporting operations on shore.



	Returning to Saipan 5 May, LAGRANGE sailed 2 weeks 

later with Navy passengers bound for San Francisco.  She 

resumed war operations upon her arrival Eniwetok 11 July, 

and sailed for Okinawa 29 July.  Arriving Buckner Bay 1 week 

later, LAGRANGE unloaded cargo needed for the final days of 

the war.  While anchored in Buckner Bay 13 August, she came 

under enemy air attack; despite accurate antiaircraft fire, 

a kamikaze carrying a 500-pound bomb crashed into LAGRANGE's 

superstructure.  A second suicide plane struck the top of a 

kingpost and splashed 20 yards from the ship.  Considerable 

damage to the transport resulted, and 21 men were killed and 

89 wounded.



	After hostilities stopped 15 August, LAGRANGE repaired 

the damage and prepared for the homeward cruise.  Departing 

Guam 6 September with victorious veterans, she arrived San 

Francisco 21 September.  LAGRANGE decommissioned there 

27 October 1945 and was returned to the War Shipping 

Administration.



	LAGRANGE received one battle star for World War II 

service.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com