>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” (1969) Vol. 4, pp.157, 487. LUBBOCK Lubbock: A county in northwest Texas. APA-197 Displacement: 6,873 t. (light displacement) Length: 455’ Beam: 62’ Draft: 24’ Speed: 17 k. Complement: 536 Troop Capacity: 1,561 Armament: 1 5”; 12 40mm Class: HASKELL Maritime Commission Standard Type: VC2-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 LUBBOCK (APA-197) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Co., Vancouver, Wash., 2 June 1944; launched 25 September 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Price Beeson; acquired by the Navy 18 October 1944; and commissioned the same day, Comdr. Harvey J. Schroeder in command. After shakedown, LUBBOCK departed Port Hueneme, Calif., 2 December for amphibious training in the Hawaiian Islands. Following a month of intensive exercises, the transport, loaded with troops, sortied with Transport Division 48 to join Vice Adm. Spruance's 5th Fleet in the western Pacific. She stopped briefly at Eniwetok and Saipan before proceeding to the Volcano Islands for the assault on Iwo Jima. The struggle for this tiny island, needed for its valuable airstrip, was to be one of the bloodiest and most inspirational American victories of the war. Arriving off the beaches 19 February, LUBBOCK lowered her boats in the morning hours and the embarked marines stormed ashore. The transport remained in the area for 9 days, unloading cargo and receiving casualties from the beach. Departing Iwo Jima 28 February, she transported casualties to Guam before sailing on to Espiritu Santo, where she arrived 15 March. LUBBOCK took on troops, medical supplies, and cargo for the planned assault on Okinawa, the last barrier on the road to Japan. Sailing 25 March, the transport made her way to the enemy-held island via Ulithi, entering the Hagushi transport area off the west coast of Okinawa 9 April. Under constant attack from Japanese air raids, LUBBOCK unloaded her troops and cargo in 5 days, sailing on the 14th for Saipan. After repairs at Ulithi, LUBBOCK arrived Leyte, Philippine Islands, 30 May, and for the rest of the war, operated as an amphibious troop training ship in the Philippines. She continued operations in the Philippines as part of the occupation force until 14 October when she sailed on her first "Magic Carpet" cruise to the United States. Over the next 8 months, LUBBOCK completed three additional cruises to the Far East, and returned veterans from the Philippines, Japan, China and Samoa. The transport arrived San Francisco 14 July 1946 from her final voyage and decommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard 14 December 1946. LUBBOCK was assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet and struck from the Navy list 1 October 1958. LUBBOCK received two battle stars for World War II service. Transcribed by Michael Hansen mhansen2@home.com