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

(1969) Vol. 4, p.487; (1970) Vol. 5, pp.155-156.





ONEIDA



		Oneida:  Counties in Idaho, New York and 

Wisconsin.  The name originates from an Iroquoian Indian 

tribe (Oneida) living in New York state and its environs.





APA-221



Displacement: 12,450 t.

Length:  455’

Beam:  62’

Draft:  24’

Speed:  17.7 k.

Complement:  536

Troop Capacity:  1,562

Armament:  1 5”; 12 40mm

Class:  HASKELL

Maritime 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





	ONEIDA (APA-221), approved 26 May 1944, was laid down 

30 September 1944 by Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, 

Calif., as MCV Hull No. 569; launched 31 October 1944; 

sponsored by Mrs. Victor E. Cole; acquired by the Navy on a 

loan-charter basis, she was accepted and commissioned 4 

December 1944, Captain Arthur C. Geisenhoff in command.



	After shakedown, ONEIDA embarked troops and sailed for 

Pearl Harbor on 30 January 1945, arriving 6 February.  On 

13 February, she was underway again, laden with troops 

enroute to Eniwetok.  From Eniwetok, she steamed to Ulithi 

and arrived on 28 February, joining the armada of ships at 

anchor there.  As far as the eye could see, stretched the 

vast and growing Task Force 58 which was preparing for a 

drive into the Japanese home islands.



	On 27 March, ONEIDA sailed for Guam carrying survivors 

of aircraft carrier FRANKLIN (CV-13).  The next day, she 

discharged the FRANKLIN's marine air groups and picked up 

casualties of the bloody fight on Iwo Jima and headed back 

to Pearl Harbor.  Leaving the wounded in Pearl, she took on 

board a large contingent of the 10th Army bound for Okinawa.



	Approaching Okinawa on 23 May, ONEIDA was ordered to 

stand off as the island came under attack from one of its 

frequent kamikaze raids.  Within the first 24 hours of her 

arrival, ONEIDA witnessed 56 separate raids on the island.



	Finally on 3 June, ONEIDA was called in and discharged 

her passengers under continuing Japanese air raids.



	ONEIDA departed Okinawa on 6 June and returned on the 

24th with Army replacements and 8th Air Corps personnel.  

Discharging these, she took on board 1,050 Japanese 

prisoners, and in company with attack transport GRAFTON 

(APA-109), also loaded with prisoners, she sailed for Pearl 

Harbor.



	The prisoners were transferred to a camp in Pearl 

13 July and ONEIDA was again loaded with Army troops.  

Enroute to Okinawa, she made a stop at Ulithi and while 

anchored there received word of Japan's acceptance of 

unconditional surrender.  With the status of her passengers 

changed to that of "occupation troops," ONEIDA proceeded to 

Okinawa, arriving 22 August.



	From 5 September to 18 November, ONEIDA distributed 

occupation forces throughout the Far East, from Hollandia to 

Korea and China.



	From 18 November 1945 to 16 June 1946, ONEIDA performed 

"Magic Carpet" services, returning veterans to the states 

and taking replacements overseas for occupation duty.



	From 16 June to 27 December, ONEIDA performed services 

in local operations off the West Coast.  On 27 December 

1946, she was placed out of commission, in reserve, at Long 

Beach, Calif.



	Struck 1 October 1958 from the Naval Register, ONEIDA 

was transferred to the Maritime Administration and remains 

berthed at Suisun Bay, Calif. into 1970.



	ONEIDA earned one battle star for services in World War 

II.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com