>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” (1969) Vol. 4, pp.6-7, 487. LA PORTE La Porte: A county in northwestern Indiana. APA-151 Displacement: 6,873 t. (light displacement) Length: 455’ Beam: 62’ Draft: 24’ Speed: 17.7 k. Complement: 536 Troop Capacity: 1,561 Armament: 1 5”; 12 40mm; 10 20mm 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 LA PORTE (APA-151) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract 15 May 1944 by Oregon Shipbuilding Group, Portland, Oreg.; launched 30 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Charles N. Niles; and commissioned 14 August 1944, Comdr. Marion C. Thompson in command. After shakedown, LA PORTE departed San Francisco 22 October 1944 to join the Pacific amphibious forces. Arriving Milne Bay 8 November for training operations, the attack transport sailed from Manus 2 January 1945 for Luzon. LA PORTE steamed into Lingayen Gulf 9 days later and debarked troops and equipment despite attacks of enemy aircraft. Her mission completed, she returned Leyte 16 January to prepare for the invasion of Okinawa. Loaded with 1,500 troops, LA PORTE departed San Pedro Bay 27 March as part of the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific war. Troops hit the beach 1 April to begin the invasion which placed an Allied garrison next door to Japan. Two days later, a kamikaze dived at the sitting transport, but accurate fleet antiaircraft fire splashed the raider before he reached his mark. Departing Okinawa 5 April, LA PORTE arrived San Francisco 3 weeks later for a brief replenishment period. Returning to Ie Shima 14 July, the transport unloaded 1,300 Army Engineer replacements before she once again sailed for the United States. She arrived San Francisco 10 August, and, after hostilities with Japan ended, LA PORTE prepared for occupation duty in the Far East. With 1,146 replacements on board, the transport departed San Francisco for the Far East and debarked troops at Leyte 15 September. During the next 2 months, LA PORTE operated in the western Pacific, transferring troops into the occupied territories of Japan and liberated areas of China. She embarked homewardbound servicemen and sailed from Manila 25 November, arriving Seattle 3 weeks later. LA PORTE arrived Norfolk 14 February 1946 and decommissioned there 25 March 1946. She was returned to War Shipping Administration 3 days later. She was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet and at present is berthed at James River, Va. LA PORTE received one battle star for World War II service. Transcribed by Michael Hansen mhansen2@home.com