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

(1969) Vol. 4, pp.152-153, 487.





LOWNDES



	Lowndes:  Counties in Alabama, Georgia, and 

Mississippi, named for the South Carolina statesman William 

Lowndes.





APA-154



Displacement:  6,873 t.

Length:  455’

Beam:  62’

Draft:  24’

Speed:  17 k.

Complement:  536

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





	LOWNDES (APA-154) was launched under a Maritime 

Commission contract by Oregon Shipbuilding Co., Portland, 

Oregon, 18 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Fred J. Lundberg; 

acquired by the Navy 14 September 1944; and commissioned the 

same day, Comdr. Charles H. Perdue in command.



	After shakedown, LOWNDES departed San Pedro 23 October 

for amphibious training in the Hawaiian Islands.  She 

continued landing rehearsals for the rest of the year in 

preparation for the Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations.



	Departing Pearl Harbor 27 January 1945, LOWNDES carried 

troops and equipment to staging areas in Saipan before 

continuing toward Iwo Jima.  She arrived off the southeast 

coast of the volcanic island 19 February and lowered her 

boats for the massive amphibious assault.  For the next 

eight days, LOWNDES stood by as her beach party went ashore 

to attend and evacuate casualties, to salvage boats, and to 

clear the beaches for landing craft.  The transport returned 

to Saipan 3 March to prepare for the final leg on the island 

hopping campaign which was pushing Japan back to her home 

islands.



	LOWNDES sailed 27 March for the 1 April invasion of 

Okinawa arriving there in the morning hours of D-Day.  The 

transport waited in the retirement area until 12 April when, 

under constant enemy air raids, she debarked troops and 

unloaded cargo for the vigorous campaign ashore.  Returning 

Saipan 18 April, LOWNDES performed training exercises there 

and in the Southwest Pacific until she departed Guam 11 July 

for San Francisco.



	The transport made another cruise to the western 

Pacific (August-October) carrying troops and cargo to the 

Philippines and Japan for occupation duty.  Loaded with 

homeward bound veterans, LOWNDES departed Saipan 6 October 

for the United States.  Sailing to the east coast in 

February 1946, and returned to the War Shipping 

Administration for disposal.



	LOWNDES received two battle stars for World War II 

service.



	[Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 May 1946, 

LOWNDES was reclassified an amphibious transport on 

1 January 1969.  She was disposed of by Maritime 

Administration exchange on 17 September 1983.]



“Jane’s Fighting Ships, 1969-70,” p.468

Internet Web Site:

	Naval Vessel Register

		www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/LPA154.htm





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com