USS Calvert (APA-32)

History


Name:	USS Calvert (APA-32)
Namesake:	Calvert County, Maryland
Builder:	Bethlehem Steel
Launched:	22 May 1942
Sponsored by:	Mrs M. G. Fitch
Christened:	Delorleans
Acquired:	30 September 1942
Commissioned:	1 October 1942 – 26 February 1947 18 October 1950 – 18 May 1966
Renamed:	USS Calvert
Reclassified:	AP-65 to APA-32, 1 February 1943
Struck:	1 August 1966
Identification:	MCV Hull Type C3-Delta, MCV Hull No. 151
Honours and awards:	One Navy Unit Commendation, plus eight battle stars for World War II service and two for the Korean War
Fate:	Scrapped, 14 February 1977
General characteristics
Class and type:	Crescent City-class attack transport
Displacement:	8,889 tons (lt), 14,247 t.(fl)
Length:	491 ft (150 m)
Beam:	65 ft 6 in (19.96 m)
Draft:	25 ft 8 in (7.82 m)
Propulsion:	1 × General Electric geared drive turbine, 2 × boilers, designed shaft horsepower 7,800 (5.8 MW)
Speed:	16 knots (30 km/h)
Capacity:	Troops: 92 officers, 1,191 enlisted Cargo: 130,000 cu ft, 2,700 tons
Complement:	48 officers, 510 enlisted
Armament:	1 × 5"/38 cal. DP gun mount; 3 × 3"/50 cal. DP gun mounts, 2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts, 4 × twin 20 mm gun mounts.

USS Calvert (APA-32) was a Crescent City-class attack transport that served with the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War. In addition to her ten battle stars, Calvert was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation.

Calvert was launched 22 May 1942 as Delorleans by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard under a Maritime Commission contract. Acquired by the Navy 30 September 1942, she became the second Navy ship named after Calvert County, Maryland, designated transport AP-65. She was commissioned the next day, Captain D. W. Loomis in command. She was reclassified as attack transport APA-32, on 1 February 1943.

Calvert began the consistently superior service which was to win her a Navy Unit Commendation when she sailed from Norfolk, Virginia on 25 October 1942 for the invasion of North Africa. She landed her troops at Safi, French Morocco, on 8 November, and six days later sailed for Norfolk to train troops in Chesapeake Bay for other invasions. On 8 June 1943 she departed for the Mediterranean and her second major assault landing, the invasion of Sicily. She put her troops ashore at Scoglitti, Sicily, on 12 July.

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