View source for Attack transport

{{Short description|United States Navy ship classification}}
[[File:USS American Legion APA-17.jpg|thumb|right|{{USS|American Legion|APA-17|6}} was a {{sclass|Harris|attack transport|2}} launched in 1919 that saw extensive service in World War II]]
[[File:USS McCawley landing rehearsal.jpg|right|thumb|Soldiers climb down netting on the sides of the attack transport {{USS|McCawley|APA-4|6}} on 14 June 1943, rehearsing for landings on [[New Georgia]]]]
[[Image:USS DuPage (APA-41) underway at sea on 13 October 1943 (80-G-87138).jpg|thumb|A loaded {{sclass|Bayfield|attack transport|2}}, {{USS|DuPage|APA-41|6}}, underway]]
[[File:USS Noble APA-218.jpg|right|thumb|{{USS|Noble|APA-218|6}}, a ship of the ''Haskell'' class]]

'''Attack transport''' is a [[United States Navy]] ship classification for a variant of ocean-going [[troopship]] adapted to transporting invasion forces ashore.  Unlike standard troopships &ndash; often drafted from the [[Merchant navy|merchant fleet]] &ndash; that rely on either a [[quay]] or [[ship's tender|tenders]], attack transports carry their own fleet of [[landing craft]], such as the [[LCVP (United States)|landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat]].

They are not to be confused with [[landing ship]]s, which beach themselves to bring their troops directly ashore, or their general British equivalent, the [[landing ship, infantry]].

A total of 388 APA (troop) and AKA (cargo) attack transports were built for service in [[World War II]] in at least fifteen classes.  Depending on class they were armed with one or two 5-inch guns and a variety of 40&nbsp;mm and 20&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft weapons.

By the late 1960s, 41 of these ships were redesignated with the hull symbol ''(LPA) landing platform, amphibious'', but they all retained their names and hull numbers.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123952/http://www.history.army.mil/documents/WWII/wwii_Troopships.pdf World War II troopships - Army Center of Military History]</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft|last= Friedman |first= Norman |year= 2002 |publisher= Naval Institute Press|isbn= 978-1-55750-250-6 |page= 190 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oWX-x0b4pw4C&q=APA-181+hospital&pg=PA190 |access-date= 2009-07-13 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/Fortitudine%20Vol%2038%20No%201.pdf Origins Marines.mil, Of The Gator Navy]</ref><ref>[https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/OnlineLibrary/photos/shusn-no/apd-no.htm hyperwar, APD -- High Speed Transports, and LPR -- Amphibious Transports, Small.]</ref>

==Classification==
In the early 1940s, as the [[United States Navy]] expanded in response to the threat of involvement in [[World War II]], a number of civilian [[passenger ship]]s and some [[cargo ship|freighter]]s were acquired, converted to transports and given [[hull number]]s in the AP series.  Some of these were outfitted with heavy boat [[davit]]s and other arrangements to enable them to handle [[landing craft]] for [[amphibious assault]] operations.

In 1942, when the AP number series had already extended beyond 100, it was decided that these amphibious warfare ships really constituted a separate category of warship from conventional transports.  Therefore, the new classification of ''auxiliary personnel, attack (APA)'' was created and numbers assigned to fifty-eight APs (AP Nos. 2, 8-12, 14-18, 25-27, 30, 34-35, 37-40, 48-52, 55-60, 64-65 and 78-101) then in commission or under construction. APA are in the classification of US Navy [[auxiliary ship]]s.

The actual reclassification of these ships was not implemented until February 1943, by which time two ships that had APA numbers assigned ({{USS|Joseph Hewes|AP-50|6}} and {{USS|Edward Rutledge|AP-52|6}}) had been lost.  Another two transports sunk in 1942, {{USS|George F. Elliott|AP-13|6}} and {{USS|Leedstown|AP-73|6}}, were also configured as attack transports but did not survive to be reclassified as such.

As World War II went on, dozens of new construction merchant ships of the [[United States Maritime Commission]]'s S4, C2, C3 and VC2 ("[[Victory ship|Victory]]") types were converted to attack transports, taking the list of APA numbers to 247, though fourteen ships (APAs 181-186 and APAs 240-247) were cancelled before completion.  In addition, as part of the 1950s modernization of the Navy's amphibious force with faster ships, two more attack transports (APA-248 and APA-249) were converted from new [[Type C4-class ship]]s, the {{sclass2|Mariner|freighter|1}}s.<ref>[http://www.navsource.net/archives/10/03/03idx.htm NavSource Attack Transport (APA) Amphibious Transport (LPA), Index]</ref><ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/bottineau-i.html US Navy, Bottineau (APA-235) ]</ref>

===Classes===
Classes of attack transports included:
<!--{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}-->
* {{sclass|McCawley|attack transport|4}} (2 ships)
** both built by the [[Furness Shipbuilding Company]] {{Circa|1928}} and [[Two-Ocean Navy Act|acquired by the navy]] in 1940
** {{USS|McCawley|APA-4|3}}, originally AP-10
** {{USS|Barnett|APA-5|3}}, AP-11
* {{sclass|Heywood|attack transport|4}} (5 ships)
** all built by the [[Alameda Works Shipyard]] as merchant ships ca. 1918 and acquired by the navy in 1940
** {{USS|Heywood|APA-6|3}}, AP-12
** {{USS|George F. Elliott|AP-13|3}}
** {{USS|Fuller|APA-7|3}}, AP-14
** {{USS|William P. Biddle|APA-8|3}}, AP-15
** {{USS|Neville|APA-9|3}}, AP-16
* {{USS|Harry Lee|APA-10|3}}, AP-17
* {{USS|John Penn|APA-23|3}}
* {{USS|Joseph Hewes|AP-50|3}}
* {{USS|Edward Rutledge|AP-52|3}}
* {{sclass|Harris|attack transport|4}} (8 ships)
* [[Type P1 ship]]
** {{sclass|Doyen|attack transport|4}} (2 ships)
* [[Type S4 ship (disambiguation)|Type S4 ship]]
** {{sclass|Gilliam|attack transport|4}} (32 ships)
* [[Victory Ship]]
** {{sclass|Haskell|attack transport|4}} (117 ships)
* [[Type C2 ship]]
** {{sclass|Ormsby|attack transport|4}} (3 ships)
** {{sclass|Sumter|attack transport|4}} (4 ships)
* [[Type C3 ship]]
** {{sclass|Arthur Middleton|attack transport|4}} (3 ships)
** {{sclass|Crescent City|attack transport|4}} (4 ships)
** {{sclass|Frederick Funston|attack transport|4}} (2 ships)
** {{sclass|Windsor|attack transport|4}} (9 ships)
** {{sclass|Bayfield|attack transport|4}} (34 ships)
** {{sclass|President Jackson|attack transport|4}} (7 ships)
* [[Type C4 ship]]
** {{sclass|Paul Revere|attack transport|4}} (2 ship)

==In use==
<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zEQrQEdWfFEC&pg=PT39 |page=39 |title=Law's environment: how the law shapes the places we live |last=Nagle |first=John Copeland |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-300-12629-7}}</ref> During World War II, attack transport served in the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theatre]], taking part in many of the Navy's [[Leapfrogging (strategy)|island hopping]] campaigns. Some attack transports were assigned to the European Theatre, participating in the invasions of [[Operation Torch|North Africa]], [[Operation Husky|Sicily]], [[Allied invasion of Italy|Italy]] and [[Operation Overlord|Normandy]]. The last use was for the final WW2 [[Battle of Okinawa]].<ref name="Keegan pg. 169">Keegan: ''The Times Atlas of the Second World War'' pg. 169</ref><ref name="nationalarchives.gov.uk">[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/heroesvillains/background/g5_background.htm The National Archives: Heroes and Villains]. Retrieved July 22, 2015.</ref><ref>William T. Garner: ''Unwavering Valor'' ch. 12.</ref><ref>On this occasion, Japan sent the cruiser
 to Honolulu, Hawaii; the ''Naniwa'' arrived at Hawaii on February 23, 1894.  See:  William L. Neumann, "The First Abrasions" in: Ellis S. Krauss and Benjamin Nyblade, ed.s, ''Japan and North America: First contacts to the Pacific War'', Volume 1, (London, England: RouteledgeCurzon, 2004), [https://books.google.com/books?id=io6auqu0n9IC&pg=PA114 page 114].</ref>

Despite an impressive assembly of forces, the [[Battle of the Aleutian Islands|Aleutian campaign]] and the Northern Pacific Theater ranked as [[Chester W. Nimitz|Admiral Nimitz]]'s third priority in the overall [[Pacific Theater (World War II)|Pacific Theater]] for receiving materiel and support.  As a result, only attack transport (APA) ships were assigned for the assault, without support from any companion [[attack cargo ship|attack cargo]] (AKA) ships.  This created extreme logistics burdens for the invasion force because it resulted in considerable overloading of the transports with both men and equipment. To compound problems, these forces were not able to assemble or train together before executing the [[Aleutian Islands campaign|Aleutian invasion]] on 11 May 1943.  Lack of equipment and training subsequently resulted in confusion during the landings on [[Battle of Attu|Attu]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Parshall|first=Jonathan|author2=Anthony Tully|title=Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway|url=https://archive.org/details/shatteredswordun0000pars|url-access=registration|year=2005|publisher=Potomac Books|isbn= 978-1-57488-924-6 }}</ref><ref>http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Midway.htm, and http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Aleutians/USN-CN-Aleutians-3.html#page22, accessed November 2011</ref>

==Notable incidents==
* {{USS|Thomas Stone|APA-29}} was torpedoed off Cape Palos, Spain, 7 November 1942, and abandoned after going aground in Algiers Harbor, 25 November 1942.
* {{USS|Edward Rutledge|AP-52}} on 12 November 1942 was torpedoed by [[German submarine U-130 (1941)|''U-130'']] off [[Mohammedia|Fedala Bay]], Morocco commanded by [[Ernst Kals]] who slipped past the escort screen to sink three transports. ''Edward Rutledge''{{'}}s crew attempted to beach her but all power had been lost; she settled rapidly by the stern and sank with the loss of 15 men.
* {{USS|Joseph Hewes|AP-50}} on 11 November 1942 took a [[torpedo]] hit in No. 2 hold from [[German submarine U-173|''U-173'']] during the [[Naval Battle of Casablanca]]. The transport settled by the bow and began filling rapidly with water and the order was given to abandon ship. Sank with Captain Smith and approximately 100 seamen.<ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/w/war-damage-reports/uss-joseph-hewes-apa22-war-damage-report-no-32.html Joseph Hewes (APA22), Edward Rutledge (APA24), Hugh L. Scott (AP43), Tasker H. Bliss (AP42) & Electra (AKA4) - War Damage Report No. 32], ''U. S. Hydrographic Office'', 14 August 1943</ref>
* {{USS|John Penn|APA-23}} was sunk by enemy action off [[Lunga Point]], Guadalcanal on 13 August 1943.
* {{USS|Hinsdale|APA-120}} had kamikaze attack damage on 1 April 1945 at [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]]. Over 15 men were killed. The extensive engine room damage was later repaired.
* {{USS|Henrico|APA-45}} had kamikaze attack damage on 2 April 1945 at Okinawa. 37 Navy and 14 Army personnel were killed. At 1828 two 250-pound bombs penetrated two deck levels and exploded on the main deck, resulting in fires and flooding that were not brought under control until 2100.<ref>[http://www.henricohistoricalsociety.org/history.usshenrico.shiphistory.html Henrico County Historical Society USS HENRICO Attack Transport 45 1943-1968 Ship's History]</ref> 
* {{USS|Telfair|APA-210}} on 2 April 1945 was hit by kamikaze attack at Okinawa; the plane hit the side of the ship then dropped into the sea. She was later repaired.
* {{USS|La Grange|APA-124}} on 13 August 1945 in [[Nakagusuku Bay|Buckner Bay]], Okinawa was damaged in last kamikaze attack of WW2, 21 sailors killed and 89 wounded. 
* {{USS|Colbert|APA-145}} had mine damage on 17 September 1945, off Okinawa, this caused the death of three men and damaged the ship extensively.

==Demise==
By the end of the 1950s, it was clear that boats would soon be superseded by [[Landing Vehicle Tracked|amphibious tractors (LVTs)]] and [[air assault]] helicopters for landing combat assault troops.  These could not be supported by attack transports in the numbers required, and new categories of amphibious ships began to replace APAs throughout the 1960s. By 1969, when the surviving attack transports were redesignated as "amphibious transports" (LPA) (retaining their previous numbers), only a few remained in commissioned service. The last of these were decommissioned in 1980 and sold abroad, leaving only a few thoroughly obsolete World War II era hulls still laid up in the [[United States Maritime Administration|Maritime Administration]]'s reserve fleet.  The APA/LPA designation may, therefore, now be safely considered extinct.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

==In fiction==
The 1956 movie ''[[Away All Boats]]'' presents operations on an attack transport.  It was based on a popular novel of the same name, written by an officer who served on one during World War 2.<ref>[https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kenneth-dodson-2/away-all-boats-2/ AWAY ALL BOATS]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Amphibious cargo ship]] (AKA/LKA).  Nearly identical ships used to transport vehicles, supplies and landing craft.
*[[Landing ship, infantry]]
*[[High-speed transport]] APD

==References==
<references />
*{{DANFS}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031206212859/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/shusn-no/apa-no.htm  APA/LPA -- Attack Transports] by the US [[Naval Historical Center]]

{{Warship types of the 19th & 20th centuries}}
{{Haskell class attack transport}}
{{MARCOMships}}
{{WWII US ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:attack transport}}
[[Category:Ship types]]
[[Category:United States Navy in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Amphibious warfare vessels]]