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APc-1-class transport
  APc-1-class small coastal transports were a troopship design used during World War 2 for the United States Navy (USN). These ships were assigned to the Pacific War where they transported supplies, personnel and munitions around the Island hopping campaign. Many of the ships were under threat of air, sea and submarine attack. A few ships of the class received battle stars for combat valor, including USS APc-15, USS APc-22, USS APc-25 and USS APc-26. The wooden-hulled ships were built by many different shipyards. Following the war, many of them were converted to fishing vessels. DesignThe design is based on the wooden-hulled USN AMc Accentor-class minesweeper. The USN Chief of Naval Operations gave the order for the construction of 50 AMc coastal minesweepers, AMc-150–AMc-199 on January 19, 1942. The Bureau of Ships issued the specifications for the modified coastal minesweepers design for ships AMc 150–AMc-199 in February 1942. Then Chief of Naval Operations issued a request that the 50 ships be constructed as "raider transports, AP," for use in the South Pacific War on April 13, 1942. The coastal minesweepers design was modified, as the need for a small coastal transports was great at the time. Many planned, or under construction, AMc coastal minesweepers were changed to APc small coastal transports. Of the many APc-1-class small coastal transports built, ten ships, APc-85 to APc-94, were transferred to work in the United States Atlantic Fleet. Some were transfered to the United Kingdom under the Lend-Lease act. After the war the USN converted some to personnel ferries with a capacity of up to 250 persons by removing some of the open sea ballast and by the removal of the deck guns, although many were sold to be fishing boats.[1][2] The specifications for modified coastal minesweepers redesign, where given by the District Craft Development Board on April 20, 1942. The redesign gave three planned uses for new APc transport ships:[1][3][4]
DescriptionThe ships had a displacement of 100 tons, a length of 103 ft 3 in (31.47 m), a beam of 21 ft 3 in (6.48 m) and a draft of 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m). For service electrical need the ships had two diesel 30 kW 120V DC service generators. The ships had a fuel capacity of 145 barrels (6,100 US gal) of diesel fuel. The ships had a large boom with a capacity of 3 tons to load and unload cargo. Ships were armed with two Oerlikon 20 mm cannon.[1][2] Power was from one Atlas 6HM2124 diesel engine, to a Snow and Knobstedt single reduction gear, to a single propeller with 400 shaft horsepower (300 kW), built in Oakland, California or One Enterprise Engine DMG-6 diesel engine with a single propeller with 400 shp. ShipyardsMany of the APc transport ships were built by small shipyards and boatyards that switched from yacht, sailboat and powerboat building to military construction. APc transport ships were built in 1942 and 1943 by:
Notable ships
Ships in classAPc-80 to APc-84, APc-104 to APc-107, APc-112 to APc-115, APc-99 and APc-100 were canceled before construction started.[13]
See alsoReferences
External links
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