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S. S. African Comet On 10 January 1942 soon after her arrival at the Tietjen & Lang Dry Dock Co. yard in Hoboken, N. J. for interim conversion to USS Arthur Middleton (AP-55). Although this handsome ship was completed and ran trials as a merchant ship, the Navy took her over before she could enter commercial service. Photo No. 19-N-27716 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS Arthur Middleton (AP-55) Departing New York on 18 January 1942 enroute to the Pacific after interim conversion for Naval service at the Tietjen & Lang Dry Dock Co. yard in Hoboken, N. J. She operated as a civilian-manned convoy-loaded transport until arriving at San Francisco in June 1942 for final conversion to a combat-loaded (attack) transport. Photo No. 19-N-27271 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS George Clymer (AP-57) Off the Norfolk Navy Yard on 1 September 1942. She is in her original configuration, with her 5"/51 low-angle gun clearly visible on the stern. Photo No. 19-N-34169 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS Arthur Middleton (AP-55) Probably photographed in late 1942 after completing conversion to a combat-loaded (attack) transport. Note the 5"/51 gun on the stern. Photo No. 19-N-27271 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS Samuel Chase (APA-56) Off the Norfolk Navy Yard on 14 September 1942. Photo No. 19-N-35228 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Arthur Middleton (APA-25) Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard on 4 September 1943. Her 5"/51 gun aft has been removed and two twin 40mm mounts have been added, one on the stern in place of the 5" gun and one in a new elevated position at the bow. Photo No. 19-N-50432 Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-19-LCM |
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USS Samuel Chase (APA-26) Photographed on 14 December 1943 by the Coast Guard, which manned the ship. Her boats are in the water, and she is lowering a truck into one and using both a cargo net and a gangway to embark troops into two others. The two twin 40mm guns that replaced her original 5"/51 low-angle gun are both clearly visible, one at the extreme stern and the other raised above the two 3"/50 guns at the bow. Photo No. 26-G-12-14-43(1) Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS George Clymer (APA-27) Off Fort Mason, San Francisco, on 7 May 1965. This ship was the only one of her class that saw postwar service. Aside from a more substantial radar mast before the stack and numerous minor modifications, her configuration remains essentially as it was at the end of the war. Photo No. USN 1111262 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command |
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