US Navy Auxiliary Ships: Blackford (APB-45) Class

USS Kingman (APB-45) circa June 1945
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        BLACKFORD (APB-45)
Design:        Navy LST
Displacement (tons):        2,189 light, 4,080 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        328.0' oa, 316.0' pp x 50.0' e x 11.2' lim.
Original Armament:        2-40mmQ 6-20mmT (1945: all)
Later armaments:        --
Complement:        --
Speed (kts.):        10
Propulsion (HP):        1,600
Machinery:        G.M. diesels 2 screws (1,800 HP in APB 45-48)

Construction:

APB	Name	Reclas.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
45	BLACKFORD	14 Dec 44	Mo. Valley B/I, Evansville	2 Jan 45	9 Apr 45	9 Jun 45
46	DORCHESTER	14 Dec 44	Mo. Valley B/I, Evansville	5 Jan 45	12 Apr 45	15 Jun 45
47	KINGMAN	14 Dec 44	Mo. Valley B/I, Evansville	8 Jan 45	17 Apr 45	27 Jun 45
48	VANDERBURGH	14 Dec 44	Mo. Valley B/I, Evansville	12 Jan 45	20 Apr 45	3 Jul 45

Disposition:

APB	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
45	BLACKFORD	26 Apr 47	1 Apr 60	3 Aug 60	Sold	--
46	DORCHESTER	16 Oct 46	1 Jun 73	10 Jul 74	Sold	--
47	KINGMAN	15 Jan 47	1 Oct 77	19 Nov 80	MA/S	19 Nov 80
48	VANDERBURGH	30 Jan 47	1 Apr 72	15 Nov 72	Sold	--

Class Notes:
FY 1944 (Landing craft program). In August 1944 the Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, began to develop specifications for a conversion of four LST's, to be taken from those under construction, to "mother ships" for YMS, PC, PCS, SC, LCI, and LCT ship types. CINCPAC relayed this requirement in September to CNO who approved it. As the conversions of the new hulls were believed likely to take six months, CINCPAC also ordered the temporary conversion of four old LSTs already in his area by the installation of quonset huts on deck and refrigerator units on the tank deck (see the APB-41 class). Built under LST contracts, the four new ships were reclassified Stores Issue Ships (AKS) in December before being laid down, but this designation failed to cover their "mother ship" as well as "retail store" roles and after much discussion they were reclassified APB's while still on the ways. They had accommodations for around 300 men in addition to ship's company, mostly in a new deckhouse extending from the stern to near the bow, and had 5-ton booms for use in resupplying other ships. Late in the design process the pilot house was moved forward to the front end of the new deckhouse.

Ship Notes:

APB	Name	Notes
45	BLACKFORD	Ex AKS-16 31 Mar 45, ex LST-1111 14 Dec 44. Converted by builder. In reduced commission 1-9 Jun 45 for transit to New Orleans. In USN reserve 1946-60.
46	DORCHESTER	Ex AKS-17 31 Mar 45, ex LST-1112 14 Dec 44. Converted by builder. In reduced commission 9-15 Jun 45 for transit to New Orleans. In USN reserve 1946-73. To buyer 29 Aug 74.
47	KINGMAN	Ex AKS-18 31 Mar 45, ex LST-1113 14 Dec 44. Converted by builder. In reduced commission 16-27 Jun 45 for transit to New Orleans. In USN reserve 1946-77.
48	VANDERBURGH	Ex AKS-19 31 Mar 45, ex PRESQUE ISLE 17 Feb 45, ex LST-1114 14 Dec 44. Converted by builder. In reduced commission 23 Jun-3 Jul 45 for transit to New Orleans. In USN reserve 1946-72. To buyer 18 Dec 72.