USS Lyon (AP-71) Class

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USS Lyon (AP-71) on 7 October 1942.
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Class:        LYON (AP-71)
Design:        MC C3-Cargo (Ingalls)
Displacement (tons):        7,741 light, 16,120 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        491.7' oa, 465.0' pp x 69.5' e x 26.5' lim.
Original Armament:        1-4"/50 4-3"/50 8-20mm (1942)
Later armaments:        4-3"/50 2-40mmT 14-20mm (1943)
Complement:        397 (1944)
Speed (kts.):        18.4
Propulsion (HP):        8,000
Machinery:        G.E. turbine, 1 screw

Construction:

AP	Name	Acq.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
71	LYON	13 Sep 42	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula	21 Aug 39	12 Oct 40	16 Sep 42

Disposition:

AP	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
71	LYON	3 May 46	21 May 46	3 May 46	RTO	--

Class Notes:
FY 1943. Called C3-Cargo by the MC. On 1 Aug 42 CominCh directed that arrangements be made immediately for the partial conversion and the manning by Navy crews of ten vessels, which he specified by name and which became AP 42-43 and 66-73, for use in connection with "prospective movements overseas of U. S. troops." (the North Africa landings). The list included one ship, "GOETHALS (Bataan)" (possibly the future T-AP-182), that was under construction by the MC for the Army, but she was not expected to be completed in time for the movement and MORMACTIDE was substituted. On 3 Aug 42 the Auxiliary Vessels Board recommended acquisition of these ships, three from the Army and seven including MORMACTIDE from WSA. The ships were to be Navy manned and converted to modified combat loaded transports. The "must" items for these conversions were that the vessels be able to run, shoot, hoist and lower landing boats and tank lighters, mess and berth their complements, and have bulk gas and Diesel stowage for fueling the landing craft, plus such other items of a combat loaded transport as might be possible during the limited availability. Specifically, the Board recommended that provision be made for carrying the maximum number of landing boats and tank lighters, including adequate fuel stowage for them, along with the accomplishment of such other conversion features as might be applicable on a not-to-delay basis. The Board noted that the program was an urgent one--the conversions were to be completed within 30 days of the arrival of the ships at the conversion yards or as soon thereafter as possible.

MORMACTIDE, which became USS LYON (AP-71), was one of four WSA ships (AP-67 and 69-71) whose conversion was to be accomplished by and paid for by the Army. Navy personnel were to have full access to the ships while undergoing conversion, but the Board recommended that, to avoid legal complications, they not be acquired and commissioned in the Navy until the major conversion features were complete. The Army took custody of MORMACTIDE from the MC at New York on 8 Aug 42. Her merchant ship armament of 1-4"/50 and 1-3"/50 was installed in Feb-Mar 42 by Cramp SB, Philadelphia. The Navy's conversion instructions for this ship called for stowage for 20 landing boats and 2 tank lighters. LYON had two Welin davits and carried most of her boats on deck.

Ship Notes:

AP	Name	MC#	Notes
71	LYON	65	Ex merc. MORMACTIDE, possibly ex SEA STAR (ID-5010B, completed Apr 41). Converted for Army by Atlantic Basin IW, Brooklyn, N.Y., 13 Aug 42-20 Sep 42. Merc. MORMACTIDE 1946. Scrapped 1972 as SANTA REGINA.