USS Thurston (AP-77) Class

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USS Thurston (AP-77) on 23 September 1942.
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Class:        THURSTON (AP-77)
Design:        MC C2-F (Federal)
Displacement (tons):        6,932 light, 12,200 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        459.25' oa, 438.4' pp x 63.0' e x 23.0' lim.
Original Armament:        1-5"/50 4-3"/50 8-20mm (1942)
Later armaments:        4-3"/50 2-40mmT 10<14-20mm (1943)
Complement:        376 (1944)
Speed (kts.):        16.5
Propulsion (HP):        6,000
Machinery:        G.E. turbine, 1 screw

Construction:

AP	Name	Acq.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
77	THURSTON	13 Sep 42	Federal SB & DD, Kearny	9 Dec 41	4 Apr 42	19 Sep 42

Disposition:

AP	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
77	THURSTON	1 Aug 46	28 Aug 46	1 Aug 46	MC/D	19 Nov 48

Class Notes:
FY 1943. Subsequent to the decision to acquire ten transports (AP 42-43 and AP 66-73) for the North African landings, CominCh verbally requested that two additional ships be acquired for this purpose. Due to the nature of their intended employment it was felt necessary to man them with naval crews. On 9 Sep 42 the Auxiliary Vessels Board directed acquisition of two WSA ships including DELSANTOS (later THURSTON), a MC C2-F cargo ship, that were already undergoing conversion to modified combat loaded transports by the Army. 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. The Army conversion included the fitting of accommodations for additional troops and the installation of thirty-ton booms and the maximum number of davits for landing craft together with increased fuel stowage capacity for the boats. The Army planned to complete this work on or before 12 Sep 42, at which time it expected the Navy to acquire the ships. The Army conversions did not include accommodations for Navy crews, and the Board recommended that as much additional conversion work as possible be accomplished prior to the time that the ships were needed for operations. WSA took the ship over on bareboat charter on 6 Aug 42 and probably simultaneously passed custody to the Army for conversion. THURSTON had two Welin davits and carried most of her boats on deck. She appears to have been one of only three Navy ships to carry a 5"/50 gun during World War II, the others being CRATER (AK-70) and CALAMARES (AF-18).

Ship Notes:

AP	Name	MC#	Notes
77	THURSTON	134	Ex merc. DELSANTOS (completed 11 Jul 42). Name DAUPHIN originally proposed, changed 14 Sep 42 before approval. Converted for Army by Atlantic Basin IW, Brooklyn, N.Y., 10 Aug 42-20 Sep 42. Merc. THURSTON 1946 (MC), DELSANTOS 1946 (MC), CHICKASAW 1948. Wrecked 7 Feb 62.