USS Carlisle

History
United States
Name	USS Carlisle (APA-69)
Namesake	A county in Kentucky
Builder	Consolidated Steel
Launched	30 July 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs E. C. Parsons
Acquired	28 November 1944
Commissioned	29 November 1944
Fate	Sunk as a target in Operation Crossroads
General characteristics
Class and type	Gilliam-class attack transport
Tonnage	85,000 cu. ft., 2,600 t.
Displacement	4,247 tons (lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
Length	426 ft (130 m)
Beam	58 ft (18 m)
Draft	16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion	Westinghouse turboelectric drive, 2 boilers, 2 propellers, Design shaft horsepower 6,000
Speed	17 knots
Capacity	47 Officers, 802 Enlisted
Crew	27 Officers, 295 Enlisted
Armament	1 x 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun mount, 4 x twin 40mm gun mounts, 10 x single 20mm gun mounts
Notes	MCV Hull No. ?, hull type S4-SE2-BD1

USS Carlisle (APA-69) was a Gilliam-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II. Arriving late in the war, she was initially assigned to transport missions and consequently did not participate in any combat operations.

Carlisle was named after a county in Kentucky. She was launched 30 July 1944 by Consolidated Steel at San Pedro, California, under a Maritime Commission contract; acquired by the Navy 28 November 1944 and commissioned the next day, Commander H. R. Adams in command.

Operational history

World War II

Carlisle cleared San Diego 23 January 1945, carrying sailors, marines, and general cargo to Pearl Harbor. She returned to San Francisco 11 February, and after repairs, sailed to San Diego to load passengers and cargo for Pearl Harbor. Between 2 April and 5 June, she had duty training and transporting Marine units among the islands of the Hawaiian group.

After hostilities

Carlisle made three voyages to the west coast from Hawaii and Japan, and shorter passages among South Pacific islands, redeploying servicemen until 4 February 1946.

Operation Crossroads

Carlisle was then assigned as a target vessel for Operation Crossroads, the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, and was sunk in one of those tests on 1 July 1946. Carlisle was decommissioned at Bikini Atoll and struck from the Navy Register, both dates unknown.

Decorations

Carlisle received two Navy Occupation Service Medals for service during the occupation of Japan after World War II.

References

• Carlisle (APA-69), DANFS Online.
• APA-69 Carlisle, Navsource Online.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.