USS Joseph M. Auman

USS Joseph M. Auman off Orange, Texas, on 30 April 1945 , five days after she was commissioned.
History
United States
Name	USS Joseph M. Auman (DE-674)
Namesake	Joseph M. Auman
Builder	Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh completed at Consolidated Steel Company, Orange, Texas
Laid down	8 November 1943
Launched	5 February 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs. Bernard Tommey
Reclassified	APD-117, 17 July 1944
Commissioned	25 April 1945
Decommissioned	10 July 1946
Stricken	12 December 1963
Fate	Sold to Mexican Navy, 12 December 1963
History
Mexico
Name	ARM Tehuantupec (H05)
Namesake	Gulf of Tehuantepec
Acquired	12 December 1963
Stricken	1989
Fate	sold for scrapping, 1989
General characteristics
Class and type	Template:Sclass-, as ordered
Class and type	Template:Sclass-, as completed
Displacement	2,130 long tons (2,164 t) full
Length	306 ft (93 m)
Beam	37 ft (11 m)
Draft	12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
Speed	23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Troops	162
Complement	204
Armament	1 × 5 in (130 mm)/38 gun 6 × 40 mm guns 6 × 20 mm guns 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Joseph M. Auman (APD-117), ex-DE-674, was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1945 to 1946.

Construction and commissioning

Joseph M. Auman was laid down as the Rudderow-class destroyer escort USS Joseph M. Auman (DE-674) on 8 November 1943 by the Consolidated Steel Company at Orange, Texas, and was launched on 5 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Bernard Toomey, the aunt of the ship's namesake, Private Joseph M. Auman. The ship was reclassified as a Crosley-class high-speed transport and redesignated APD-117 on 17 July 1944. After conversion to her new role, she was commissioned on 25 April 1945 with Lieutenant Commander H. A. Steinbach in command.

Service history

After shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Joseph M. Auman departed Norfolk, Virginia, on 9 July 1945, reaching San Diego, California, on 24 July 1945 via the Panama Canal. She conducted more intensive training with the San Diego Shakedown Group, then embarked Underwater Demolition Team 7 and carried them to Yoriage Beach at Shiogama, Japan, for reconnaissance of amphibious landing beaches. After completing the mission, she returned the underwater demolition team to San Diego on 13 October 1945.

Joseph M. Auman departed San Diego 20 October 1945 and steamed to Manila Bay in the Philippine Islands, where she embarked 100 U.S. Navy passengers and carried them to Samar. At Samar she loaded cargo and delivered it to Shanghai, China, on 4 December 1945. Joseph M. Auman continued to carry cargo and passengers in the Pacific until she returned to the United States during the first half of 1946.

Decommissioning and disposal

Joseph M. Auman was decommissioned at Green Cove Springs, Florida, on 10 July 1946, joining the Florida Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet on the St. Johns River there. She remained in the reserve fleet until stricken from the Navy List on 12 December 1963.

Mexican Navy service

Joseph M. Auman was sold to the government of Mexico on 12 December 1963. She served in the Mexican Navy as ARM Tehuantepec (B05) until stricken in 1989 and sold for scrapping.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: DE-674 / APD-117 Joseph M. Auman