World War II service USS Henry T. Allen (APA-15)

1 world war ii service

1.1 invasion of north africa
1.2 pacific theater

1.2.1 invasion of new guinea
1.2.2 made flagship


1.3 decommission

world war ii service

after completion of outfitting, henry t. allen made 1 troop carrying voyage honolulu , return. arriving san diego 18 june 1942, took part in amphibious landing exercises until august, helping mold potent american assault forces decisive factor in pacific war. ship sailed 22 august via canal zone norfolk, virginia, arrived 11 september more landing training on maryland coast.

invasion of north africa

henry t. allen departed 23 october north africa , operation torch part of northern attack force under brig. gen. lucian k. truscott, jr. , serving flagship in phase of operation headquarters remaining aboard during landing of troops until set ashore. force arrived off mehedia, near strategic port lyautey, 7 november , henry t. allen began morning unload army troops transport area. remained off beaches subjected fire shore batteries until 15 november. helped consolidate successful landing mooring @ casablanca unload cargo. transport sailed 17 november , arrived norfolk 30th.

pacific theater

following important north africa landings, during learned amphibious operations, henry t. allen assigned pacific, theater in amphibious assaults play central role. carrying marines, sailed 17 december , arrived tutuila, samoa group, via canal zone, 13 january 1943. ship transported troops noumea , espiritu santo , while @ latter port 1 february 1943 redesignated attack transport, apa-15.

on 17 march 1943 allen assigned flagship, commander amphibious force, seventh fleet, in poor condition , urgently needed training , transport. assigned critical amphibious training troops of amphibious force, southwest pacific reporting @ sydney. ships condition such on 10 april 1943 had withdrawn training 5 weeks overhaul availability @ sydney.

until march 1944 henry t. allen operated between new guinea , australian ports, carrying both american , australian troops in support of allied offensive in new guinea , solomons. made many passages through dangerous waters of coral sea, , on 1 occasion, 13 july 1943 detected torpedo track approaching port bow. alert action brought transport around , out of danger, torpedo passing scant 50 yards ahead.

invasion of new guinea

henry t. allen sailed buna 26 march training exercises on goodenough island u.s. 24th infantry division, completing 16 april. ship got underway 17 april important hollandia operation, joint attack on central new guinea. henry t. allen joined admiral barbey s group landings @ tanahmerah bay 22 april , after success assured steamed cape sudest, new guinea, 24 april.

the ship spent next few weeks transporting troops hollandia consolidate gains , prepare next step in westward advance toward philippines. henry t. allen anchored @ aitape 15 may load troops wakde-sarmi landings, , got underway next day run of 120 miles undetected japanese. under brisk naval bombardment transport unloaded on 17th , returned hollandia.

made flagship

the veteran transport spent rest of career flagship various amphibious commands. until september 1944 performed training exercises on bougainville , new guinea, , after voyage queensland, australia, arrived hollandia 3 october 1944. there received additional equipment , supplies allow better perform headquarters function. leyte approaching , uss blue ridge destined flagship operation on 7 october 1944 captain h. j. nelson, usn, commander administrative command, seventh amphibious force, established administrative group of staff of commander seventh amphibious force aboard allen. henry t. allen remained @ hollandia until january 1945 administrative base of famous 7th amphibious force. shifted base leyte gulf american forces swept north , west, arriving 28 january 1945. reclassified ag-90 in january 1945.

decommission

after final surrender of japan henry t. allen steamed manila 3 september , departed united states 15 november. arrived 10 december 1945, decommissioned 5 february 1946 , redelivered war department. after period in national defense reserve fleet @ suisun bay, benecia, california, sold boston metals of baltimore, maryland, , scrapped in march 1948.