Hyde APA-173

Hyde

(APA-173: dp. 6,873 (lt.); 1. 455', b. 62', dr. 24'; s. 17 k.; a. 1 5"; cl. Haskell)

Hyde (APA-173) was launched under Maritime Commission contract by Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland Oreg., 30 October 1944, sponsored by Mrs. James II. Bond and commissioned 26 November 1944, Ooptain 13. F. Ma, commanding.

Following a brief shakedown cruise, Hyde arrived Seattle 27 January 1945 to embark troops and cargo, after which she sailed for Pearl Harbor in convoy 1 February. Carrying reinforcements for the Pacific campaign, then drawing to itr. climax, Hyde stopped at Eniwetok before anchoring at Iwo Jima 13 March. The ship remained oft that battle-scarred island only long enough to unload then steamed to Guam 15 March, where she embarked over 400 marine casualties. Hyde continued to Pearl Harbor, loaded more casualties 29 March, and arrived San Francisco 22 May 1945.

By June the Okinawa campaign, last step on the island road to Japan, was well underway, and Hyde sailed 6 June with cargo and troops. After stopping at Ulithi she arrived Okinawa 24 July. 'There she discharged her passengers and cargo under constant threat of air attack, getting underway for Ulithi ~6 August. During this stay at the giant staging base, Hyde received the news of the surrender of Japan.

The transport immediately took up duties in connection with the occupation. She arrived Leyte 21 August, loaded troops, and disembarked them with the early occupation forces 8 September at Yokohamn, Hyde then took on board Allied prisoners of war for transportation to Guam, where she arrived 23 September. Sailing to Tsingtao 11 October, the transport debarked marines for the occupation of China and to aid in the stabilization of that troubled country. She then stenmed to Manila and thence to IHaiphong, Indochina, arriving 2 November. At Haiphong Hyde embarked 200 Nationalist Chinese troops for further transfer to Chinwangtao, China, and unloaded them 12 November to aid in the occupation. After a stop at Taku, the transport arrived Sasebo, Japan, 4 December 1945 to join in "Magic-Carpet," the vast operation designed to return veterans with the greatest possible speed. Hvde sailed tor California 7 December and arrived San Diego 22 December. After a second voyage, to PearlHarbor and back, she sailed 16 February 1946 via Panama for Norfolk. She arrived there 13 March, decommissioned 14 May and returned to the Maritime Commission 2 days later. She was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet and is berthed on the James River, near Norfolk, Va.

Hyde received one battle star for World War II service.