USS Caswell (AKA-72)

USS "Caswell" (AKA-72) was a "Tolland" class attack cargo ship named after Caswell County, North Carolina. Like all AKAs, "Caswell" was designed to carry military cargo and landing craft, and to use the latter to land weapons, supplies, and Marines on enemy shores during amphibious operations. She served as a commissioned ship for 18 months.

"Caswell" was launched 24 October 1944 by North Carolina Shipbuilding Co., Wilmington, North Carolina, under a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Mrs. W. H. Williamson; acquired by the Navy 27 November 1944; and commissioned 13 December 1944, Lieutenant Commander P. M. Diffley, USNR, in command.

Caswell cleared Bayonne, New Jersey, 16 January 1945 for the Panama Canal and Guadalcanal, arriving 14 February. A month of training preceded her departure combat-loaded for the Okinawa beaches. Sailing with the Northern Attack Force, Caswell arrived for the initial landings on 1 April, and remained off the beaches for the next week, landing cargo to support the 6th Marines in their rapid advance across the Motobu Peninsula. The skillful work of her men made an important contribution to this success, and she cleared Okinawa 9 April for overhaul and replenishment at Pearl Harbor.

Returning to the West Coast, "Caswell" loaded cargo for Okinawa, where she arrived 5 August to begin a series of cargo and troop movements throughout the Far East, calling at ports in the Philippines, China, and Japan until 7 December, when she cleared Sasebo for San Diego. Between 23 February and 2 May 1946, "Caswell" carried cargo from San Francisco to China, returning to Norfolk, Virginia, where she was decommissioned 19 June 1946. "Caswell" was returned to the Maritime Commission two days later.

Caswell received one battle star for World War II service.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c4/caswell.htm Naval Historical Center: USS "Caswell"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/02072.htm NavSource Online: AKA-72 "Caswell"]
* [http://ussrankin.org/id352.htm 51 Years of AKAs]