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APA-117 Haskell-class attack transports

A total of 117/ 119 Haskell-class attack transports were built to a modified Victory ship design. Haskell was the lead ship of the ship Haskell class of attack transports (APA-117 through APA-180 and APA-187 through APA-239) that were built on Victory Ship (VC2-S-AP5) hulls. This class, all completed and commissioned in 1944-1945, provided rapidly built hulls for the invasion fleets used mainly in the final push across the Pacific. The ships were fitted to carry fully equipped Army and/or Navy units, along with a crew of about 536 officers and enlisted men. Heavy vehicles and stores were carried in the lower holds with 1,000-2,000 troops quartered in the upper cargo spaces.

After World War II, the ships were configured to return troops home as part of the "Magic Carpet" fleet and then the majority of the class were quickly mothballed in both Atlantic and Pacific Reserve fleets. A few of the class were reactivated for service during the Korean War, joining their younger sisters in landings and evacuation duty for the duration of the war. The class was mostly decommissioned by the late 1950's and went back to the Reserve Fleets. After many years of neglect, in the Navy and Maritime Administration Reserve fleets, the ships were methodically stricken, with all of the class sold for scrap or already scrapped by 1980.

Haskell (APA-117) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MCV Hull 25) on 28 March 1944 at Wilmington, California, by the California Shipbuilding Corporation; launched on 13 June 1944; and sponsored by Mrs. Wilhelm L. Friedell, wife of the Commandant of the 11th Naval District. Sea trials on 27 August 1944 revealed that the ship lacked spare parts and uncompleted work on the gunnery installation. Ultimately, Haskell was accepted on 9 September 1944 and commissioned on 11 September.

Designated for return to the U.S. Maritime Commission, Haskell sailed on 25 February 1946 for Norfolk, Virginia, and proceeded via the Panama Canal, arriving at her destination on 18 March 1946. Decommissioned on 22 May 1946, Haskell was returned two days later and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 19 June 1946. Placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1956, the ship lay berthed at Wilmington, N.C., until 1965 when she transferred to the James River, Virginia, facility. She was sold on 26 June 1973 to Alberti Equipment Inc., Hinsdale, Illinois, for $124,630.00 and scrapped.