USSFillmore

USSFillmore(APA-83)underway inSan Francisco Bayin late 1945 or early 1946. She is returning troops to the United States as part ofOperation Magic Carpet.
History
United States
Name	USSFillmore(APA-83)
Namesake	Fillmore County, MinnesotaandFillmore County, Nebraska
Builder	Consolidated Steel
Launched	4 January 1945
Sponsored by	Miss Mary L. Rutte
Acquired	N/A
Commissioned	25 February 1945
Decommissioned	24 January 1947
Fate	Sold for scrap, September 1966
General characteristics
Class and type	Gilliam-classattack transport
Displacement	4,247 tons (lt), 7,080 t.(fl)
Length	426 ft (130 m)
Beam	58 ft (18 m)
Draft	16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion	Westinghouseturboelectric drive, 2 boilers, 2 propellers, Design shaft horsepower 6,000
Speed	17knots
Capacity	47 Officers, 802 Enlisted
Crew	27 Officers, 295 Enlisted
Armament	1 x5 "/38 caliberdual-purpose gun mount, 4 x twin40mm gunmounts, 10 x single20mmgun mounts
Notes	MCVHull No. 1876, hull type S4-SE2-BD1

USSFillmore(APA-83)was aGilliam-classattack transportthat served with theUnited States Navyfrom 1945 to 1947. She was scrapped in 1966.

History

Fillmorewas named after counties inMinnesotaandNebraska.She was launched 4 January 1945 byConsolidated SteelatWilmington, Los Angeles;and commissioned 25 February 1945.

World War II

Loaded to capacity with cargo and passengers,Fillmoresailed fromSan Francisco25 April 1945, bound forEspiritu Santo.Here she landed men and cargo, and loaded aircraft engines, spare parts, and a few passengers forSamar.She departed thePhilippines31 May to embark men and material bound forPearl HarboratBiak,Humboldt Bay,andUlithi,and after exchanging passengers at Pearl Harbor, sailed 29 June for San Francisco.

Outward bound with troops 12 July 1945Fillmorelanded them atLeyte2 August, and served there as receiving ship until the surrender ofJapan.

Post-war

At onceFillmorebegan embarking troops and equipment from various points on Samar for the occupation of northernHonshū,landing them atAomori25 September. She returned to San Francisco from Japan,Saipan,andGuam21 October, loaded with veterans eligible for discharge. In November and December, she sailed with occupation troops forKorea.

Operation Crossroads

USS Fillmore during Operation Crossroads

Through almost all of 1946,Fillmorewas engaged in preparations for, and actual tests in,Operation Crossroads,theatomic bombtests in theMarshalls.

Decommissioning and fate

Back in San Francisco 5 November 1946,Fillmoresailed forNorfolk, Virginia,a month later. She was decommissioned 24 January 1947 at Norfolk, and transferred to the Maritime Commission 1 April 1948.

References

This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.The entry can be foundhere.

• APA-83Fillmore,Navsource Online.