Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Blackford (APB-45)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo- Charlie - Kilo
NBCK

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal

Benewah Class Self-propelled Barracks Ship

Authorized as LST-1111

Redesignated General Stores Issue Ship, Blackford (AKS-16), 8 December 1944

Laid down, 2 January 1945, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., Evansville, IN.

Redesignated Self-propelled Barracks Ship (APB-45), 6 March 1945

Launched, 9 April 1945

Commissioned USS Blackford (APB-45), 9 June 1945, at Navy Supply Depot, New Orleans LA., LT. Archie E. Lorance Jr. USNR in command

During World War II USS Blackford (APB-45) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Following World War II USS Blackford was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 5 to 30 October 1945

Decommissioned, 26 April 1947, at Orange, TX.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 April 1960

Sold for commercial service to Collins Submarine Pipeline(Marine Diamond) in 1963, apparently not scrapped as reported by DANFS

Final Disposition, sunk as a target by the South African Navy circa 1968-70

APB Specifications:
Displacement 4,000 t.
Length 328'
Beam 50'
Draft 11' 2"
Speed 12 kts.

Complement

Officers 12

Enlisted 125

Troop Accommodation

Officers 28

Enlisted 275

Largest Boom Capacity 5 t.

Armament

two quad 40mm AA gun mounts

twenty .50 and .30 cal machine guns

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 4,485 Bbls

Propulsion

two General Motors 12-567A Diesel engines

single Falk Main Reduction Gears

five Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V Ship's Service Generators

twin rudders

two propellers, 1,600shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
59k	*USS Blackford* (APB-45)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from the collections of the US Navy Memorial.	Stan Svec
236k	Ex- *USS Blackford* (APB-45) moored pierside at Beaumont, TX. after being withdrawn from the reserve fleet at Orange, TX. and towed to Beaumont, TX. for reactivation and drydocking.in 1963. The ship was retrofitted for commercial service for Collins Submarine Pipeline(Marine Diamond). Renamed APB-45**, she was used for dredging operations in the mining of diamonds off the south-west coast of Africa until approximately 1968-70 at which time she was donated to the South African military and was used for bombing practice and ultimately sank.	Jim Moore
359k	Ex- *USS Blackford* (APB-45)** drydocked at Beaumont TX, in 1963 while being retrofitted for commercial service for Collins Submarine Pipeline(Marine Diamond).	Jim Moore

USS Blackford (APB-45)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Lorance Jr., Archie E., USNR	9 June 1945 - 28 September 1945
02	LT. Mauthe, Edward William, USNR	28 September 1945 - 20 January 1946
03	LT. Burns, Donald F., USNR	20 January 1946 - 10 August 1946
04	CHBOSN Hammond, Joseph Edward, USN	10 August 1946 - 1 February 1947
05	unknown	1 February 1947 - 26 April 1947


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index

Back To the Service Force Ship Type Index

Back To The Tank Landing Ship Tank (LST) Photo Index

Back To The General Stores Ship (AKS) Ship Photo Index

Back To The Self-propelled Barracks (APB) Ship Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 2 June 2017