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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Balduck (LPR-132)
ex
 USS Balduck (APD-132) (1945 - 1968)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Zulu - Tango
 NKZT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort / Crosley Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 17 June 1944, as Balduck (DE-716), a Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort, at Defore Shipbuilding Co, Bay City MI.
  • Redesignated a Crosley Class High-speed Transport while under construction
  • Launched, 27 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS Balduck (APD-132), 7 May 1945, LT. Robert T. Newell, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 31 May 1946 at San Diego CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned 6 November 1953, at San Diego, LCDR. Carl E. Olson, in command
  • During her service with the Pacific Fleet USS Balduck was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    3 September to 21 October 19453 September to 21 October 1945
     6 to 13 February 1955

  • Decommissioned, 28 February 1958
  • Designation changed to Amphibious Transport, Small (LPR-132), 1 January 1969
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 July 1975
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 6 December 1976, for $60,000, to National Metal & Steel Corp., Terminal Island, CA.
    APD Specifications:
    Displacement 1,630 t.(lt) 2,130 t.(fl)
    Length 306' ovl.
    Beam 37'
    Draft 12' 7" (limiting)
    Speed 23.6 kts. (trial)
    Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
    Complement
    12 Officers
    192 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    12 Officers
    150 Enlisted
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Boats four LCVP landing craft
    Troop Accoutrements
    six 1/4 ton trucks
    two 1 ton trucks
    four ammunition carts
    four pack howitzers
    Storage
    Ammunition 6,000 cu. ft.
    General Cargo 3,500 cu. ft.
    Gasoline 1,000 cu. ft.
    Armament
    one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    three twin 40 mm gun mounts
    six single 20 mm gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Propulsion
    two Babcox and Wilcox "D" Express type boilers, 435 PSI 750°
    two General Electric turbines, (turbo-electric drive) Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 300Kw 450V A.C.
     two turbo-drive 40Kw 120V D.C.
    two shafts, shaft horsepower 12,000
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Balduck 9k USS Balduck (APD-132) underway, date and location unknown.  
    Balduck
    100413202    		 533k Starboard bow view of USS Balduck (APD-132) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # L45-18.05.01    		 Mike Smolinski
    USS Balduck (APD / LPR-132)
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Newell Jr., Robert Thomas, USNR7 May 1945 - 14 November 1945
    02LT. Case, Gerald Frederick, USNR14 November 1945 - 31 May 1946
     Decommissioned31 May 1946 - 5 November 1953
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Navy Cross Citation for Corporal Remi A. Balduck, United States Marine Corps
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    Back To the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The High-speed Transport (APD) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 10 April 2020