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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Kleinsmith (APD-134)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Echo - Hotel
 NUEH
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 Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal

USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) was transferred to Taiwan and renamed ROCS Tien Shan (APD-315)
Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort / Crosley Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 30 August 1944, as Kleinsmith (DE-718), a Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort at DeFoe Shipbuilding Bay City, MI.
  • Redesignated a Crosley Class High-speed Transport APD-134 while under construction
  • Launched, 27 January 1945
  • Commissioned USS Kleinsmith (APD-134), 12 June 1945, LCDR. Alden J. Laborde, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Kleinsmith was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • USS Kleinsmith was assigned to Occupation service in Asia and Europe and China service for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    Asia 28 September 1945 to 22 February 194628 September 1945 to 22 February 1946
    Europe 15 March to 27 June 1951 
    Europe 21 September 1954 to 18 January 1955 

  • Decommissioned, 16 May 1960, at Tsoying Taiwan and transferred to Taiwan the same day, renamed ROCS Tien Shan (APD-315)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 16 May 1960
  • Purchased outright by the Government of Taiwan in 1974
  • Pennant number changes included (615) and (815) while active in the Taiwanese Navy
  • Final Disposition, reported to have been struck by the Taiwanese Navy in early 1998
    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
    USS Kleinsmith (APD-134)
    Kleinsmith 566k Kleinsmith (APD-134) in the tow of Towboat John W. Weeks passing downstream on the Illinois River under the Morris Highway Bridge, 23 May 1945. Kleinsmith was in tow down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans for commissioning.
    War Department US Engineers Office, Chicago, IL. photo # 556 from the collections of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Home of the SS Cobia.    		 Larry Bohn
    Kleinsmith 156k Making Kleinsmith (APD-134) fast to the Towboat John W. Weeks at the Marseilles Lock on the Illinois River, 23 May 1945. Kleinsmith was in tow down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans for commissioning.
    War Department US Engineers Office, Chicago, IL. photo # 564 from the collections of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Home of the SS Cobia.    		 Larry Bohn
    Kleinsmith 515k USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    Photo courtesy Chris Wright    		 Ed Zajkowski
    Kleinsmith 135k USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) underway off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 1948-49.
    US Navy photo    		 Clarence W. Sprague, Jr. in honor of his father LT. Clarence W. Sprague USN, USS Kleinsmith
    Kleinsmith 192k USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) underway in 1957, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 David Buell
    Kleinsmith 38k USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) at anchor, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Kleinsmith 180k USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) underway, circa 1959, location unknown.
    Photo by Giorgio Arra.    		 Robert Hurst
    Kleinsmith 462k USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) moored next to the Sun Time Building at Chicago in July 1959. Kleinsmith was part of the task force was in Chicago for the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. James G. Brown
    Kleinsmith
    100413410    		 289k USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) moored next to the Sun Time Building at Chicago in July 1959. Kleinsmith was part of the task force was in Chicago for the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Nicholas Tiberio
    ROCS Tien Shan (APD-315)
    Kleinsmith 35k Ex-Kleinsmith (APD-134) in the service of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as ROCS Tien Shan (APD-315) underway, circa 1962, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    USS Kleinsmith (APD-134)
    Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Laborde, Alden James, USNR12 June 1945 - 19 November 1945
    02LT. Chatham Jr., Alex, USNR19 November 1945 - 24 November 1945
    03LCDR. Kissam, Gordon Denslow, USNR24 November 1945 - 1 July 1946
    04LCDR. Botten, James Warren, USN (USNA 1941)1 July 1946 - 1948
    05LCDR. Hall Jr., Harvey Wright, USN1948 - 1950
    06LCDR. Butler, Francis Andrew, USN (USNA 1943)1951 - ?
    07CDR. Price Jr.., Ogle W., USN1954
    08LCDR. Keichner, William Warren, USN1955 - 14 August 1957
    09LCDR. Plante, Richard Joseph, USN14 August 1957 - 3 December 1958
    10LCDR. Schwemley, Paul Albert, USN (USNA 1946)3 December 1958 - 13 February 1960
    11LCDR. Taylor, Waymon, USN13 February 1960 - 16 May 1960
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Reunion Contact
    Contact: Joseph H Hoch
    Address: 84 Hickory Branch Lane, Safety Harbor, FL. 34695
    Phone: (727) 725-9176
    E-Mail: maeruth@verizon.net
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 8 April 2022