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: Army Ship Photo Archive

USAT Legazpi

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Defense Medal
Transport:
  • Laid down, date unknown, as Inter-Island Passenger/Cargo ship SS Legazpi at Hong Kong & Whangpoa Dock, Hong Kong, BCC.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Delivered in 1937 to Philippine Steam Navigation Co.
  • Commandeered at Manila, 24 December 1941, by the US Army Quartermaster Corps and commissioned, USAT Legarpi
  • Legazp was one of a handful of ships that brought food to Corregidor from other parts of the Philippines in 1942
  • The first successful trip took rice to Corregidor and the second took bananas and cigarettes
  • After the second successful run, and just before the departure from Corregidor of General MacArthur and Admiral Rockwell, the General ordered the relocation of approximately 65 Naval officers, some Air Force personnel, and a few enlisted men from Corregidor to the Southern Islands. The officers selected to leave were those with special qualifications to assist in the Southern Islands (e.g. former Cavite shipyard personnel assisting in developing port facilities supporting the Army Transport Service and those conducting HQ zone intelligence functions. They were being relocated to conserve food supplies and make room in the tunnels for the sick and wounded. Legazpi was scheduled to depart. 21 February 1942, to Cebu with the officers and men. The final number of officers to be transported was 54 under the Comand of CAPT Dessez, USN and were to report to GEN Sharp. Commanding General of the Visayan-Mindanao Force, upon their arrival. The safe arrival of the Legazpi at Cebu was reported on 25 February.
  • The industrial personnel assisted in the overhaul and maintenance of surface craft at Iloilo and the Intelligence Officers assisted President Quezon in establishing his PA HQ and submitting intel reports from outlying stations.
  • Cited Source for Below: 1942 Japanese Blockade of Bataan by A. H. Grobmeier, CDR USN (Ret) La Mesa, CA.
    "On the third and final trip from Capiz to Corregidor, the ship was set afire by enemy attack at Porto Galera on Mindanao on 1 March 1942. She was shelled by two Japanese destroyers off Porto Galera. Since the ship was on fire, the ship's Master (Rafael J. Cisneros - an officer in the Offshore Patrol Philippine Commonwealth Army on detached duty with the Army Transport Group) grounded the ship and the crew (minus one wounded man) escaped by swimming to shore."
  • Final Disposition, scuttled by her crew off Mindoro, 1 March 1942, to prevent her from being captured by the Japanese.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,179 t.(gross)
    Length 215'
    Beam 40'
    Draft 14'
    Speed unknown
    Complement unknown
    Cargo Capacity unknown
    Armament unknown
    Fuel Capacity unknown
    Propulsion
    one 5-cyl diesel engine
    single propeller
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Lagazpi
    301304401    		 100k SS Lagazpi underway, date and location unknown. Steve Wallace
    There is no history record available for USAT Legazpi at NavSource
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The US Army Ship Index Back To The US Army Transport Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 10 October 2025