Today's classic warship, USS American Legion (APA-17)
Wharton class attack transport.
Displacement 13,729 t.
Length 535'2"
Beam 72'
Draft 31'3"
Speed 17.5 k
Complement 682
Capacity: 3,991 DWT cargo, 33 OCVP, 2-4 LCM(3), 1,650 troops
Armament 1 5", 4 3"
USS American Legion, a 13,736-ton transport, was originally built at Camden, New Jersey, as a civilian passenger ship. Completed in July 1921, American Legion was not actively employed until 1926, when she began commercial service between New York and South America. She was laid up in early 1939 due to her owner's financial difficulties but soon was taken over by the War Department for use as the U.S. Army Transport American Legion. Beginning in February 1940, she mainly served along the U.S. east coast and in the Caribbean area, but made one trans-Atlantic round-trip voyage in mid-1940, rescuing the Norwegian Crown Princess and many other persons from the European war zone. Her cargo also included a Swedish 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun mounting, which became the prototype for thousands of such guns built for the U.S. Navy during World War II.
American Legion was transferred from the Army to the Navy on 26 August 1941; and commissioned the same day, Captain T. Warner in command.
Following one voyage to the West Indies and one to Halifax Nova Scotia, American Legion transferred to the Pacific in April 1942. She carried elements of the 1st marine Division during the Guadalcanal invasion August 1942. For the next 12 months American Legion made troop and supply runs between Guadalcanal; Tulagi; Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia; Tongatabu Pago Pago, Samoa; Noumea, New Caledonia; and Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand. She was reclassified APA 17, February 1943. On 1 November 1943 she took part in the invasion of Bougainille Island. When American Legion arrived at San Francisco 8 December 1943, she had steamed 83,140 miles since leaving New York.
Following repairs and alterations at United Engineering Works Alameda, Calif. American Legion departed San Francisco 12 April 1944 for San Diego, where upon arrival she reported to Commander, Transport Training Division (later Transport Division 1), Amphibious Training, Pacific Based at Coronado, Calif., she helped train Army and Marine divisions in amphibious warfare August 1944. She made one voyage to the Western Pacific in the fall of 1945 and was decommissioned in the 13 Naval District 20 March 1946. She was returned to Army the same day. She was sold for scrapping in February 1948.
American Legion received two battle stars for her World War II service.