USS Begor (DE-711/APD-127/LPR-127) was a Crosley-class high-speed transport of the United States Navy, originally laid down as a Rudderow-class destroyer escort but reclassified during construction.
Namesake
The ship was named after Lieutenant (junior grade) Fay Broughton Begor (15 October 1916 – 9 September 1943), a U.S. Navy medical officer. Born in Moriah, New York, he earned his M.D. from McGill University in May 1941. Commissioned as an assistant surgeon in July 1942, he served as a medical officer aboard infantry landing craft LCI(L)-339 during Operation Postern—the Allied landing at Lae, New Guinea, on 4 September 1943. When Japanese aircraft attacked the beachhead, Begor treated wounded Australian soldiers until he was severely wounded in both thighs. He died of his wounds on 9 September 1943 and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
Construction and Commissioning
Begor was laid down on 6 March 1944 by the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan, as a Rudderow-class destroyer escort (DE-711). She was launched on 25 May 1944, sponsored by Mrs. F. B. Begor, the widow of Lt.(jg) Begor. On 17 July 1944, it was decided she would be completed as a Crosley-class high-speed transport, redesignated APD-127. She was commissioned on 14 March 1945.
Characteristics
- Displacement: 1,450 long tons (1,473 t)
- Length: 306 ft (93 m)
- Beam: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
- Draft: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
- Speed: 23 knots (43 km/h)
- Complement: 204 (12 officers, 192 enlisted)
- Troop capacity: 162 troops
- Armament: 1 × 5"/38 caliber gun, 3 × twin 40 mm guns, 6 × single 20 mm guns, 2 × depth charge tracks
- Landing craft: 4 × LCVPs
Service History
World War II (1945)
Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, Begor arrived at Pearl Harbor on 30 May 1945. After escorting convoys among the Marshall, Caroline, and Philippine Islands, she arrived at Guam on 17 August. Departing on 20 August with Underwater Demolition Team 21 embarked, she joined 3rd Fleet units en route to occupy Japan. She entered Sagami Wan on 27 August, and on 30 August her frogmen reconnoitered the landing beaches for the occupation forces. She assisted in the demilitarization of vessels at Yokosuka Naval Dockyard before departing for the United States on 25 September, arriving at San Diego on 21 October 1945.
Post-War (1945–1949)
Begor operated along the West Coast until June 1946, when she sailed for Bikini Atoll to serve as a drone control vessel during Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests. She returned in October 1946 and carried out normal peacetime operations, including two cruises to the Far East (July 1947–February 1948 and August–December 1949).
Korean War (1950–1953)
Begor served two tours during the Korean War. Her first tour (7 December 1950 – September 1951) included participation in the Hungnam evacuation (9–24 December 1950) and landing Underwater Demolition Teams and British Commandos (41 Independent Commando, Royal Marines) behind enemy lines for reconnaissance and demolition missions. On 7 April 1951, as part of Special Task Force 74, she helped carry out raids on rail lines and tunnels. Her second tour (14 November 1952 – 12 August 1953) consisted of patrol and UDT operations, as well as participation in the post-Armistice prisoner of war exchange.
Later Service (1954–1962)
Begor made a Far Eastern cruise between July 1954 and March 1955, during which she participated in Operation Passage to Freedom (16 August – 30 September 1954), the evacuation of refugees from North Vietnam. She was decommissioned on 20 July 1959 and placed in the Reserve Fleet. She was briefly recommissioned on 20 November 1961, then laid up again on 13 July 1962. On 1 January 1969, she was redesignated Amphibious Transport, Small (LPR-127).
Decommissioning and Sale
Begor was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 May 1975 and sold for scrapping on 6 December 1976 for $60,000 to National Metal and Steel Corporation, Terminal Island, California.
Awards
- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Navy Occupation Medal with "ASIA" clasp
- National Defense Service Medal
- Korean Service Medal with five battle stars
- United Nations Korea Medal
