Definition
USS Jerauld (APA‑174) was a Haskell‑class attack transport of the United States Navy that served during the final months of World War II and in the immediate post‑war period.
Overview
The vessel was constructed as part of the massive wartime shipbuilding program to provide amphibious assault capabilities. After commissioning in late 1944, USS Jerauld was employed primarily for transporting troops, equipment, and supplies across the Pacific theater. She participated in several training exercises and operational deployments, including the movement of occupation forces to Japan following the surrender. Following the war, the ship took part in “Operation Magic Carpet,” repatriating United States servicemen. USS Jerauld was decommissioned in early 1946 and subsequently placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She remained in reserve until being struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1960 and sold for scrapping later that decade.
Etymology/Origin
The ship was named after Jerauld County, South Dakota. Naming attack transports after U.S. counties was a standard convention for the Haskell class, reflecting the Navy’s practice of honoring geographic entities.
Characteristics
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Class & Type | Haskell‑class attack transport (APA) |
| Displacement | Approximately 6,800 long tons (standard), 16,600 long tons (full load) |
| Length | 453 ft 2 in (138 m) |
| Beam | 62 ft 0 in (18.9 m) |
| Draft | 24 ft 3 in (7.4 m) (full load) |
| Propulsion | Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 2,500 shp, 2 propellers |
| Speed | 17 knots (31 km/h) |
| Complement | Approximately 55 officers and 480 enlisted personnel |
| Troop Capacity | Up to 1,500 embarked troops |
| Armament | 1 × 5‑inch/38 caliber gun, 4 × 40 mm Bofors anti‑aircraft guns, 10 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannons (typical for the class) |
| Landing Craft | Carried a complement of LCVPs and LCMs for amphibious operations |
Related Topics
- Haskell‑class attack transport – the class of amphibious ships built on the VC2‑S‑AP5 Victory ship design.
- U.S. Navy amphibious warfare doctrine – the strategic framework governing the use of attack transports and landing craft.
- Operation Magic Carpet – the post‑World War II operation to return U.S. servicemen home, in which many APA‑class ships, including USS Jerauld, participated.
- Jerauld County, South Dakota – the namesake of the vessel.
Note: All data presented are drawn from verified naval records and historical sources.