USS Appalachian (AGC-1)

Amphibious Force Flagship Vessel

United States | 1943

"The AGC-1 took part in some of the bloodiest amphibious landings of World War 2."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/13/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The USS Appalachian was an amphibious support ship in service with the United States Navy during the course of World War 2. Her exploits took her into some of the most intense landing operations of the entire conflict in support of US Marine units. Her support of such operations was vital in the progress made by US Navy forces in the Battle of the Pacific. The Appalachian was the lead ship of her Appalachian-class that sported three other vessels in the USS blue Ridge, USS Rocky Mount and the USS Catoctin.

Powered by a single shaft turbine engine, the Appalachian could exceed speeds of 16 knots while crewed by a complement of 368 personnel. She was listed at a displacement in nearing the 14,000 ton range. Her armament consisted of 2 x 5" main guns and augmented by a collection of 8 x 40mm cannons and 14 x 20mm cannons. Her profile was dominated by a single midship superstructure and twin masts at forward and aft. A single funnel sat atop her superstructure as did a communications array mast.

The USS Appalachian was called to action when it first took part in the invasion of the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands then later operating in the Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands. The vessel was then part of the bombardment of Guam with her 5" guns in support of US Marine landing forces there. She later supported other vessels in the landings at Leyte in the Philippines then later (early 1945) at Luzon. On her return from the invasions, she was assaulted by some Japanese aircraft but was able to repel and avoid any critical damage. Beyond her support of American fleets and landing parties, the vessel was also called to train new crops of sailors in support operations. She ended her World War 2 career near Manila, Philippines in 1945 until the end of the conflict.

The USS Appalachian was laid down in 1942, with construction handled by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Company (Kearney, New Jersey), and launched the following year. She was officially commissioned in 1943 and decommissioned in 1947. Her name was finally struck from the Naval Vessel Register some time later in 1960. Her remains were sold for scrapping. The USS Appalachian earned herself and her crews 4 Battle Stars for service in World War 2.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for USS Appalachian (AGC-1).

1 x Shaft Turbine engine
Propulsion

16.5 kts
19.0 mph
Surface Speed

3,001 nm
3,454 miles | 5,559 km
Range

Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of USS Appalachian (AGC-1).

368
Personnel
Complement

459.0 ft
139.90 meters
O/A Length

63.0 ft
19.20 meters
Beam

24.0 ft
7.32 meters
Draught

13,910
tons
Displacement

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of USS Appalachian (AGC-1).

2 x 5" main guns
8 x 40mm cannons
14 x 20mm cannons

Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of USS Appalachian (AGC-1).

none.

Ships-in-Class (4)
Notable series variants as part of the USS Appalachian (AGC-1) family line as relating to the Appalachian-class group.

USS Appalachian (AGC 1); USS Blue Ridge (AGC 2); USS Rocky Mount (AGC 3); USS Catoctin (AGC 5)

Operators
Global operator(s) of the USS Appalachian (AGC-1). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.

[ United States ]

1 / 1

Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to seaborne requirements.

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT

BLUE WATER SERVICE

SHIP-TO-SHORE

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Going Further...
USS Appalachian (AGC-1) Amphibious Force Flagship Vessel appears in the following collections:

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