U.S.S. Bountiful
AH-9
1944
(Saratoga Model Shipyard SMY-56)
- Class: Bountiful - 1 hospital ship of 1945
- Displacement: 12,400 tons full load
- Dimensions: 483 x 60 x 22 ft.
- Machinery: Steam turbines, twin screws, 4400 shp = 13.5 knots
- Troops: 1,700
- Crew: 230
- Builder: Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA
- Launched: 17 Jun 1916
- Commissioned: 24 May 1917 / 23 Mar 1944
- Decommissioned: 13 Oct 1943 / 13 Sep 1946
- Service: Built as USS Henderson (AP-1), first purpose-built transport for USN. Made eight passages to France during World War I, escaping German submarine attack 17 Oct 1917. Suffered fire in cargo hold 2 Jul 1918, with troops evacuated to escorting destroyers. Postwar made another eight passages bringing troops home. Served in Caribbean 1920-23, then carried President Warren G. Harding to Alaska in spring 1923. Stationed in the Pacific 1924-41. Participated in Fleet Problem 3 in early 1924, with mock amphibious invasion of Panama Canal Zone. Departed Pearl Harbor for San Francisco shortly before Japanese attack 7 Dec 1941, but on hearing of the attack changed course to Alaska while maintaining radio silence; believed lost, she returned safely to San Francisco. More than 20 wartime voyages to Hawaii and the South Pacific. Decommissioned for conversion to hospital ship. Back in commission as USS Bountiful (AH-9), made two round trips San Francisco-Honolulu in Apr-May 1944, then Saipan in Jun and Peleliu in Sep and Leyte in Nov.. To Iwo Jima in Feb 1945 and Okinawa in Apr, returning to San Francisco in Aug. From Nov 1945 into 1946 stationary at Yokosuka. Provided medical support for Operation Crossroads atomic tests at Bikini, May. Return to Seattle Aug 1946 for decommissioning. Sold for scrap 1948.
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