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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 92699:  USS American Legion, photographed circa 1944-45

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS American Legion (AP-35, later APA-17), 1941-1946

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.

In August 1941, after participating in the U.S. build-up in Iceland, the transport was transferred to the Navy and commissioned as USS American Legion (AP-35). She made one voyage to and from the Caribbean, then began a series of repairs to her machinery. In April 1942, the ship began a long trip to the south Pacific, which would be her operating area for nearly two years. In August 1942, she participated in the initial landings on Guadalcanal and for the next six months supported the prolonged and bitter campaign to hold that island. Reclassified as an Attack Transport and given the new hull number APA-17 in February 1943, American Legion's next, and final, combat operation was the Bougainville invasion at the beginning of November 1943.

American Legion returned to the United States for overhaul in December 1943. Once this work was completed in April 1944, she was used as an Amphibious Force training ship in southern California waters for the rest of World War II. After Japan's surrender, she made two trans-Pacific voyages before the end of 1945. USS American Legion was decommissioned in March 1946 and transferred to the War Shipping Administration. She was sold for scrapping in February 1948.

This page features all the views we have related to USS American Legion (AP-35, later APA-17).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 19-N-25715

USS American Legion (AP-35)


At the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, 25 October 1941.
Note her weathered dark grey camouflage paint, with white canvas lifeboat covers.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 590 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 92699

USS American Legion (APA-17)


Photographed in 1944-45.

Collection of Rear Admiral Bradford Bartlett, USN, 1981.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 495 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 77398

USS American Legion (APA-17)


Off San Francisco, California, in 1945-46, probably after the end of World War II.
Note that her forward guns have been removed.

Collection of Donald M. McPherson, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-40796

Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands


Landing craft and barges bring fresh supplies to a Guadalcanal beach, probably in December 1942 or January 1943.
The LCP in the center, just beyond the barge full of piled boxes, is from USS American Legion (AP-35). One of the LCVs in the background is from USS Hunter Liggett (AP-27).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 510 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: USMC 67319

Bougainville Campaign, 1943-44


LCVP landing craft circle while awaiting landing orders, during the invasion of Cape Torokina, Bougainville, 1 November 1943.
Photographed by PFC P. Scheer from a 20mm gun position on board USS American Legion (APA-17).
The invasion beaches are in the background, being shelled, and there are planes over the beaches.
The smoking volcano in the far center distance is Mount Bagana.

U.S. Marine Corps Photograph.

Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 92700

USS American Legion (APA-17)


Partially enveloped in a smoke screen, during amphibious training exercises off the southern California coast, 1944-45.

Collection of Rear Admiral Bradford Bartlett, USN, 1981.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 505 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-25097

USS American Legion (AP-35)


Undergoing conversion to a Navy transport, at the Atlantic Basin Iron Works, Brooklyn, New York, on 28 August 1941.
She appears to be undergoing repainting from her white U.S. Army Transport color scheme to dark grey Navy camouflage paint. Note the weathered neutrality flag painted on her hull side amidships.
The tanker Royal Arrow is visible in the right background.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 125KB; 740 x 575 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS American Legion (APA-17). The following list features three of these images:

The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."



  • Photo #: 80-G-56819
    USS American Legion (APA-17) underway in August 1943, as seen from USS Nicholas (DD-449).
    Starboard bow surface view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-234260
    USS American Legion (APA-17) off the U.S. west coast, 11 June 1944.
    Port side aerial view, taken from a blimp of squadron ZP-31.

  • Photo #: 80-G-234261
    USS American Legion (APA-17) off the U.S. west coast, 11 June 1944.
    Starboard side aerial view, with the ship silhouetted against the setting sun, taken from a blimp of squadron ZP-31.

    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


  • If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 18 January 2002
    New image added 23 January 2002