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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # 80-G-391483:  USS McKean during the Guadalcanal-Tulagi invasion, 7 August 1942

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

USS McKean (DD-90, later APD-5), 1919-1943

USS McKean, a 1060-ton Wickes class destroyer built at San Francisco, California, was commissioned in February 1919. She served in the Atlantic area during 1919-1922, making one deployment to European waters in May-July 1919. Decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in June 1922, she remained in reserve until mid-1940, when she was reclassified as a high-speed transport and given the new hull number APD-5. Following conversion for her new mission, McKean recommissioned in December 1940 and operated in the Atlantic for more than a year.

In May 1942, McKean was sent to the south Pacific, where she arrived in time to take part in the invasion of Tulagi in early August. During the long and difficult campaign to hold Guadalcanal she performed in logistics support and escort duties. After an overhaul in the first part of 1943, McKean returned to the south Pacific to join in the Allied offensive up the Solomon Islands chain. She participated in landings at Rendova and New Georgia in June and July 1943, and at Vella Lavella in August. During late October and early November, she landed troops at Mono Island, Choisul and Cape Torokina, on Bougainville. During the morning darkness on 17 November 1943, while bringing up more Marines to Bougainville, McKean was torpedoed by a Japanese plane. She sank within a half-hour, with the loss of more than a hundred crewmen and Marines.

This page features our only views of USS McKean (DD-90, later APD-5).


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 #: NH 72236

USS McKean (DD-90)


Photographed circa 1919.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 490 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97882

USS McKean (APD-5)


Photographed circa early 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 125KB; 740 x 630 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-391483

USS McKean (APD-5)


Photographed from USS San Francisco (CA-38) on 7 August 1942, the first day of landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi.
McKean was part of the Tulagi landing group.

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

Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 605 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 McKean (APD-5). The following list features some 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-18010
    USS McKean (APD-5) tied to a mooring bouy, in harbor, circa early 1942.
    Starboard quarter surface view. The ship is painted in pattern camouflage.

  • Photo #: 80-G-18011
    As 80-G-18010, but port bow surface view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-18012
    As 80-G-18010, but surface view taken from directly ahead.

  • Photo #: 80-G-18013
    As 80-G-18010, but surface view taken from directly astern.

  • Photo #: 80-G-18014
    As 80-G-18010, but port broadside surface view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-276613
    USS McKean (APD-5) underway in a harbor, 2 March 1943. Taken by a photographer assigned to Aircraft Squadrons Battle Force.
    Starboard broadside surface view, seen from slightly toward the stern. The ship is painted overall dark grey or blue-grey.

    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 19 February 2002