Type C3-P (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 121. Not illustrated. Chapters: Uss Thomas Jefferson. Excerpt: USS Thomas Jefferson (APA-30) was a President Jackson-class attack transport. She was ordered built by the U.S. Navy for use in World War II and was assigned the task of transporting troops to and from battle areas. For this dangerous work, she was awarded six battle stars for World War II service and four for the Korean conflict. She was laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 56) as President Garfield on 5 February 1940 at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company for the American President Lines; launched on 20 November 1940; sponsored by Miss Eugenia Merrill; acquired by the United States Navy on 1 May 1942 from the War Shipping Administration; converted into a troop transport (AP-60) by her builders; and commissioned on 31 August 1942, Comdr. Chauncey R. Crutcher in command. Following a brief shakedown, the new transport participated in amphibious exercises in the Hampton Roads-Virginia Capes area. On 23 October, the transport embarked elements of the 3rd Infantry Division and got underway the next day with Task Group (TG) 34.9, the Center Attack Group, for the invasion of North Africa. All units of Task Force (TF) 34, the Western Naval Attack Force, rendezvoused south of Cape Race, Newfoundland, on the 28th and arrived off Morocco on 7 November. Thomas Jefferson was one of four transports loaded with the troops that comprised the assault wave against Fedhala. She was in Fedhala Roads at 2353 that night and had her boats in the water before 0200 the next morning. The transport lost 16 of her 33 boats that began the assault, because they landed on a rocky beach approximately three miles from their designated area. On 11 November, Jefferson's boats rescued survivors of the torpedoed Joseph Hewes (AP-50). The next day t...