USS Mount Vernon (AP 22)

USS Mount Vernon (AP 22)

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History
Name	USS Mount Vernon (AP-22)
Owner	United States Navy
Builder	New York Shipbuilding, Camden, New Jersey
Launched	20 Aug 1932
Completed	May 1933
In service	1932
Out of service	1941
In service	16 Jun 1941
Out of service	18 Jan 1946
Fate	scrapped 1965
General characteristics
Type	Ocean Liner / Troop Transport
Tonnage	24,289 tons
Length	705 ft 3 in
Beam	86 ft
Depth	draft 31 ft 6 in
Propulsion	twin screw
Speed	20.5 knots
Capacity	crew of 766, carrying 6,031 troops

Remarks

A troop transport that served with the United States Navy during World War II. Prior to her military service, she was a luxury ocean liner named SS Washington. Washington was launched in May 1933 by the New York Shipbuilding Company, and operated as a passenger liner from New York City to Plymouth, England, and Hamburg, Germany. Renamed Mount Vernon on 6 June 1941, the liner was acquired by the Navy 16 June 1941 and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

The Mount Vernon was a fast converted liner and often did not travel with convoys at their slower speeds. The crew feared sub attacks because, they traveled alone and did not zig zag much. WHen Pearl Harbour was invaded she was off Cape Town and continued to Singaapore, arriving on 13 Jan 1942, and leaving there on 16 Jan 1942 ahead of the Japanese arrival. She acted as the lead ship in the Operation Sister Convoly that returned Australian soldiers from the Middle East to Adelaide.

Armament

• 4 × 5"/38 caliber guns
• 4 × 3"/50 caliber guns
• 8 × 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns

Soldiers carried

• † Greer Winton Ottaway