View source for USS Oconto

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Oconto APA-187.jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''Oconto'' (APA-187) in camouflage paint, date and place unknown
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1945}}
|Ship name=USS ''Oconto''
|Ship namesake=[[Oconto County, Wisconsin]]
|Ship owner=
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry=
|Ship route=
|Ship ordered=*as type VC2-S-AP5
*MCV Hull 655
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=5 April 1944
|Ship launched=20 June 1944
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=
|Ship acquired=2 September 1944
|Ship commissioned=2 September 1944
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=22 May 1946
|Ship maiden voyage= 
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=19 June 1946
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship identification=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship honors=
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate=Sold for scrapping 7 May 1974 to Luria Bros. & Co., delivered 15 Aug 1974
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship type=
|Ship tonnage=
|Ship displacement=12,450 tons (full load)
|Ship length={{convert|455|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship beam={{convert|62|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship height=
|Ship draught={{convert|24|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship draft=
|Ship depth=
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship decks=
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship ramps=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship speed=19 knots
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship test depth=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=150,000 cu. ft, 2,900 tons
|Ship troops=
|Ship complement=56 Officers 480 Enlisted
|Ship crew=
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*one [[5"/38 caliber gun|{{convert|5|in|mm|abbr=on}}]] [[gun mount]],
*twelve [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm]] gun mounts,
*ten [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] gun mounts
|Ship armour=
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''USS ''Oconto'' (APA-187)''' was a [[Haskell class attack transport|''Haskell''-class]] [[attack transport]] acquired by the [[U.S. Navy]] during [[World War II]] for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas.

== World War II service ==

''Oconto'' (''APA–187''), formerly ''MCV Hull 655'', was laid down under a [[Maritime Commission]] contract 5 April 1944 by [[Kaiser Shipbuilding]] Corporation, [[Vancouver, Washington]]; launched 20 June 1944; sponsored by Mrs. J. Wallace Neighbor; acquired by the Navy 2 September 1944; and commissioned the same day.

=== Landing troops and their equipment in the Philippines ===
 
After fitting out and shakedown off the [[U.S. West Coast]], ''Oconto'' loaded mail and troops in San Francisco, and sailed 27 October 1944 for [[New Guinea]], arriving [[Oro Bay]] 14 November. Several days later she left for [[Nouméa]], [[New Caledonia]], where she remained for a month prior to conducting amphibious exercises off [[Guadalcanal]] in preparation for the [[Lingayen Gulf]] landings on [[Luzon]]. ''Oconto'' departed [[Manus Island|Manus]] 2 January 1945 and, after sailing the length of the [[Philippines]], offloaded troops and cargo for two days beginning the 11th. Returning south, the transport again loaded troops, at [[Biak]], [[Netherlands East Indies]], and landed them on [[Mindoro]]. Retiring to [[Leyte Gulf]] 12 February, she prepared the following six weeks for her next objective: [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]].

=== End-of-war operations ===
 
This landing proved to be the most trying yet for ''Oconto''. During her time off the beach from 1 to 4 April, there were numerous air raids, as she downed her first [[kamikaze]] and assisted in splashing a second. A respite in order, ''Oconto'' sailed to [[Seattle]], Washington, for three weeks of general repairs and liberty. She left again 21 May, steaming via San Francisco, [[Oahu]], and other islands for [[Saipan]], where she embarked reinforcements for [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]]. Stopping briefly at [[Ulithi]], she arrived off Okinawa 24 July and spent the next 10 days unloading troops and cargo, dodging Japanese air attacks, and weathering a [[typhoon]].

=== "Mopping up" operations ===

Departing for the [[U.S. West Coast]] on 6 August, ''Oconto’s'' eastward progress stopped at [[Ulithi]] as rumors of a Japanese surrender increased. She returned to the [[Philippines]], loaded occupation units, and sailed for [[Empire of Japan|Japan]], arriving at [[Yokohama]] on 8 September. After transporting over a thousand liberated [[prisoners of war]] to [[Manila]] on the first leg of their journey home, ''Oconto'' returned to Japan, then made one supply run to [[Taku Forts|Taku]], China, before entering [[Manila Bay]] for the last time 8 November. A load of [[Seabees]] was transported from Manila to [[Guam]], and ''Oconto'' proceeded to Okinawa to pick up her first homeward bound passengers in eight months. She made one more “[[Operation Magic Carpet|magic-carpet]]” voyage, leaving the [[U.S. West Coast]] for [[Guam]] on 11 January 1946.

== Post-war decommissioning ==
 
''Oconto'' returned to San Francisco, then sailed to [[Norfolk, Virginia]], arriving 20 March. Decommissioning 22 May, she was turned over to the [[War Shipping Administration]] 31 May and struck from the [[Navy List]] 19 June 1946. ''Oconto'' was berthed in the [[James River, Virginia]], as part of the [[National Defense Reserve Fleet]]. She was sold for scrapping on 7 May 1974 to Luria Bros. & Co.. She was delivered on 15 Aug 1974.

== Military awards and honors ==
 
Oconto earned 1 battle star for World War II service.

== References ==
{{DANFS}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/o1/oconto.htm USS Oconto]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/03/03187.htm NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive – APA-187 Oconto]

{{Kaiser Vancouver Shipyard}}
{{Haskell class attack transport}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oconto (APA-187)}}
[[Category:Haskell-class attack transports]]
[[Category:Oconto County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States]]
[[Category:Troop ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Vancouver, Washington]]
[[Category:1944 ships]]