USS ''Mount Vernon'' (AP-22) was a

troop transport Troop transport may be: * Troopship * Military Railway Service (United States) * Military transport aircraft A military transport aircraft, military cargo aircraft or airlifter is a military aircraft, military-owned transport aircraft used ...

that served with the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Prior to her military service, she was a luxury

ocean liner An ocean liner is a type of passenger ship primarily used for transportation across seas or oceans. Ocean liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes (such as for pleasure cruises or as hospital ships). The ...

named SS ''Washington''. ''Washington'' was launched in May 1933 by the

New York Shipbuilding Company The New York Shipbuilding Corporation (or New York Ship for short) was an American shipbuilding company that operated from 1899 to 1968, ultimately completing more than 500 vessels for the U.S. Navy, the United States Merchant Marine, the United ...

Camden, New Jersey Camden is a City (New Jersey), city in Camden County, New Jersey, Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan region. The city was incorporated on February 13, 1828.Snyder, John P''The Story of ...

, and operated as a

passenger liner A passenger ship is a merchant ship whose primary function is to carry passengers on the sea. The category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodations for limited numbers of passengers, such as the ubiquitous twelve-passenger freig ...

from New York City to

Plymouth Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...

, England, and

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

, Germany. Renamed ''Mount Vernon'' 6 June 1941, the liner was acquired by the Navy 16 June 1941 and commissioned at the

Philadelphia Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy shipyard and was historically important for nearly two centuries. Construction of the original Philadelphia Naval Shipyard began during the American Revolution in 1776 at Front ...

the same day, Captain Donald B. Beary in command. Converted for naval use by Philadelphia Navy Yard, ''Mount Vernon'' trained along the east coast while mounting tension in the Far East drew the United States toward participation in

The Preamble to Convoy WS-12X (the USA has not declared war on Japan or Germany yet)

The Atlantic Conference was held on 9 August 1941 in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, between Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt. Besides the "official" agenda, Churchill hoped to obtain considerable assistance from the USA, but the American President had his political hands tied. On 1 September 1941, Roosevelt received an urgent and most secret message asking for US Navy troopships manned by Navy crews and escorted by U.S.N. fighting ships to carry British troops for the purpose of reinforcing the Middle East. On 4 September the US destroyer,

USS Greer (DD-145) USS ''Greer'' (DD–145) was a in the United States Navy, the first ship named for Rear Admiral James A. Greer (1833–1904). In what became known as the "''Greer'' incident," she became the first US Navy ship to fire on a German ship, three ...

, came under an unsuccessful U-boat attack. Roosevelt gave authority to the US Navy to "shoot to kill". On 5 September the President assured the British leader that six vessels would be provided to carry twenty thousand troops and would be escorted by the American Navy. The chief of Naval Operations ordered troop ships divisions seventeen and nineteen, on 26 September 1941, to prepare their vessels for approximately six months at sea. These transports were to load to capacity with food, ammunition medical supplies, fuel and water and were to arrive at Halifax, NS on or about 6 November and after the arrival of a British convoy from the UK were to load twenty thousand troops. The Prime Minister mentioned in his letter that it would be for the President to say what would be required in replacement if any of these ships were to be sunk by enemy action. Agreements were worked out for the troops to be carried as supernumeraries and rations to be paid out of Lend Lease Funds and officer laundry bills were to be paid in cash. All replenishments of provisions, general stores, fuel and water would be provided by the UK. Fuel and water would be charged for the escorts to the UK in Trinidad and Cape Town only. The troops would conform to US Navy and ships regulation. Intoxicating liquors were prohibited. It was further agreed that the troops were to rig and man their own anti-aircraft guns to augment the ships batteries. So, convoy WS-12X is most extraordinary. 30 days BEFORE the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and the German declaration of war on the USA on 11 December 1941; we have six American transports and American escort carrying British soldiers.

Convoy William Sail WS-12X

On 10 November 1941, Convoy WS12-X, departs

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

. The convoy consists of Aircraft Carrier Ranger (CV-4) and troopships, Mount Vernon (AP-22), Wakefield (AP-21), West Point (AP-23), Orizaba (AP-24), Leonard Wood (AP-25) and Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26) and is destined for Basra Iraq. The USS Mount Vernon carries British Soldiers. On 17 November 1941, the convoy reaches Trinidad. All ships were replenished, and the convoy departs Trinidad on 19 November 1941. On 7 December at 2000, the convoy receives a radio communication of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

US in WWII

On 9 December, the convoy arrives in Cape Town At about 0800 on 13 December 1941, the troopships depart Cape Town headed for Bombay. At 650 on 21 December, the Mount Vernon and

USS Orizaba USS ''Orizaba'' (ID-1536/AP-24) was a transport ship for the United States Navy in both World War I and World War II. She was the sister ship of but the two were not part of a ship class. In her varied career, she was also known as USAT ''Ori ...

detach from the convoy headed for Bombay, and are bound for Mombasa. The Mount Vernon and Orizaba arrive in Mombasa 25 December. At 0954 on 29 December The Mount Vernon departs Mombasa.

Convoy DM 1

At 1000 on 30 December 1941, about 370 miles east of Mombasa, convoy WS12ZM (Malaya) detaches from convoys WS12ZA (Aden) and WS12ZB (Bombay) and with HMS Emerald, and USS Mt. Vernon form convoy DM.01 (Durban Malaya). DM.01 comprises the P&O's SS Narkunda, MV Aorangi, P&O's MV Sussex, and MS Abbekerk, USS Mt. Vernon and escort HMS Emerald. Convoy DM.01 reaches ‘Port T’ – Addu Atoll in the Maldives – at 1000 on 4 January 1942. Water is taken aboard and mail sent ashore, but shore leave is not permitted. They leave at 0900 on the 5th. 11 January 1942, the convoy passes through the

Sunda Strait The Sunda Strait () is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java island, Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea with the Indian Ocean. Etymology The strait takes its name from the Sunda Kingdom, which ruled the western portion of Ja ...

12 January 1942, the convoy passes through the

Bangka Strait Bangka Strait is the strait that separates the island of Sumatra from Bangka Island () in the Java Sea, Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, India ...

13 January 1942, at 1315, the USS Mount Vernon moors at the Navy Yard, Singapore.

Duty 1942

The USS Mount Vernon departs Singapore on 14 January for

Aden Aden () is a port city located in Yemen in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, on the north coast of the Gulf of Aden, positioned near the eastern approach to the Red Sea. It is situated approximately 170 km (110 mi) east of ...

, where she embarked Australian veterans of the Mediterranean Theatre for transportation to

Ceylon Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

and

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia located at the mouth of the Swan River (Western Australia), Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australi ...

. ''Mount Vernon'' was the lead ship in Operation Stepsister, the movement of Australian troops from North Africa and the Middle East to Southeast Asia, the

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...

and Australia in response to war in the Pacific, and was carrying 4,668 of those troops in waters south of the Dutch East Indies even as allied naval forces were withdrawing in the face of Japanese attacks. On 9 March ''Mount Vernon'' delivered the returning Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) troops to

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

. In Australia she embarked civilian and military escapees from the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

, and naval survivors from ships sunk in the

Battle of Makassar Strait The Battle of Makassar Strait, also known as the Action of Madura Strait, the Action North of Lombok Strait and the Battle of the Flores Sea, was a naval battle of the Pacific theater of World War II. An American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA ...

. After calls in

, South Australia and

Wellington, New Zealand Wellington is Capital of New Zealand, the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the List of cities in New Zealand, third-largest city ...

, ''Mount Vernon'' sailed for San Francisco, arriving 31 March. USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1942-12

Duty 1943

USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-01 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-02 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-03 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-04 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-05 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-06 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-07 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-09 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-10 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-12 to 1944-01 For the next two years, ''Mount Vernon'' plied from San Francisco to ports in Australia, New Zealand,

New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity, ''sui generis'' collectivity of t ...

, and Hawaii, carrying the soldiers, marines, and sailors who would build the bases, then fight from them, bringing the ultimate victory over Japan.

Duty 1944

USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1943-12 to 1944-01 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1944-02 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1944-03 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1944-05 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1944-07 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1944-09 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1944-12 Her last such voyage began from Los Angeles on 26 February 1944. Steaming via

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, she proceeded to

Bombay, India Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12.5& ...

, to debark Army personnel. She returned to Melbourne, and sailed for

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

by way of the

Panama Canal The Panama Canal () is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a Channel (geography), conduit for maritime trade between th ...

, arriving 22 May. On 4 June 1944, ''Mount Vernon'' began a series of voyages to

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

ports and the Mediterranean, carrying men for the massive buildup on the European continent which would bring

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

to her knees. Her crossings continued after the war, as she carried occupation troops over and brought veterans home.

Duty 1945

USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1945-01 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1945-02 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1945-03 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1945-05 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1945-06 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1945-07 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1945-08 USS MOUNT VERNON - War Diary 1945-09

Decommissioning

Returning from the last voyage 3 January 1946, ''Mount Vernon'' decommissioned 18 January 1946, was delivered to the Maritime Commission, and again named ''Washington''. She was struck from the

Naval Register A Navy Directory, Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a co ...

in 1959 and sold for scrap in 1965.

Awards

American Defense Service Medal The American Defense Service Medal was a United States service medals of the World Wars, military award of the United States Armed Forces, established by , by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on June 28, 1941. The medal was intended to recogniz ...

with star * European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal *

World War II Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal was a service medal of the United States military which was established by an Act of Congress on 6 July 1945 (Public Law 135, 79th Congress) and promulgated by Section V, War Department Bulletin 12, 1945. Histo ...

National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a service award of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. It was awarded to every member of the U.S. Armed Forces who served during any one of four s ...

References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mount Vernon AP-22 World War II auxiliary ships of the United States Ships built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation 1932 ships