History
United States
Orderedas SS Exeter
Laid down1931
Launched4 April 1931
Acquired7 January 1942
Commissioned
  • USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52),
  • 18 April 1942
Stricken7 December 1942
FateSunk, 12 November 1942
General characteristics
Displacement14,330 t
Length475 ft (145 m)
Beam62 ft (19 m)
Draught26 ft (7.9 m)
Propulsionsteam turbine
Speed16 knots (30 km/h)
Complementunknown
Armamentone single 5 in (127 mm)/38 dual purpose gun mount; four single 3 in (76 mm) dual purpose gun mounts; eight single 20 mm guns AA gun mounts

USS Edward Rutledge (AP-52/APA-24) was an Edward Rutledge-class troop transport (AP), later re-designated as an attack transport (APA). She was acquired by the U.S. Navy for use in World War II, and was assigned the task of transporting troops to and from battle areas. Operating in dangerous Mediterranean waters on 12 November 1942, she was sunk after being struck by a German submarine’s torpedo at Fedala Bay, Morocco.

Construction history

Edward Rutledge (AP-52) was built in 1931 by New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey, for the American Export Lines as the SS Exeter; transferred to the Navy from the Maritime Commission 7 January 1942; converted by Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Tampa, Florida; and commissioned 18 April 1942.

North Africa operations

Edward Rutledge sailed from Tampa, Florida, in convoy 13 May 1942 to Norfolk, Virginia. She operated in Chesapeake Bay training soldiers for the invasion of North Africa. Departing Hampton Roads 24 October, she landed troops at Fedhala, French Morocco, on 8 November, and lay off the beach unloading her cargo with two lifeboats, the only boats remaining after the Naval Battle of Casablanca.

Sinking

On 12 November she was torpedoed by U-130 commanded by Ernst Kals who slipped past the escort screen to sink three transports. Edward Rutledge's crew attempted to beach her but all power had been lost; she settled rapidly by the stern and sank with the loss of 15 men.

Military honors and awards

Edward Rutledge received one battle star for World War II service:

North African occupation (Algeria-Morocco landings, 8 November to 11 November 1942).

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

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