1941 – 1947 – Construction and WWII Service

Historical research documents, presented as daily and hourly events

The links below provide access to a series of documents containing detailed research notes covering the Calvert’s daily activities during World War II. Many of these documents include daily chronological details for the Calvert’s activities throughout the entire war.

• Origin Story – 1919 to 1941
• November 15, 1941 to December 31, 1942 – updated 9.2.2022
  • Construction of the USS Calvert
  • Landings at Safi, French Morocco, Operation Torch
  • Return to Norfolk, VA 
  • Yard work, repair and upkeep
• January 1, 1943 to June 8, 1943 – updated 9.3.2022
  • Amphibious training in the Chesapeake Bay
  • Yard work in Todd Shipyard, New York
  • New boat crews and LCVPs
  • Preparation for the Invasion of Sicily
• June 8, 1943 to August 31, 1943 – added 2.1.2023
  • Transit to Mers El Kebir, Algeria
  • Invasion of Sicily, Scoglitti area
  • Return to Norfolk, VA
  • Departure for the Pacific, and transit of the Panama Canal
• September 1, 1943 to December 31, 1943 – added 5.13.2023
  • San Diego and San Francisco
  • Hawaii and training in preparation for the invasion of the Gilberts
  • Departure for the invasion of the Gilberts (Makin Island)
  • Invasion of Makin Island, Gilberts Group.
  • Return to Hawaii and then San Diego.
• January 1, 1944 to April 30, 1944 –  updated 09.25.2023
  • Preparation for assault landings at Roi-Namur, Operation Flintlock
  • Landing exercises in Hawaii in preparation for the invasion of Saipan and Tinian
  • Overhaul and training in Pearl Harbor.
• May 1, 1944 to August 21, 1944 –  updated 02.20.2024
  • May: Amphibious training exercises in Maui and preparation for the Invasion of Saipan.
  • June: Invasion of Saipan.
  • July: Invasion of Tinian.
  • August: Return to Pearl Harbor.
• August 21, 1944 to December 10, 1944 – added 02.20.2024
  • Preparation for the invasion of Leyte, PI; Underway to Leyte.
  • Initial amphibious assault landing at Leyte, PI, October 18-19, 1944
  • Landing of reinforcements at Leyte on November 18, 1944
• December 11, 1944 to February 9, 1945 – added 02.24.2024
  • Amphibious assault landing, Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, January 9, 1945
  • Amphibious assault landing, Mindoro, Philippines, February 9-10, 1945
• February 10, 1945 to August 24, 1945 – added 9.2.2022
  • Departed the Philippines operational area
  • Recreation at Mog Mog, Ulithi Atoll
  • Conversion to ACG, Amphibious Force Flagship
  • Departure for the Occupation of Japan
• August 24, 1945 to November 16, 1945 – added 9.2.2022
  • The Occupation of Japan
• November 16, 1945 to February 26, 1947 – updated 9.2.2022
  • Operation Magic Carpet, Japan and China
  • Return to Norfolk, VA for decommissioning and inactive reserve in Norfolk, VA
• February 26, 1947 to 1950 – added 9.4.2022
  • Assignment to Inactive Duty in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Norfolk Group.
  • The maintenance of WWII-era ships during inactive duty.

Rare and hard-to-find information regarding the ship’s and crew’s experiences during the war

• Landing charts for Scoglitti, Sicily, Roi-Namur, and Saipan
• WWII Pacific Cruise Map & Ship Photographs, November 1943 – April 1946 – Map and Ship’s Photographs
• 16mm Color Film of the Calvert and her crew in action during 1944
• Occupation of Central Japan, Hiroshima, October and November 1945 

US Navy’s official WWII war history of the USS Calvert

This 15-page document covers the Calvert’s commissioning on 1 October 1942 through to her assignment to “Magic Carpet” duty on 16 November 1945 and was compiled by the US Navy Department in 1946:

• • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 01 – Oct ’42 – July ’43: Norfolk, Safi, Sicily
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 02 – July ’43: Norfolk, Sicily
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 03 – July ’43 – Nov ’43 : Sicily, Hawaii, Makin
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 04 – Nov ‘43 – Apr ’44: Makin, Roi Namur, Hawaii
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 05 – May ’44 – July ’44: Hawaii, Saipan
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 06 – July ’44 – Sept ’44: Tinian, Hawaii, Manus
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 07 – Sept ’44 – Dec ’44: Manus, Leyte, NewGuinea
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 08 – Jan ’45 – Sep ’45: Philippines, Leyte, Okinawa
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 09 – Oct ’45 – Nov ’45:  Japan, Pearl Harbor
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 10 – Commanding Officers ’42 – ’45
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 11 – Citations & Awards: ’42 – ’45
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 12 – Citations & Awards: ’42 – ’45
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) – Page 13 – Citations & Awards: ’42 – ’45
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) page 14 – Citations & Awards: ’42 – ’45
  • History of the USS CALVERT (APA32) page 15 – Citations & Awards: ’42 – ’45
  • The full document is available via the National Archives Catalog, here:

USS Calvert War Diaries and Action Reports

Daily logs of the Calvert’s movements, war-time activities, and detailed invasion action reports are available for online viewing and download from The National Archives Catalog website. Supporting historical details are also provided as sub-bullets for relevant historical resources.

1942

• October 1942 – The Calvert’s war diary for this period is not available online, or may not exist.
  • October, 1942 – daily war diary  -This is the war diary for the USS Harry Lee. See page 2 regarding the Harry Lee’s breakdown and transfer of crew and equipment to the USS Calvert in late October). 
• November, 1942 – The Calvert’s war diary for this period is not available online, or may not exist
• December, 1942 – The Calvert’s war diary for this period is not available online, or may not exist

1943

• January, February 1943 – daily war diary
• March, 1943 – daily war diary
• April, 1943 – daily war diary
• May, 1943 – daily war diary
• June, 1943 – daily war diary
• July, 1943 – daily war diary
  • Action report for the invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky
• August, 1943 – daily war diary
• September, 1943 – daily war diary
• October, 1943 – daily war diary
• November, 1943 – daily war diary 
  • How the USS Calvert First Crossed The Line. Provides details on the Calvert’s first “Crossing The Line” ceremony, on November 15, 1943 while enroute to the invasion of Makin Island.
  • Action report for the invasion of Makin Island, Operation Galvanic
• December, 1943 – daily war diary

1944

• January, 1944 – daily war diary
• February, 1944 – daily war diary
  • Action report for the invasion of Roi-Namur, Kwajalein Atoll, Operation Flintlock (Jan 31st to Feb 8th)
• March, 1944 – daily war diary is not available online, or may not exist
• April, 1944 – daily war diary
• May, 1944 – daily war diary
• June, 1944 – daily war diary
  • Action report for the invasion of Saipan Island, Marianas (June 15th – June 24th)
• July, 1944 – daily war diary
  • Action report for the invasion of Tinian Island, Marianas (July 19th to July 28th)
• August, 1944 – daily war diary
• September, 1944 – daily war diary
• October, 1944 – daily war diary
  • Action report for the invasion of Leyte Island, Philippines (Oct 14th – 22nd)
• November, 1944 – daily war diary
• December, 1944 – daily war diary

1945

• January, 1945 – daily war diary
• February, 1945 – daily war diary
• March, April, May, 1945 – daily war diary – Central Pacific, Hawaii, Overhaul, Bremerton, WA
• June, 1945 – daily war diary – Overhaul, Bremerton, WA
• July, 1945 – daily war diary
• August, 1945 – daily war diary
• September, 1945 – daily war diary
• October, 1945 – daily war diary
• November, 1945 – daily war diary
• December, 1945 – daily war diary is not available online, or may not exist