The document below is a compilation of research notes covering:
- Key elements of the USS Calvert’s origin story.
- The broader story behind her and her five sister ships of the C3-C&P reasons for their existence and their role in the War..
- Her, and her sister ships’ special design characteristics pre-dating the War.
- The essence of her design and her special place in the history of the US Navy’s Amphibious force.
View and download the 30 page document here: A History of the USS Calvert – An Introduction, Origin Story, and Design Details
Additional documents covering other periods of WWII are available here: https://www.usscalvert.com/history/apa32-1942-1947/
Notes:
- The document was last updated on September 21, 2022.
- Please contact me with any questions, additions, or corrections.
As always, thank you for visiting the website and anything you are wiling or able to share regarding the history of the USS Calvert.
Lots of work, Chris. Kudos to you. I found the article very interesting. I spent some time trying t o find different areas of the ship from the spec sheet. Many were not in the same place as when I was aboard from 63-66. I found many discrepancies, I presume from changes made over the years and also in the original layout of the ship.
Thank you Wasey!
Yes, the ship would have gone through many changes compared to the 1941-era technical drawing posted on the web site. I believe the biggest changes would have happened in mid-1945 when the ship was converted as a Relief ACG, Amphibious Force Flagship. Described as follows by Dave Cullen in his “History of the USS Calvert” page 15:
Overhaul to Relief ACG, Amphibious Force Flagship – March 26, 1945 to August 24, 1945: “Upon it’s arrival on 26 March 1945 at Seattle, a yard availability period was utilized to convert this vessel into a Relief ACG (RAGC).
This was the first of several overhauls the Calvert was to experience tending to change her general characteristics from a conventional attack transport to an attack transport equipped to operate as a relief ACG-Amphibious Force Flagship. This entailed the installation of additional communication, plotting, gunnery, detection and administrative facilities, plus administrative and berthing facilities for embarked naval and troop staffs. During this period the original troop carrying capacity, and cargo capacity of the Calvert were reduced.” (Cullen, p15)
Also, the ship underwent significant changes in early 1958: “The ship spent the following several months undergoing overhaul at Hunter’s Point in San Francisco. It resulted in a good overhaul of the engineering plant: On our sea trials toward the end of the period she made over 18 knots. We also had installed a high smoke pipe on the large false stack. It ruined the handsome appearance of the ship but it did wonders for the atmosphere on the bridge, which for years before had been miserable.” Calversion Vol 41, P 7 & 8 – Captain Harry B. Stark
Thanks again for reading through the article and your comments!
Chris
Chris: What a great informational article. I just discovered it on Christmas day! Fabulous work. Thank you.
This truly has got to be a work of love.
Thank you Jack!