Bayfield-class attack transport
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Bayfield |
| Builders: | |
| Operators: | US Navy |
| Preceded by: | Ormsby class |
| Succeeded by: | Sumter class |
| In commission: | 1943-1945 - 1946-1970 |
| Completed: | 34 |
| Active: | None |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Attack transport |
| Displacement: | 8,100 tons, 16,100 fully loaded |
| Length: | 492 ft 6 in (150.11 m) |
| Beam: | 69 ft 6 in (21.18 m) |
| Draft: | 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) |
| Propulsion: | Geared turbine drive, 2 × D-type boilers, single propeller, designed shaft horsepower 8,500 |
| Speed: | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
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| Capacity: |
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| Complement: |
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| Armament: |
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The Bayfield-class attack transport was a class of US Navy attack transports that were built during World War II.
With the entry of the United States into the war, it was quickly realized that amphibious combat operations on hostile shores would be required, and that specialized ships would be needed for the purpose. The so-called "attack transport" ship type (hull classification symbol APA) was developed to meet this need. Attack transports were converted from standard transport vessels by being upgraded with extra firepower, and outfitted with a number of smaller integral landing craft (such as LCVPs and LCMs) with which amphibious assaults could be conducted.
The first attack transports began to enter service in 1942 and were built ad hoc from a host of different types. The first class to be built in substantial numbers was the Bayfield class, which began to enter service in 1943. The early vessels were converted from existing cargo or transport ships, later ones built as attack transports from the keel up.
Bayfield-class vessels were based on the large Type C3 passenger and cargo ship standard set by the US Maritime Commission. Originating in 1938, The C3 standard was designed to produce modern, good quality cargo and passenger ships to replace the ageing US merchant fleet, and which could also be readily converted into naval auxiliary vessels in the event of war. After the war broke out however, the need for shipping became so great that the US was forced to come up with designs that could be more quickly manufactured. Thus the C3-based Bayfield class and its predecessors were eventually outnumbered by the Haskell class which was based on the simpler Victory ship design.
Bayfield-class vessels were based upon the C3-S-A2 design standard. The basic design had to undergo a number of changes in order to meet the attack transport specification.
In order to accommodate the troops, two cargo holds amidships had to be converted into accommodation facilities. This was achieved by dividing each hold into three decks, and then building a number of passageways along each deck. Along both walls of each passageway, bunk-beds tiered five high were installed, and since space was still at a premium, each bunk was only thirty inches wide.
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