USS James O'Hara (APA-90)

USS James O'Hara (APA-90) underway, 8 June 1943
History
United States
Name:	USS James O'Hara (APA-90)
Namesake:	James O'Hara, Revolutionary War officer
Builder:	Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding
Laid down:	16 June 1941
Launched:	30 December 1941
Sponsored by:	Miss Anne B. Denny
Acquired:	(by the Navy) 15 April 1943
Commissioned:	26 April 1943
Decommissioned:	December/January 1960
Reclassified:	To T-AP-179, 28 April 1950
Struck:	1 July 1961
Honours and awards:	Seven battle stars for World War II service, one for the Korean War
Fate:	Scrapped, 1968
General characteristics
Class and type:	Frederick Funston-class attack transport
Displacement:	8,600 tons (lt)
Length:	492 ft (150 m)
Beam:	69 ft 6 in (21.18 m)
Draft:	26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
Propulsion:	Geared Turbine Drive, designed shaft horsepower 8,500
Speed:	16.5 knots
Capacity:	Troops: 2,200
Complement:	519
Armament:	1 x 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun mount, 2 x 3 in (76 mm)/50 dual purpose gun mounts, 8 x 1.1"/75 caliber guns, replaced by 16 x 20mm gun mounts
Notes:	MCV Hull No. 168, hull type C3-S-A1

USS James O'Hara (APA-90) was a Frederick Funston-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II and later in the Korean War. The ship was named after a Continental Army officer who fought in the Revolutionary War and who later became Quartermaster General of the US Army.

Initially acquired as an Army transport, the ship was soon acquired by the Navy and reclassified an attack transport for the duration of the war, then returned to the Army and redesignated USNS James O'Hara. In the 1950s she was reacquired once again by the Navy and reclassified, serving as USS James O'Hara (T-AP-179) until her final decommissioning.

The ship was laid down for the Army under Maritime Commission contract by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Tacoma, Washington, 16 June 1941; launched 30 December 1941; and delivered to the Army 30 November 1942.

From December 1942 to April 1943, James O'Hara served as an Army transport, steaming from the West Coast to Australia, thence via the Panama Canal to New York. Arriving New York early in April 1943. she was acquired by the Navy 15 April and commissioned 26 April, Comdr. Charles Allen in command.

After shakedown, James O'Hara departed Norfolk, Virginia early in June for duty with the 8th Fleet in the Mediterranean. Arriving Oran, Algeria, 22 June, she prepared for the forthcoming invasion of Sicily.