Barnstable History
| Los Angeles, Calif., under a Maritime Commission contract as Sea
Snapper; sponsored by Miss Jean Watts; acquired on a loan charter by the Navy 30 October
1943; and commissioned the same day. Placed out of commission 3 November 1943, Barnstable
was outfitted as an APA by Commercial Iron Works, Portland, Ores., and recommissioned 22
May 1944, Captain T.M. Stokes in command. Barnstable arrived at Pearl Harbor 30 July 1944
and joined Transport Division 32. Embarking troops and cargo she sailed to Guadalcanal for
landing exercises 24 August-8 September, in preparation for the assault on the Palau
Islands. Arriving at Peleliu, Palau Islands, 15 September, Barnstable remained there until
21 September, and then took part in the occupation of Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands
(23-25 September 1944). Returning to Manus, Admiralty Islands, Barnstable loaded troops
and cargo and arrived in Leyte Gulf 20 October 1944. She debarked troops for the assault
waves and continued unloading cargo throughout the day. On the 21st she departed, arriving
at the Palau Islands 23 October. Barnstable transported troops and cargo between New
Caledonia and the Admiralty Islands and then returned to Leyte, where she landed
reinforcements (19-29 November 1944). Returning to New Guinea, she remained there until
embarking troops and cargo for the landings at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. She arrived 9 January
and the following day landed he troops and cargo. She made several trips to the
Philippines with reinforcements and then participated in the initial Okinawa landings (1-5
April). Barnstable returned to the west coast in April 1945. After undergoing repairs, replacements were embarked and she returned to Manila. From Manila she made logistic runs to New Guinea. Upon the cessation of hostilities Barnstable participated in the occupation of Japan (12-26 October 1945), making two runs from the Philippine Islands to Japan transporting Army troops. She returned to California 17 November 1945 and operated along the west coast until January 1946. In February she arrived on the east coast and commenced preinactivation overhaul. She was decommissioned 25 March 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission the following day. Barnstable received four battle stars for her World War II Service. |