SS American Legion

As USS American Legion c. 1944–45
History
United States
Name	American Legion
Namesake	The American Legion, a patriotic organization
Builder	New York Shipbuilding
Cost	$7,309,189.37[3]
Yard number	242[2]
Launched	11 October 1919[1]
Sponsored by	Mrs. Joseph S. Frelinghuysen
Christened	American Legion
Acquired	(by the Navy) 22 August 1941
Commissioned	(Navy) 26 August 1941
Decommissioned	(Navy) 20 March 1946
Maiden voyage	23 July 1921
Reclassified	AP-35 to APA-17, 1 February 1943
Stricken	(Navy) 20 March 1946
Identification	United States official number: 221478
Honors and awards	Two battle stars for World War II service
Fate	Sold for scrap, 5 February 1948
General characteristics
Class and type	EFC Design 1029 ship (Navy) Harris-class attack transport
Displacement	13,529 tons (lt), 21,900 t.(fl)
Length	535 ft 2 in (163.12 m)
Beam	72 ft (22 m)
Draft	31 ft 3 in (9.53 m)
Propulsion	2 × Westinghouse geared turbine drives, 8 × Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers 2 propellers, designed 12,000 shp (8,900 kW)
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Capacity	Troops: 107 Officers, 1,537 Enlisted Cargo: 120,000 cu ft, 2,500 tons
Complement	Officers 43, Enlisted 639
Armament	4 × 3"/50 cal. DP gun mounts, 2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts, 2 × quad 1.1"/75 caliber gun mounts, 10 × single 20 mm gun mounts.

American Legion was a United States Navy ship first launched on 11 October 1919 and decommissioned on 20 March 1946. She was built for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), one of the planned World War I troop transports converted before construction into passenger and cargo vessels, the Emergency Fleet Corporation Design 1029 ships. The ship was laid down as Koda and perhaps assigned the name Badger State at one point, but renamed American Legion before launch and one of only a few of the design not taking a state nickname. Originally operated by the USSB's agents and the Munson Steamship Line the ship saw commercial service until laid up 13 March 1939.

American Legion was formally transferred to the War Department for use as a United States Army transport on 19 December 1939 operating as USAT American Legion until transfer to the United States Navy 22 August 1941. The Navy commissioned the ship USS American Legion initially classifying the ship a transport with hull number AP-35. On 1 February 1943 the Navy reclassified the ship as an attack transport (Harris class) with hull number APA-17. American Legion decommissioned on 28 March 1946 and was sold for scrap 5 February 1948.