USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50)
Encyclopedia
USS Joseph Hewes (AP-50) was a transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was built in 1930, acquired 8 January 1942, and was assigned the task of transporting troops to and from battle areas. After off-loading delays caused by the Naval Battle of Casablanca
Naval Battle of Casablanca
The Naval Battle of Casablanca was a series of naval engagements fought between American ships covering the invasion of North Africa and Vichy French ships defending the neutrality of French Morocco in accordance with the Second Armistice at Compiègne during World War II...
, she was sunk by a German torpedo while anchored along the North African coast.
Joseph Hewes was launched in 1930 by the New York Shipbuilding
New York Shipbuilding
The New York Shipbuilding Corporation was founded in 1899 and opened its first shipyard in 1900. Located in Camden, New Jersey on the east shore of the Delaware River, New York Ship built more than 500 vessels for the U.S...
Corp., Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
as the passenger liner Excalibur. As part of American Export Lines' original "4 Aces," she provided first-class service between New York and Europe. In August 1940, Excalibur carried the Duke and Duchess of Windsor from Lisbon to Bermuda.
Excalibur was acquired by the Navy 8 January 1942, and commissioned 1 May 1942, with Captain Robert McL. Smith in command.
World War II North Atlantic operations
After conversion and fitting out, Joseph Hewes sortied from Hampton RoadsHampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
24 October with the Center Attack Group of Admiral Hewitt's Western Naval Task Force en route to French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
. She was carrying 80 officers and 1,074 men of the reinforced 3rd Division, U.S. Army, plus vehicles and supplies.
North Africa operations
The transport arrived off Fedhala 8 November, by 0705 landed all troops, and then commenced unloading ammunition and supplies. By 11 November Joseph Hewes had completed unloading and had received 30 casualties from the beach.Struck by a torpedo
At 1950 she took a torpedoTorpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
hit in No. 2 hold from U-173. The transport settled by the bow and began filling rapidly with water. Captain Smith endeavored to pick up anchor or slip chain but, as the entire forecastle
Forecastle
Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters...
was under water, this was not possible. He then attempted to beach the ship by backing engines but her propeller
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
was out of the water, so the order was given to abandon ship.
Abandon ship
Joseph Hewes went down at 2032, taking Captain Smith and approximately 100 seamen with her. By his coolness, calmness, and his devotion to duty in placing the safety of the crew and ship before his own, he instilled confidence in every officer and member of the crew. The U-173 paid heavily for her victory, for she was sunk 5 days later off CasablancaCasablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
by American destroyers.
Joseph Hewes received one battle star for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
service.
Prior to her loss, Joseph Hewes had been designated for reclassification in early 1943 as APA-22. Since the hull numerical sequence had already been assigned, APA-22 was never reissued. In the 1956 Universal International production Away All Boats, USS Randall (APA-224) wore hull number APA-22 while standing in as the motion picture's fictional USS Belinda.