USS Charles Carroll
USS Charles Carroll was a that served with the US Navy during World War II.
Charles Carroll was named after a signatory to the American Declaration of Independence. Initially classified a transport ship, AP-58, the ship was launched as Deluruguay 24 March 1942 by Bethlehem Steel of Sparrows Point, Maryland; acquired by the Navy 13 August 1942; and commissioned the same day. The ship was affectionately nicknamed “The Lucky Chuck” according to Ensign Frank J. Kempf, an officer who served aboard the Charles Carroll in 1945.
World War II
Mediterranean Theatre
Invasion of French Morocco
The transport departed Norfolk, Virginia, 24 October 1942 in the Center Attack Group for the landings in North Africa, and on 8 November arrived off Fedhala, French Morocco, to begin the difficult landing of soldiers and their equipment over a beach whose narrow entrance was confined by rocky entrances. Her untried boat crews completed their part in the landing successfully, and on 15 November, Charles Carroll got underway for Norfolk, which she reached 26 November.Damaged by mine
After replenishment, she sailed 27 December, bound for the Pacific, but while approaching the Canal Zone, struck a mine, and had to put into Balboa for repairs. On 1 February 1943, she was reclassified APA-28, and in March 1943 returned to Chesapeake Bay for training operations. On 8 June, the attack transport sailed for action once more. She carried the 40th Engineer Combat Regiment from Hampton Roads to Oran to Sicily.Invasion of Sicily
Arriving at Oran 22 June 1943, Charles Carroll rehearsed, then loaded, for the assault on Sicily, and on 10 July, began putting troops ashore through the heavy surf of the Scoglitti beaches. Remaining off Sicily for 6 days, the attack transport repeatedly fired on attacking planes in the furious German air attacks on the assault forces.Invasion of Italy
After ferrying reinforcements from North Africa, she returned to Oran 18 August to prepare for the invasion of Italy itself, for which she sailed 5 September.Operating with the Southern Attack Force, Charles Carroll began landing the initial attack waves at Salerno 9 September, where a strong defense of the beach called for, and received, skill and determination from the boat crews. As resistance stiffened, Charles Carroll joined in bringing fresh troops into action, continuing support until 17 November.
Western Theatre
Normandy landings
After short overhaul in Norfolk from 2 January 1944 to 11 February, on 22 February, she arrived in British waters to begin her share of the long and intricate preparations for the return to the continent.On 5 June 1944, Charles Carroll left England astern headed for formidably protected Omaha Beach with the initial landing force. Overcoming the difficult obstacles placed by the Germans there, her boat crews successfully landed troops of the 29th Division under enemy fire, and all through that historic 6 June plied back and forth, landing additional troops and equipment, and evacuating casualties. Charles Carroll sailed for England that evening.