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Gilliam-class attack transport
US Navy ship / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gilliam-class attack transport was a class of attack transport built for service with the US Navy in World War II.
Quick Facts Class overview, General characteristics ...
![]() USS Fallon, one of 32 Gilliam-class attack transports | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Gilliam class |
Builders | Consolidated Steel |
Operators | US Navy |
Preceded by | Sumter class |
Succeeded by | Haskell class |
In commission | 1 Aug 1944 – 9 Apr 1945 – 9 Apr 1946 – 23 Jan 1947 |
Completed | 32 |
Lost | 14 (as target ships) |
Retired | 18 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | S4-SE2-BD1 |
Type | Attack transport |
Displacement | 4,247 tons (lt) 7,080 t.(fl) |
Length | 426 ft (130 m) |
Beam | 58 ft (18 m) |
Draft | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
Propulsion | Westinghouse turbo-electric transmission, 2 boilers, twin propellers, Design shaft horsepower 6,000 |
Speed | 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
Capacity | 47 Officers, 802 Enlisted, cargo 85,000 cu ft, 600-2,600 tons[note 1] |
Complement | 27 Officers 295 Enlisted |
Armament | 1 × 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun mount, 4 × twin 40 mm gun mounts, 10 × single 20 mm gun mounts |
Close
Like all attack transports, the purpose of the Gilliams was to transport troops and equipment to foreign shores in order to execute amphibious invasions using an array of smaller amphibious assault boats carried by the attack transport itself. The Gilliam-class was heavily armed with antiaircraft weaponry to protect itself and its cargo of troops from air attack in the battle zone.