USS Adair

USS Adair (APA-91) was a Windsor-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was sold to commercial service in 1947 and was finally scrapped in 1970.

Adair on 17 July 1944
History
United States
Name	USS Adair
Namesake	Adair County, Iowa Adair County, Kentucky Adair County, Missouri
Builder	Bethlehem Steel
Launched	29 February 1944
Sponsored by	Mrs Elsie N. Keefer
Christened	Exchester
Acquired	15 July 1944
Commissioned	15 July 1944
Decommissioned	30 April 1946
Honors and awards	Two battle stars for World War II service
Fate	Scrapped, 1970
General characteristics
Class and type	Windsor-class attack transport
Displacement	7,970 tons (lt), 13,132 t. (fl)
Length	473 ft 11 in
Beam	66 ft
Draft	25 ft
Propulsion	Bethlehem geared turbine drive, 2 × Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers, single propeller, designed shaft horsepower 8,000
Speed	18.6 knots
Capacity	Troops: 1,514 Cargo: 150,000 cu ft, 1,600 tons
Complement	555
Armament	2 × 5"/38 caliber dual-purpose gun mounts, 2 × twin Bofors 40mm gun mounts, 18 × single 20mm gun mounts.
Notes	Maritime Commission Hull No. 594, hull type C3-S-A3

History

Laid down as Exchester, Adair (APA-91) was named after counties in Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri. She was launched 29 February 1944 by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Sparrows Point, Maryland, under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the Navy 15 July 1944; and commissioned the same day.

1944–1947

During 1944 and 1945 Adair carried troops and cargo between Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Saipan, Tinian, Ulithi, Hollandia, Manus, and Guam, with two diversions to amphibious duty. From 11 to 12 January 1945 she participated in the Lingayen Gulf landings and from 1 to 5 April 1945 in the Invasion of Okinawa.

With the end of World War II, she supported the occupation of Korea (September–October) and China (16–30 December). She also served with the Operation Magic Carpet fleet, returning American servicemen to the United States from the Pacific. Adair reported to Commander, 5th Naval District, 8 March 1946; was decommissioned 30 April 1946; and returned to the Maritime Commission 3 May 1946. She was struck from the Navy Vessel Register on 8 May 1946.

1947–1970

Adair was sold in 1947 to American Export Lines, Inc., New York, who renamed her SS Express. Later, she was sold again to the Mutual Steamship Operating Company. She was scrapped in 1970.

Awards

Adair received two battle stars for her World War II service.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• APA-91 Adair, Navsource Online.