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USS Kleinsmith (APD-134)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Echo - Hotel

NUEH

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia or Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal

USS Kleinsmith (APD-134) was transferred to Taiwan and renamed ROCS Tien Shan (APD-315)

Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort / Crosley Class High-speed Transport:

Laid down, 30 August 1944, as Kleinsmith (DE-718), a Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort at DeFoe Shipbuilding Bay City, MI.

Redesignated a Crosley Class High-speed Transport APD-134 while under construction

Launched, 27 January 1945

Commissioned USS Kleinsmith (APD-134), 12 June 1945, LCDR. Alden J. Laborde, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Kleinsmith was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

USS Kleinsmith was assigned to Occupation service in Asia and Europe and China service for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
Asia 28 September 1945 to 22 February 1946	28 September 1945 to 22 February 1946
Europe 15 March to 27 June 1951
Europe 21 September 1954 to 18 January 1955

Decommissioned, 16 May 1960, at Tsoying Taiwan and transferred to Taiwan the same day, renamed ROCS Tien Shan (APD-315)

Struck from the Naval Register, 16 May 1960

Purchased outright by the Government of Taiwan in 1974

Pennant number changes included (615) and (815) while active in the Taiwanese Navy

Final Disposition, reported to have been struck by the Taiwanese Navy in early 1998

APD Specifications:
Displacement 1,630 t.(lt) 2,130 t.(fl)
Length 306' ovl.
Beam 37'
Draft 12' 7" (limiting)
Speed 23.6 kts. (trial)
Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.

Complement

12 Officers

192 Enlisted

Troop Accommodations

12 Officers

150 Enlisted

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Boats four LCVP landing craft

Troop Accoutrements

six 1/4 ton trucks

two 1 ton trucks

four ammunition carts

four pack howitzers

Storage

Ammunition 6,000 cu. ft.

General Cargo 3,500 cu. ft.

Gasoline 1,000 cu. ft.

Armament

one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

three twin 40 mm gun mounts

six single 20 mm gun mounts

two depth charge tracks

Propulsion

two Babcox and Wilcox "D" Express type boilers, 435 PSI 750°

two General Electric turbines, (turbo-electric drive) Ship's Service Generators
two turbo-drive 300Kw 450V A.C.
two turbo-drive 40Kw 120V D.C.

two shafts, shaft horsepower 12,000

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Kleinsmith (APD-134)
Kleinsmith	566k	Kleinsmith (APD-134) in the tow of Towboat *John W. Weeks* passing downstream on the Illinois River under the Morris Highway Bridge, 23 May 1945. *Kleinsmith* was in tow down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans for commissioning. War Department US Engineers Office, Chicago, IL. photo # 556 from the collections of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Home of the SS Cobia.	Larry Bohn
Kleinsmith	156k	Making Kleinsmith (APD-134) fast to the Towboat *John W. Weeks* at the Marseilles Lock on the Illinois River, 23 May 1945. *Kleinsmith* was in tow down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans for commissioning. War Department US Engineers Office, Chicago, IL. photo # 564 from the collections of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Home of the SS Cobia.	Larry Bohn
Kleinsmith	515k	*USS Kleinsmith* (APD-134)** at anchor, date and location unknown. Photo courtesy Chris Wright	Ed Zajkowski
Kleinsmith	135k	*USS Kleinsmith* (APD-134)** underway off Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 1948-49. US Navy photo	Clarence W. Sprague, Jr. in honor of his father LT. Clarence W. Sprague USN, USS Kleinsmith
Kleinsmith	192k	*USS Kleinsmith* (APD-134)** underway in 1957, location unknown. US Navy photo	David Buell
Kleinsmith	38k	*USS Kleinsmith* (APD-134)** at anchor, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst
Kleinsmith	180k	*USS Kleinsmith* (APD-134)** underway, circa 1959, location unknown. Photo by Giorgio Arra.	Robert Hurst
Kleinsmith	462k	*USS Kleinsmith* (APD-134) moored next to the Sun Time Building at Chicago in July 1959. Kleinsmith** was part of the task force was in Chicago for the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway.	James G. Brown
Kleinsmith 100413410	289k	*USS Kleinsmith* (APD-134) moored next to the Sun Time Building at Chicago in July 1959. Kleinsmith** was part of the task force was in Chicago for the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway.	Nicholas Tiberio
ROCS Tien Shan (APD-315)
Kleinsmith	35k	Ex-Kleinsmith (APD-134) in the service of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as *ROCS Tien Shan* (APD-315)** underway, circa 1962, location unknown.	Robert Hurst

USS Kleinsmith (APD-134)
Dictionary of American Navy Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers

01 LCDR. Laborde, Alden James, USNR 12 June 1945 - 19 November 1945

02 LT. Chatham Jr., Alex, USNR 19 November 1945 - 24 November 1945

03 LCDR. Kissam, Gordon Denslow, USNR 24 November 1945 - 1 July 1946

04 LCDR. Botten, James Warren, USN (USNA 1941) 1 July 1946 - 1948

05 LCDR. Hall Jr., Harvey Wright, USN 1948 - 1950

06 LCDR. Butler, Francis Andrew, USN (USNA 1943) 1951 - ?

07 CDR. Price Jr.., Ogle W., USN 1954

08 LCDR. Keichner, William Warren, USN 1955 - 14 August 1957

09 LCDR. Plante, Richard Joseph, USN 14 August 1957 - 3 December 1958

10 LCDR. Schwemley, Paul Albert, USN (USNA 1946) 3 December 1958 - 13 February 1960

11 LCDR. Taylor, Waymon, USN 13 February 1960 - 16 May 1960

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Reunion Contact
Contact: Joseph H Hoch Address: 84 Hickory Branch Lane, Safety Harbor, FL. 34695 Phone: (727) 725-9176 E-Mail: maeruth@verizon.net

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Destroyer Escort Sailors Association

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