Hugh L. Scott (AP-43)

From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, Vol. III, 1968, Navy           
Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History          
Division, Washington, D.C.                                                  

HUGH L. SCOTT (AP-43)                                                       

See GENERAL H. L. SCOTT for biography.                                      

dp. 12,579;                                                                 
l. 532';                                                                    
b. 72';                                                                     
dr. 30' 6";                                                                 
s. 16 k.;                                                                   
cl 119                                                                      
HUGH L. SCOTT (AP-43) was built as HAWKEYE STATE for USSB by Bethlehem      
Shipbuilding Co., Sparrows Point Md., in 1921. Renamed PRESIDENT PIERCE,    
she sailed for the Dollar Steamship Co., and later for the American         
President Lines as a passenger liner. Taken over by the Army 31 July        
1941, she was renamed HUGH L. SCOTT and made four voyages to the Far        
East before sailing to the East Coast in July 1942. The ship was taken      
over by the Navy 14 August 1942, and converted to an attack transport at    
Tietjen and Lang (later Todd Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. ), Hoboken, N.J.    
She commissioned 7 September 1942, Captain Harold J. Wright commanding.     

The transport was slated for participation in the North Africa landings,    
the giant amphibious assault mounted across the entire width of the         
Atlantic. HUGH L. SCOTT joined Transport Division 3 for this, our first     
offensive move in the European-African theater. and sailed 24 October       
after intensive amphibious training. She approached the beaches at          
Fedhala, French Morocco, early on the morning of 8 November and after       
bombardment by surface ships, landed her troops. HUGH L. SCOTT then         
cleared the immediate invasion area, and did not return until 11            
November, when she entered the refueling area and then anchored in the      
exposed Fedhala roadstead to unload her supplies.                           

During the evening of 11 November, German submarine U-173 slipped inside    
the protective screen to torpedo transport JOSEPH HEWES, tanker             
WINOOSKI, and destroyer HAMBERTON. HUGH L. SCOTT and the other              
transports went to battle stations the entire night, and resumed            
unloading the next day. That afternoon, 12 November, another submarine,     
U-130, stalked the transports and torpedoed HUGH L. SCOTT, EDWARD           
RUTLEDGE, and TASKER H. BLISS. HUGH L. SCOTT, hit on the starboard side,    
burst into flame and foundered, but owing to the availability of landing    
craft for rescue, casualties were held to a minimum-8 officers and 51       
men. U-173 was later sunk by destroyers, but U-130 escaped.                 
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President Pierce (First)                                                    
Built 1921 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co., Sparrows Point, Baltimore,        
Maryland. Hull No. 4180, O/N 220,987                                        
LOA=535'0", LBP=518'0", B=72'0", D=50'0", Draft=30'7"                       
Displacement=21,350 LT, Deadweight=11,210 LT, Gross tonnage=12,124          
Cargo capacity: 479,105 CuFt., Passengers: 874, Speed: 18 knots             
Machinery: Twin screw, geared steam turbine, 12,000 HP. Eight B&W WT        
boilers, 265#WP.                                                            
Originally HAWKEYE STATE. Operated for the U.S. Shipping Board by the Matson
Line from February 1921 to May 1922, making four voyages between the East   
Coast and Hawaii. Transferred to Pacific Mail Steamship Co. June 26, 1922   
and renamed President Pierce. Sold to Dollar Steamship Co.1926. Transferred 
to APL 1938. Taken over by the Army July 10, 1941 and renamed HUGH L. SCOTT.
Transferred to the Navy August 14, 1942, converted to an attack transport by
Tietjen & Lang, Hoboken, New Jersey, and commissionedU.S.S. HUGH L. SCOTT,  
AP-43. Sunk by torpedo from German submarine U-130 at Fedhala Roads, North  
Africa, November 12, 1942. Eight officers and 51 men were lost.             
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