About this Unit
USS Mountrail (APA-213) was a Haskell-class attack transport commissioned by the United States Navy in October 1944. She participated in World War II, most notably transporting troops and equipment during the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945. After the war, Mountrail was involved in Operation Magic Carpet, repatriating American servicemen from the Pacific. She was decommissioned in 1947, briefly recommissioned during the 1950s, and ultimately struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1968.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Mountrail (APA-213) was named after Mountrail County, North Dakota, reflecting the tradition of naming attack transports after U.S. counties.
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Class and Type: She was a Haskell-class attack transport, designed for amphibious warfare and capable of carrying troops, landing craft, and equipment for assault landings.
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World War II Service: Commissioned in December 1944, USS Mountrail played a role in the Pacific theater, notably participating in the Okinawa campaign, one of the largest amphibious assaults of the war.
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Okinawa Landings: On April 1, 1945, she landed elements of the 7th Infantry Division at Okinawa, under heavy threat from kamikaze attacks and hostile fire.
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Rescue Operations: During the Okinawa operation, Mountrail took on casualties from other ships, providing medical care and support under dangerous conditions.
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Postwar Occupation Duties: After WWII, she transported occupation forces to Japan and participated in the repatriation of Allied prisoners of war.
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Operation Magic Carpet: Mountrail was involved in "Operation Magic Carpet," the massive effort to bring American servicemen home from the Pacific after the war ended.
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Decommissioning and Recommissioning: She was decommissioned in 1946, but later recommissioned in 1950 during the Korean War to serve the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
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Cold War Service: In the 1950s, Mountrail took part in numerous training exercises, amphibious landings, and fleet maneuvers along the Atlantic and Caribbean, preparing for possible Cold War contingencies.
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Final Fate: After her final decommissioning in 1957, USS Mountrail was placed in the reserve fleet and ultimately sold for scrapping in 1973, ending her nearly three-decade association with the U.S. Navy.
