USN
Dimensions
475' / 62'
Tons
9,360
Armament
1 x 5' Gun
4 x 3' Guns
8 x 20mm Cannon
Wartime Photo
Ship History
Built by New York Shipbuilding Co. in Camden, NJ. Launched in 1931. Originally 'AP-51 Escambion' for American Export Lines;
acquired by the Navy January 8, 1942; commissioned April 6, 1942,
Captain Harry W. Need in command.
North African Service
After fitting out and training, John Penn began
preparations for American landing in North African "Operatiopn Torch".
From 4 to 16 October 1942, John Penn loaded Army equipment, cargo,
and troops, then topped off with fuel. She sortied from Hampton Roads
23 October with Admiral Hewitt's Western Naval Task Force. As a unit
of Rear Admiral Monroe Kelly's Northern Attaek Group she arrived 8
November in the transport area off Mehdia, Western Morocco, where she
began landing troops and putting cargo ashore. Although hampered by
heavy surf and fire from enemy shore batteries, she unloaded with efficiency
and dispatch. At 1053 an enemy aircraft attacked John Penn, but her
after batteries quickly splashed the intruder. On 15 November she departed
for Casablanca, arrived that same day, and unloaded the remainder of
her cargo. She sailed for Norfolk 17 November arriving the 30th.
Pacific Service
John Penn departed Norfolk December 17th for deployment
to the Paciflc, arriving via the Canal Zone to New Caledonia January
18 1943. Departed January 24; and arrived at Espiritu
Santo 3 days later, got underway to pick up survivors from USS Chicago,
sunk off Guadalcanal January 29th. In all, she received 1,003 men and
63 officers, including Captain R. C. Davis, the lost cruiser's commanding
offlcer. After debarking her grateful passengers at Noumea,
she spent the next 6 months delivering supplies, equipment, and troops
to Guadalcanal from the New Hebrides, Fiji and New Zealand.
Reclassified APA-23 on 1 February 1943, she continued to bring supplies
and troops onto Guadalcanal.
Sinking History
On August 13, 1943 John Penn had just finished
unloading a cargo of 155mm artillery ammunition at Lunga Point.
At 2120 she came under attack by Japanese torpedo planes, attacking from several directions. Three minutes
later, the transport took one of the planes under fire, it burst
into flames and crashed into her mainmast. About that same instant
a torpedo hit from another plane near the number 5 hold, causing a
secondary explosion. Although vigorous efforts were made to save her,
John Penn went down stern first at 2150.
Louis Plant adds:
"I was on LCI 24 anchored off Guadalcanal rhe night the John Penn was sunk. A lone Jap plane was in the searclights high over Henderson Field dropping bombs. Everybody's attention was directed to that plane when the torpedo planes attacked the Penn. An officer aboard the Penn by the name of Russel survived by climbing down the anchor chain. He eventually became an officer on our ship after it was converted to a gunboat."
Shipwreck
The severe damage
caused the stern to separate and it is 400 yards away from the main
part of the ship. USS John Penn lies on its starboard side off Lunga
Point
at 200'. Experienced
wreck divers may head aft to penetrate the exposed lower decks
where the stern separated from the rest of the ship.
The ship is in two parts with most dives being conducted on the bow section. Because of the depth of this wreck, all dives are decompression dives which require the appropriate training and experience. For safety reasons, twin tanks with a separate regulator and gauges on each tank, and a dive computer are recommended for diving on this wreck.
A dive to the bridge and forward guns involves a descent to the port side of the hull at about 120 feet (36 m). You can expect to see large schools of pelagic fish near the wreck. Drop down over the port side to the remnants of the bridge where there were 20mm anti-aircraft guns. You can also look in the radio room and the officer’s mess.
Heading towards the bow, there are the forward holds, derricks, masts and winches, then the forward 3-inch guns where live ammunition spills out of the ready-use lockers. This dive would involve a maximum depth of about 150 feet (45 m). A slow ascent can be made by returning along the hull looking in all the portholes.
Salvage
Scrap metal and brass from ship was salvaged by Honiara salvage diver, Reg Thomas. One interesting discovery was the ship's safe. Inside was rotted paper money and a sack with two metal bars in it. Later, he spoke with the ship's paymaster who said he was tasked with putting the money into a sack and throwing it overboard weighed down with brass bars. The ship sank before he could accomplish this, and left everything in the safe.
190-200'
