USS Upham
Introduction '''USS ''Upham'' (APD-99)''', ex-'''DE-283''', was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1945 to 1946.
Construction and commissioning ''Upham'' was laid down as the ''Rudderow''-class destroyer escort USS ''Upham'' (DE-283) on 13 December 1943 by the Charleston Navy Yard, and was launched on 9 March 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Mabel Upham, the widow of the ships namesake, Admiral Frank B. Upham. The ship was reclassified as a ''Crosley''-class high-speed transport and redesignated APD-99 on 17 July 1944.After conversion to her new role, she was commissioned on 23 July 1945.
Service history ''Upham'' conducted her shakedown training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from 8 August 1945 to 10 September 1945; during the cruise, World War II came to an end with Japans capitulation on 15 August 1945.Too late to participate in combat, ''Upham'' exercised with an operational training unit in the Chesapeake Bay until 5 October 1945.She then served a brief tour of training duty out of Miami, Florida, from 8 October 1945 to 22 October 1945.Shifting north to Hampton Roads, Virginia, ''Upham'' reached Norfolk, Virginia, in time for Navy Day festivities before moving to Jacksonville, Florida, to prepare for inactivation.
Decommissioning and disposal Decommissioned on 25 April 1946, ''Upham'' was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet group on the St. Johns River at Green Cove Springs, Florida. The ship remained inactive and was stricken from the Navy List on 1 June 1960.Sold to the government of Colombia in January 1962, ''Upham'' was converted for service as a floating power station.
References ** NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive USS Upham (APD-99), and served in that role at least into the 1970s.