USS Lowndes was a Haskell-class attack transport acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II for the task of transporting troops to and from combat areas. Lowndes was launched under a Maritime Commission contract by Oregon Shipbuilding Co., Portland, Oregon, 18 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Fred J. Lundberg; acquired by the Navy 14 September 1944; and commissioned the same day, Comdr. Charles H. Perdue in command.
After shakedown, Lowndes departed San Pedro, California, 23 October for amphibious training in the Hawaiian Islands. She continued landing rehearsals for the rest of the year in preparation for the Iwo Jima and Okinawa operations.
Landing troops and their supplies on Iwo Jima
Departing Pearl Harbor27 January 1945, Lowndes carried troops and equipment to staging areas in Saipan before continuing toward Iwo Jima. She arrived off the southeast coast of the volcanic island 19 February and lowered her boats for the massive amphibious assault. She carried the 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines and C Co 133 NCB. For the next eight days Lowndes stood by as her beach party went ashore to attend and evacuate casualties to salvage boats, and to clear the beaches for landing craft. The transport returned to Saipan 3 March to prepare for the final leg on the island hopping campaign which was pushing Japan back to her home islands.
Landing troops and equipment on Okinawa
Lowndes sailed 27 March for the 1 April invasion of Okinawa arriving there in the morning hours of D Day. The transport waited in the retirement area until 12 April when under constant enemy air raids she debarked troops and unloaded cargo for the vigorous campaign ashore. Returning Saipan 18 April Lowndes performed training exercises there and in the Southwest Pacific Ocean until she departed Guam11 July for San Francisco, California.
Post-war assignments and decommissioning
The transport made another cruise to the western Pacific carrying troops and cargo to the Philippines and Japan for occupation duty. Loaded with homeward bound veterans Lowndes departed Saipan 6 October for the United States. Sailing to the U.S. East Coast in February 1946, she decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia, 17 April 1946, and returned to War Shipping Administration for disposal.
Military awards and honors
Lowndes received two battle stars for World War II service.
