page_title: USS Hopping (DE-155/APD-51)
section_title: Pacific War
hierarchical_section_title: USS Hopping (DE-155/APD-51) / History / Pacific War
caption_attribution_description: English: The U.S. Navy high-speed transport USS Hopping (APD-51) and USS LCI(L)-373 during amphibious landing operations off Okinawa, in 1945. Several infantry landing craft (LCI) are heading for the beach, while the battleships, USS New York (BB-34) and USS Idaho (BB-42), are visible in the background.
context_page_description: USS Hopping was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947. In 1944, she was converted to a Charles Lawrence-class high speed transport and redesignated "APD-51". She was sold for scrap in 1966.
context_section_description: Hopping returned to Frontier Base, Staten Island, during October–November 1944, where she was converted to a Charles Lawrence-class high speed transport.  Reclassified APD-51, she underwent shakedown training in Chesapeake Bay and departed Norfolk on 20 December 1944 to take part in the Pacific War, then entering its climactic stage. The new transport steamed via the Panama Canal and San Diego to Pearl Harbor, anchoring there on 15 January 1945.  There she trained with Underwater Demolition Teams, the Navy's famed "frogmen", until 13 February, when she got underway for the Philippines.  Hopping arrived at Leyte Gulf on 4 March to prepare for what was to be the last great amphibious campaign of the war, Okinawa.
  Hopping sailed for Kerama Retto on 21 March with UDT-7 embarked, and during the early days of the campaign carried out many reconnaissance and demolition assignments.  When not putting frogmen ashore, the ship acted as screening ship for larger units off Kerama Retto, and while on this duty assisted in splashing several aircraft the night of 28/29 March.  As Marines landed on Okinawa itself on 1 April, Hopping turned to screening and patrol duties, fighting off numerous Japanese air attacks.  While in Buckner Bay on a reconnaissance operation on 9 April, the ship engaged a concealed enemy shore battery, and while silencing the gun, sustained several damaging hits.  As a result, she proceeded to Ulithi for repairs, arriving there on 23 April 1945.
  Hopping was soon back in the thick of the fighting at Okinawa, however, returning on 17 May to resume screening duties as the air and land battles raged.  She remained off Okinawa continuously until the island was secured fighting off countless mass attacks by the desperate Japanese.  The ship sailed on 8 August with a convoy bound for Leyte, and while in the historic gulf on 15 August learned of the surrender of Japan.
  The ship's first occupation duty was to aid in the evacuation of former prisoners of war from Japan.  She arrived in Japan on 11 September and disembarked over 100 former Navy and Marine prisoners at Guam on 19 September.  Following convoy duty and anti-mine work in Japanese and Philippine waters, Hopping got underway from Tokyo Bay on 24 November 1945 with returnees for the United States.  She arrived San Diego on 11 December.
caption: Hopping off Okinawa, in 1945.
exif: {}