USS Paul Revere (APA-248)

USS Paul Revere (APA/LPA-248) was the lead ship of the Paul Revere class of attack transport in the United States Navy. She was named for the early patriot, Paul Revere (1735–1818). She later served in the Spanish Navy as Castillia (L-21).

The ship was originally laid down as Maritime Administration Hull 27 on 15 May 1952 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey, and was launched on 11 April 1953 as the SS Diamond Mariner, sponsored by Mrs. Franklin Ewers. The ship was delivered to MARAD on 22 December 1953, and was operated by the Prudential Steamship Corp. for MARAD until placed in the Maritime Reserve Fleet on 24 July 1954. She was acquired by the US Navy on 14 September 1956, classified APA-248 and named Paul Revere on 4 June 1957, converted by Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro, California, and commissioned at Long Beach, California on 3 September 1958, Capt. Robert Erly in command.

1958–1964
After shakedown, Paul Revere spent the next full year participating in a series of amphibious training operations: "Rocky Shoals" at San Diego in November 1958, "Twin Peaks" at Camp Pendleton in February 1959, "PACNAMIDLEX" at Del Mar, California in August, "Clear Ridge" off California in September, and "Totem Pole" at Kodiak, Alaska during November.

During 1960–1961, she was assigned "Ready APA" duty, in which she maintained on board, at all times, a fully equipped and reinforced battalion of landing troops to be put ashore on short notice at any trouble spot in the Pacific. On 21 March 1961 trouble flared in Laos, and Paul Revere commenced patrolling the waters off the coast of Southeast Asia. She remained in the area in a ready status for a total of fifty-four days until tensions eased, then resumed her normal South China Sea patrol.

In January 1962, after returning to the U.S., Paul Revere accomplished a most dramatic rescue, when one of several helicopters engaged in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises plunged into the ocean. Operating several hundred yards from the scene, she launched a manned boat which returned the three crewmen of the helicopter to the ship for medical treatment, all in the space of six minutes.

Following overhaul, she spent the last 5 or 6 months of 1962 in the Western Pacific. This deployment included the ports of Subic Bay, Hong Kong, and several ports in Japan. The year 1963 saw her complete a successful WestPac deployment and another rigorous schedule of training operations.

Departing San Diego on 28 January 1964 for her fourth WestPac deployment en route to Pearl Harbor Paul Revere participated in "Coco Palm", a merchant convoy sailing exercise. From Pearl Harbor she sailed to Buckner Bay in preparation for one of the largest amphibious operations since the end of World War II. This exercise, called "Back Pack", involved over 50,000 American and Nationalist Chinese personnel and over 125 ships. It was conducted off the southwestern coast of Taiwan and terminated on 12 March. Paul Revere also participated in "Ligtas", a combined SEATO exercise in the Philippines during May, and operation "Minute Hand", conducted at Numazu, Japan in July. Returning to the States, she joined another convoy exercise, "Mad Bull", and arrived San Diego on 6 August.

Vietnam, 1964–1972
Paul Revere spent the first seven months of 1965 conducting training operations off the coast. In August she lifted elements of the 1st Marine Division to Okinawa and during October and November she transported personnel of South Korea's famed Tiger Division to Qui Nhon, South Vietnam from Pusan. From 7–18 November she conducted her first actual combat assault as a unit involved in operation "Blue Marlin", with Marine battalions embarked. She was involved in a similar operation called "Double Eagle" at Quảng Ngãi Province, landing the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, on 28 January 1966. She continued lift support for Marine units in Vietnam through March and then returned to San Diego on 19 April.

Paul Revere resumed coastal operations on her return, until May 1967 when she again deployed to the Far East. As a unit of the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) off the coast of Vietnam she engaged in operations "Belt Drive", "Fortress Sentry", "Formation Leader", and "Knox". She returned to San Diego on 16 December and commenced coastal operations. For meritorious service from 17 August to 11 November 1967 during sustained amphibious operations against communist insurgent forces in the Republic of Vietnam, Paul Revere was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the first ship of her type to receive the award.

During 1968 she participated in training cruises for Naval Reservists and Midshipmen, including a special familiarization cruise for Sea Cadets. She also continued her upkeep and training preparations for her next coming deployment in January 1969.

Having been redesignated LPA-248 on 1 January 1969, Paul Revere deployed on 30 January, departing San Diego as part of ARG "Bravo" (TG 76.5) in company with USS Tulare (LKA-112), USS Belle Grove (LSD-2), USS Alamo (LSD-33), USS Cook (APD-130), USS Tortuga (LSD-26), and USS Valley Forge (LPH-8), bound, via Pearl Harbor and Subic Bay, for Southeast Asia. Ports-of-call during the cruise included Pearl Harbor, Subic Bay, Buckner Bay, Okinawa; Yokosuka, and Hong Kong. While in Pearl Harbor, Paul Revere was berthed near the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) while it was being repaired after a serious fire at sea. She arrived in her operating area off Vietnam on 7 March and delivered her cargo to Da Nang and supported combat operations conducted by a USMC Battalion Landing Team which was embarked on board. On 3 June 1969, while operating off the coast of Viet Nam, Paul Revere received word that USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) had been struck and cut in two by HMAS Melbourne (R21). The stern section of the Evans was towed to Subic Bay and was in the floating drydock when Paul Revere arrived for upkeep.

Toward the end of the deployment, Paul Revere participated in a series of "Keystone" operations beginning with "Keystone Eagle" on 14 July 1969. After an impressive ceremony on the deep water piers in Da Nang Harbor, the 1st Battalion 9th Marines boarded Paul Revere and sailed for Okinawa in the first increment of America's withdrawal from South Vietnam. A photograph of the ship loading Marines appeared in Newsweek magazine. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 9th Marines were transported to Okinawa in two subsequent trips. Paul Revere was relieved of duty with ARG "Bravo" (TG 76.5) by USS Vancouver (LPD-2) on 29 August 1969 at Subic Bay. During the homecoming sea and anchor detail the crew observed the San Diego – Coronado Bridge, under construction for three years, had been completed. In an awards ceremony at Naval Station San Diego, Captain Mitchell Karlowicz was awarded the Bronze Star for commanding Paul Revere in support of combat operations against the enemy.

On 7 November 1969, USS Paul Revere participated in an exercise with several ships and USS Sculpin, SSN 590, to test torpedoes on a decommissioned submarine, USS Bream SS 243, which was to be sunk as a target in the SoCal Op Areas. The Bream, which was operated remotely from the Paul Revere, was ultimately sunk by naval gunfire from an accompanying cruiser.

Paul Revere had a dry dock period at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard from November 1969 to April 1970. Other ships at Hunters Point during this period included USS Midway CV 41 and a Turkish destroyer. During the time in the yards, she was refitted with modern ECM equipment and additional communications hardware to enable the ship to deploy as the flagship for Amphibious Groups I and III on a WestPac cruise in September 1970. The cruise began with Paul Revere escorting two new gunboats, USS Tacoma (PG-92) and USS Welch (PG-93), to Pearl Harbor. During the 1970–71 cruise, under the command of a naval aviator, Captain Charles Lindberg, the ship visited Pearl Harbor, Bangkok, Subic Bay, Okinawa, Sasebo, Yokosuka, Hong Kong and Singapore. On the voyage to Singapore Paul Revere crossed the equator and initiated the crew's "pollywogs."

In 1972 she participated in the Easter Offensives.

Post-Vietnam, 1972 — decommissioning
Paul Revere (LPA-248) made a WESTPAC cruise Feb. -Sep. 1974 and was Host to TACRON-1 Unit Delta and Seventh Fleet Amphib Staff .. After Vietnam Paul Revere was placed in reserve status, home-ported at the Bremerton, Washington, Naval Shipyard, and crewed by Naval Reserve personnel.

In the summer of 1977 during her crew's annual drill period, she took on board the men and equipment of 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment (United States) (part of 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, WA), and delivered them to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base for amphibious operations training.

May of 1979, the USS Paul Revere served as a training platform for the first Seaman Apprenticeship class to be trained on a US Naval Vessel. Previously to this all sailor's who went to Seaman Apprenticeship training did so on the USS Never Sail at RTC San Diego, CA. At the time, the ship was based out of Long Beach and for two weeks, the students participated in both classroom and OJT instruction. At mid point in training, the USS Paul Revere got underway and spent the weekend at sea and even performed an Unrep.

Castillia (L-21)
Paul Revere was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 January 1980, and subsequently sold through the Security Assistance Program to Spain on 17 January 1980, renamed Castillia (L-21). The Spanish Navy decommissioned the ship on 6 June 1998, and in 2000 it was scrapped at Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain, the seaport from which Columbus embarked on his second voyage.