USS Renville (APA-227) - Decommission

Decommission

In 1967 she prepared for deactivation. Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) 23 April 1968, she joined the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, California. She was redesignated an amphibious transport (LPA-227) on 1 January 1969. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 September 1976 and disposed of by MARAD on 19 February 1982. Her final disposition is unknown.

On the disposition of the USS Renville, APA-227. A letter from Mr. Shawn Ireland, MARAD, Ship Disposal Program, dated 19 March 2007.

"I was able to locate some additional information regarding the subject vessel and the transaction (it's disposal). The Trade-in Exchange Program was enacted by Congress to allow MARAD to add vessels to the National Defense Reserve Fleet that, according to their owners, had become economically obsolete, but were still operable and could suit the NDRF sea lift purpose. The trade in vessels had to be constructed in the United States and must not have been documented under a foreign flag. This program allowed US Flag vessel owners to trade in there economically obsolete ships in exchange for older vessels in the NDRF that were scheduled for scrapping. The vessels removed from the NDRF had to be scrapped and could not be used for operations. MARAD, Farrell Lines Inc., and C.W. Enterprises and Investments Inc. entered into agreements on February 19, 1982, which consisted of the following. 1. Farrell Lines would trade in the vessel AMBASSADOR and receive (4) obsolete NDRF vessels, the BEXAR (LPA-237), the RENVILLE (APA-227), the NAVARRO (LPA-215), and the BOLLINGER (LPA-234). 2. Contract MA-10708, between MARAD, Farrell Lines Inc., and C.W. Enterprises and Investments Inc., transferred title to the vessel to Farrell and then immediately to C.W. Enterprises for the sole purpose of scrapping the vessels in either Taiwan or South Korea. The contract is explicit, in that the vessels must be scrapped. C.W. Enterprise and Investments sounds like a broker, who in turn would sell the vessels for scrap to the highest bidder in either Taiwan or South Korea. I am positive that the RENVILLE, along with the three other ships, were scrapped in Taiwan or South Korea."

Submitted by R.R.Bradshaw