Attack transport

Attack Transport is a United States Navy ship classification for a variant of ocean-
going troopship adapted to transporting invasion forces ashore. Unlike standard troopships often
drafted from commercial shipping fleets that rely on either a quay or tenders, attack transports
carry their own fleet of landing craft.

They are not to be confused with landing ships, which beach themselves to bring their troops directly
ashore, or their general British equivalent, the Landing ship, infantry.

A total of 388 APA (troop) and AKA (cargo) attack transports were built for service in World War II in
at least fifteen classes. Depending on class they were armed with one or two 5" guns and a variety
of 40mm and 20mm anti-aircraft weapons.