The ships were initially classified as transports ( AP ) .
The ships were initially were redesignated attack transports ( APA ) on 1 February 1943 , the date on which several other classes of transport ship were redesignated .
The ships were initially classified as transports ( AP ) but were redesignated attack transports ( APA ) on 1 February 1943 , the date on which several other classes of transport ship were redesignated .