Achelous-class repair ship

The Achelous-class repair ship was a class of ship built by the US Navy during World War II.

USS Pandemus (ARL-18), a typical Achelous-class vessel.
Class overview
Operators United States Navy
Built1943–1945
In commission1943–1971
Completed39
Active0
General characteristics
TypeRepair ship
Displacement
  • 1,781–2,220 tons
  • 3960-4,100 tons laden.
Length328 ft (100 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft14 ft (4 m)
PropulsionDiesel engines, twin screws, 1,800 hp (1,300 kW)
Speed11.62 kn (21.5 km/h)
Complement255
Armament40 mm mounts, 20 mm mounts, numbers variable.

As the United States gained experience in amphibious operations, it was realized that some sort of mobile repair facility would be useful for repairing the damage that frequently occurred to smaller vessels such as LCVP's (Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel). The Auxiliary Repair Light (ARL) ship was designed to meet this need, and the Achelous class was the only class to receive this designation.

Description
View from the conning tower of the USS Typhon (ARL-28)

Achelous-class vessels were based on the same hull as LST's (Landing Ship, Tank) which at the time were being produced in large numbers. This hull was thought to be ideal for a ship specializing in the repair of light craft, since it was not overly large and had a shallow draught which would enable it to maneuver into small harbors, rivers and inlets where it could service damaged boats and effect other repairs on location.

The conversion from an LST to an Achelous-class ARL was done mainly by converting the large interior tank deck into a number of different shops and storerooms. Two large cargo booms were added forward, and a large 60-ton A-frame boom added amidships. The wheelhouse/chart room deck was expanded, and a conning tower added. The first nine units of the class sealed the bow doors of the LST hull.

The ship's company consisted of the usual LST crew of deck, engineering and communications departments but in addition it had a supply department, plus a repair department consisting of machinery and engine repair, carpentry, electronics repair, and hull repair divisions, giving a ship's complement of approximately 250 officers and men in total. After the first nine units were built, the later units had a revised armament as well as retaining the opening bow doors.

Operational history

During World War II, the Achelous-class vessels worked mostly on repairing damaged landing craft, but many continued in service after the war, working again on landing craft during the Korean War and on river craft during the Vietnam War.

In all, 39 Achelous-class repair ships were built between 1943 and 1945.

Ships in Class
Hull no. Ship Keel laid Launched Commission Decomm Fate Notes
ARL-1Achelous 15 August 194225 November 19422 April 19431 January 1947Sold for scrappingOriginally ordered as LST-10
ARL-2Amycus 17 January 19432 April 194330 July 194315 November 1946laid up Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, 15 November 1946, sold for scrapping, 13 August 1971Originally ordered as LST-489
ARL-3Agenor 24 January 19433 April 194320 August 194315 November 1946transferred to France, through Mutual Defense Assistance Program, 2 March 1951; transferred to the Republic of China, 1957Originally ordered as LST-490
ARL-4Adonis 31 March 194314 June 19436 August 194311 October 1946Sold to private interest, 14 October 1960Originally ordered as LST-83
ARL-5ARL-5 8 March 194328 May 194321 July 194319 July 1943Transferred to the Royal Navy, 29 July 1943, Sold to Argentina, 20 August 1947; Sold 1967Originally ordered as LST-81
ARL-6ARL-6 25 March 19439 June 194326 July 19432 August 1943Transferred to the Royal Navy, 2 August 1943, Sold to Argentina, 20 August 1947; Sold into merchant service, 1968Originally ordered as LST-82
ARL-7Atlas 3 June 194319 October 194315 November 194313 September 1946Sold for scrapping, 18 September 1973Originally ordered as LST-231, Recommissioned: 1 June 1951 through 13 April 1956
ARL-8Egeria 19 June 194323 November 194330 March 19441 January 1947Sold for scrapping, 18 September 1973Originally ordered as "LST-136"
ARL-9Endymion 23 August 194317 December 19439 May 194430 November 1946Sold for commercial service, 1 September 1973Originally ordered as LST-513
ARL-10Coronis 3 May 19448 June 194428 November 194429 July 1946Sold for commercial service, c. 1965Originally ordered as LST-1003
ARL-11Creon 24 August 194428 November 19448 June 1949UnknownOriginally ordered as LST-1036
ARL-12Poseidon 10 July 194424 August 194413 February 194530 November 1946UnknownOriginally ordered as LST-1037
ARL-13Menelaus 17 November 194420 December 194429 May 19455 June 1947Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group, Sold for commercial service, 28 October 1960Originally ordered as LST-971
ARL-14Minos 16 June 194415 September 194426 September 194418 June 1946Sold for scrapping, 18 October 1960Originally ordered as LST-644, Recommissioned: 22 September 1950 through 19 August 1955
ARL-15Minotaur 20 June 194420 September 194430 September 194426 February 1947Loaned to the Republic of Korea (1955), Fate: UnknownOriginally ordered as LST-645
ARL-16Myrmidon 25 August 194428 September 19449 March 19457 July 1947Sold, 21 December 1960Originally ordered as LST-948
ARL-17Numitor 19 September 194418 October 19443 April 19451 July 1947Sold, and converted to a drydockOriginally ordered as LST-954
ARL-18Pandemus 20 July 194410 October 194423 February 194523 September 1946Sunk as a target, 1969Originally ordered as LST-650, Recommissioned: 14 December 1951 through 30 September 1968
ARL-19Patroclus 22 September 194422 October 194417 April 19452 October 1946Transferred to Turkey, 15 November 1952, Scrapped, September 1993Originally ordered as LST-955
ARL-20Pentheus 29 September 194422 December 19447 June 194520 April 1946Sold, 13 June 1960Originally ordered as "LST-1115"
ARL-21Proserpine 2 October 194428 December 194431 May 194518 January 1947Sold, 26 September 1960Originally ordered as LST-1116, Recommissioned: 27 October 1950 through 24 May 1956
ARL-22Romulus 17 October 194415 November 194410 May 194512 May 1947Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Transferred to the Philippine Navy, November 1961, fate: unknownOriginally ordered as LST-962
ARL-23Satyr 16 August 194413 November 194427 November 19441 August 1947Transferred to South Vietnam, 30 September 1971, Transferred to the Philippines, 1975, scrapped, 2004Originally ordered as LST-852, Recommissioned: 8 September 1950 through 17 April 1956 and 15 February 1968 through 30 September 1971
ARL-24Sphinx 20 October 19447 March 194510 May 194526 May 1947Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group, Towed for scrapping, 1 December 2007Originally ordered as LST-963

Recommissioned: 3 November 1950 through 31 January 1956, Recommissioned: 16 December 1967 through 30 September 1971 and 26 July 1985 through 16 June 1989

ARL-26Stentor 21 September 194411 November 194422 December 19449 January 1945Sold for scrap, 23 January 1961Originally ordered as LST-858, Recommissioned: 28 April 1945 through 1 December 1947
ARL-27Tantalus 10 October 19442 January 194513 January 194518 January 1947Released to the Foreign Liquidation Commission for further transfer to the United Nations Relief, and Rehabilitation Administration for disposal, fate unknown.Originally ordered as LST-1117
ARL-28Typhon 17 October 19445 January 194518 January 194529 March 1947[1]Sold to private interest, 23 February 1961Originally ordered as LST-1118
ARL-29Amphitrite 6 November 19441 February 194528 June 19451 January 1947Sold, 16 April 1962Originally ordered as LST-1124
ARL-30Askari 8 December 19442 March 194515 March 19459 April 1945Sold to Indonesian Navy, 1971Originally ordered as LST-1131, Recommissioned: 23 July 1945 through 1 September 1971
ARL-31Bellerophon 12 December 19447 March 194519 March 19451 September 1947Sold for scrapping, 20 June 1980Originally ordered as LST-1132
ARL-32Bellona 27 December 194426 March 194528 July 19455 June 1946Grounded, 1 December 1945, Declared unsalvageable & destroyed with explosives, 14 May 1946Originally ordered as LST-1136
ARL-33Chimaera 30 March 19457 August 19458 March 1948Unknown, Final Disposition, sold, 20 March 1962 to NASSCO, Terminal Island, San Pedro, CAOriginally ordered as LST-1137
ARL-35Daedalus 31 January 194527 April 194519 October 194523 October 1947Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group, Sold, 28 October 1960Originally ordered as LST-1143
ARL-36Gordius 5 February 19457 May 194518 May 194511 June 1945Transferred to Iran, 7 September 1968, fate: unknownOriginally ordered as LST-1145, Recommissioned: 14 September 1945 through 21 December 1955
ARL-37Indra 12 February 194521 May 19452 October 19456 October 1947Transferred to North Carolina, January 1992, Sunk as an artificial reef, 4 August 1992Originally ordered as LST-1147, Recommissioned: 16 December 1967 through 1 May 1970
ARL-38Krishna 23 February 194525 May 19453 December 194515 September 1971Sold to the Republic of the Philippines, 30 October 1971Originally ordered as LST-1149
ARL-39Quirinus 3 March 19454 June 194515 June 194527 March 1947Transferred to Venezuela, June 1962, Scuttled. Used as a target shipOriginally ordered as LST-1151
ARL-40Remus 28 July 194210 October 194221 January 194315 July 1946sold for scrapping, 16 December 1947Originally ordered as LST-453
ARL-41Achilles 3 August 194217 October 194230 January 194319 July 1946transferred to the Republic of China, 8 September 1947, run aground and abandoned, 1949, captured 1949, by People's Liberation Army Navy, fate: unknownOriginally ordered as LST-455
ARL-42Aeolus Originally ordered as LST-310, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-43Cerberus Originally ordered as LST-316, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-44Conus Originally ordered as LST-317, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-45Feronia Originally ordered as LST-332, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-46Chandra Originally ordered as LST-350, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-47Minerva Originally ordered as LST-374, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 11 September 1945

References
  1. Typhon, Naval History and Heritage Command
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