USS Helios

USS Helios (ARB-12) was one of twelve Aristaeus-class battle damage repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Helios (in Greek mythology, the sun-god, represented as driving a four-horse chariot through the heavens), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS Helios
History
United States
NameUSS Helios
NamesakeHelios
BuilderChicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois
Laid down23 November 1944
Launched14 February 1945
Commissioned26 February 1945
Decommissioned3 December 1946
Stricken10 December 1977
FateTransferred to Brazil, 19 January 1962
History
Brazil
NameBelmonte (G24)
Acquired19 January 1962
Decommissioned7 June 1997
FateSunk as a target, 19 March 2002
General characteristics
Class and typeAristaeus-class battle damage repair ship
Displacement
  • 1,781 long tons (1,810 t) light
  • 3,700 long tons (3,759 t) full
Length328 ft (100 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Propulsion2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement260 officers and enlisted men
Armament

Originally laid down as LST-1127, the ship was launched on 14 February 1945 by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company of Seneca, Illinois; sponsored by Mrs. Emery Adams; and commissioned on 26 February 1945.

The ship sailed down the Mississippi River and around to Baltimore where she decommissioned on 16 March 1945. She was then converted to a battle damage repair ship by the Maryland Drydock Company of Baltimore and renamed Helios. Recommissioned USS Helios (ARB-12) on 23 July 1945.

Service history

She proceeded to Chesapeake Bay for her shakedown. Ordered to the Pacific, Helios sailed from Norfolk, Virginia on 27 August. By the time she reached Pearl Harbor on 29 September, the long war had come to its end and her services were no longer needed. Sailing on 11 October, she reached Charleston a month later and from there sailed to the Inactive Fleet Berthing Area at Green Cove Springs, Florida. Helios decommissioned there on 3 December 1946 and remained in reserve until leased to the government of Brazil on 19 January 1962 and renamed Belmonte (G-24).

The vessel was sold outright to Brazil via the Security Assistance Program on 1 December 1977 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 10 December 1977. Decommissioned by the Brazilian Navy on 7 June 1997, Belmonte was sunk as a target on 19 March 2002.

References
  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
  • "LST-1127 / ARB-12 Helios". Service Ship Photo Archive. Retrieved 12 April 2007.


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