Achelous-class repair ship


The Achelous-class repair ship was a class of ship built by the US Navy during World War II.
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. The Auxiliary Repair Light ship was designed to meet this need, and the Achelous class was the only class to receive this designation.

Description

Achelous class vessels were based on the same hull as LST's 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.ShipKeel laidLaunchedCommissionDecommFateNotes
ARL-1Sold for scrappingOriginally ordered as LST-10
ARL-2laid up Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, 15 November 1946, sold for scrapping, 13 August 1971Originally ordered as LST-489
ARL-3transferred to France, through Mutual Defense Assistance Program, 2 March 1951; transferred to the Republic of China, 1957Originally ordered as LST-490
ARL-4Sold to private interest, 14 October 1960Originally ordered as LST-83
ARL-5ARL-5Transferred to the Royal Navy, 29 July 1943, Sold to Argentina, 20 August 1947; Sold 1967Originally ordered as LST-81
ARL-6ARL-6Transferred to the Royal Navy, 2 August 1943, Sold to Argentina, 20 August 1947; Sold into merchant service, 1968Originally ordered as LST-82
ARL-7Sold for scrapping, 18 September 1973Originally ordered as LST-231, Recommissioned: 1 June 1951 thru 13 April 1956
ARL-8Sold for scrapping, 18 September 1973Originally ordered as LST-136
ARL-9Sold for commercial service, 1 September 1973Originally ordered as LST-513
ARL-10Sold for commercial service, c. 1965Originally ordered as LST-1003
ARL-11UnknownOriginally ordered as LST-1036
ARL-12UnknownOriginally ordered as LST-1037
ARL-13Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group, Sold for commercial service, 28 October 1960Originally ordered as LST-971
ARL-14Sold for scrapping, 18 October 1960Originally ordered as LST-644, Recommissioned: 22 September 1950 thru 19 August 1955
ARL-15Loaned to the Republic of Korea, Fate: UnknownOriginally ordered as LST-645
ARL-16Sold, 21 December 1960Originally ordered as LST-948
ARL-17Sold, and converted to a drydockOriginally ordered as LST-954
ARL-18Sunk as a target, 1969Originally ordered as LST-650, Recommissioned: 14 December 1951 thru 30 September 1968
ARL-19Transferred to Turkey, 15 November 1952, Scrapped, September 1993Originally ordered as LST-955
ARL-20Sold, 13 June 1960Originally ordered as LST-1115
ARL-21Sold, 26 September 1960Originally ordered as LST-1116, Recommissioned: 27-October-1950 thru 24-May-1956
ARL-22Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Transferred to the Philippine Navy, November 1961, fate: unknownOriginally ordered as LST-962
ARL-23Transferred to South Vietnam, 30 September 1971, Transferred to the Philippines, 1975, scrapped, 2004Originally ordered as LST-852, Recommissioned: 08-September-1950 thru 17-April-1956 and 15-February-1968 thru 30-September-1971
ARL-24Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group, Towed for scrapping, 1 December 2007Originally ordered as LST-963
, Recommissioned: 16-December-1967 thru 30-September-1971 and 26-July-1985 thru 16-June-1989
ARL-26Sold for scrap, 23 January 1961Originally ordered as LST-858, Recommissioned: 28-April-1945 thru 01-December-1947
ARL-27Released 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-28Sold to private interest, 23 February 1961Originally ordered as LST-1118
ARL-29Sold, 16 April 1962Originally ordered as LST-1124
ARL-30Sold to Indonesian Navy, 1971Originally ordered as LST-1131, Recommissioned: 23-July-1945 thru 01-September-1971
ARL-31Sold for scrapping, 20 June 1980Originally ordered as LST-1132
ARL-32Grounded, 1 December 1945, Declared unsalvageable & destroyed with explosives, 14 May 1946Originally ordered as LST-1136
ARL-33Unknown, Final Disposition, sold, 20 March 1962 to NASSCO, Terminal Island, San Pedro, CAOriginally ordered as LST-1137
ARL-35Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group, Sold, 28 October 1960Originally ordered as LST-1143
ARL-36Transferred to Iran, 7 September 1968, fate: unknownOriginally ordered as LST-1145, Recommissioned: 14-September-1945 thru 21-December-1955
ARL-37Transferred to North Carolina, January 1992, Sunk as an artificial reef, 4 August 1992Originally ordered as LST-1147, Recommissioned: 16-December-1967 thru 01-May-1970
ARL-38Sold to the Republic of the Philippines, 30 October 1971Originally ordered as LST-1149
ARL-39Transferred to Venezuela, June 1962, Scuttled. Used as a target shipOriginally ordered as LST-1151
ARL-40sold for scrapping, 16 December 1947Originally ordered as LST-453
ARL-41transferred 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-42Originally ordered as LST-310, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-43Originally ordered as LST-316, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-44Originally ordered as LST-317, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-45Originally ordered as LST-332, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-46Originally ordered as LST-350, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 12 September 1945
ARL-47Originally ordered as LST-374, Ordered converted to ARL. Conversion cancelled 11 September 1945