USS Creon (ARL-11)


USS Creon was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Creon, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
Originally laid down as LST-1036; launched 24 August 1944 by the Boston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. M. A. Pratt; placed in partial commission 16 September 1944 with Lieutenant M. G. Pooley, USNR, in command; sailed to Baltimore, Maryland; decommissioned 26 September 1944 for conversion; and commissioned in full as USS Creon 27 January 1945 with Lieutenant Pooley once again in command.

Service history

Clearing Norfolk, Virginia 4 March 1945 Creon arrived at Biak, Shouten Islands 4 May. Moving to Morotai the next day, she conducted amphibious training exercises, and on 1 July took part in the invasion of Balikpapan. She served off Borneo until arriving at Subic Bay 1 August to repair landing craft there until 18 December.
After loading cargo at Guam, Creon arrived at Pearl Harbor for overhaul 22 January 1946. Assigned to the service group for "Operation Crossroads," the atomic weapons tests in the Marshall Islands, Creon arrived at Kwajalein 19 March 1946 and operated there and at the test site until 10 September when she departed for overhaul at San Pedro, California. She served as a repair ship for LSMs and LSMs at San Diego from 15 December 1946 until 27 September 1948.
Following an overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Creon put out from San Diego 10 January 1949 for Kodiak, Alaska to participate in a large-scale cold-weather exercise. Creon returned to San Diego 4 March and there was placed out of commission in reserve 8 June 1949. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register, her final fate is unknown.
Creon received one battle star for World War II service.