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 (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

Achelous-class vessels were based on the same hull as LSTs (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. ShipKeel laidLaunchedCommissionDecommFateNotes ARL-1 Sold for scrapping Originally ordered as LST-10 ARL-2 laid up Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, 15 November 1946, sold for scrapping, 13 August 1971 Originally ordered as LST-489 ARL-3 transferred to France, through Mutual Defense Assistance Program, 2 March 1951; transferred to the Republic of China, 1957 Originally ordered as LST-490 ARL-4 Sold to private interest, 14 October 1960 Originally ordered as LST-83 ARL-5ARL-5 Transferred to the Royal Navy, 29 July 1943, Sold to Argentina, 20 August 1947; Sold 1967 Originally ordered as LST-81 ARL-6ARL-6 Transferred to the Royal Navy, 2 August 1943, Sold to Argentina, 20 August 1947; Sold into merchant service, 1968 Originally ordered as LST-82 ARL-7 Sold for scrapping, 18 September 1973 Originally ordered as LST-231, Recommissioned: 1 June 1951 through 13 April 1956 ARL-8 Sold for scrapping, 18 September 1973 Originally ordered as "LST-136" ARL-9 Sold for commercial service, 1 September 1973 Originally ordered as LST-513 ARL-10 Sold for commercial service, c. 1965 Originally ordered as LST-1003 ARL-11 Unknown Originally ordered as LST-1036 ARL-12 Unknown Originally ordered as LST-1037 ARL-13 Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group, Sold for commercial service, 28 October 1960 Originally ordered as LST-971 ARL-14 Sold for scrapping, 18 October 1960 Originally ordered as LST-644, Recommissioned: 22 September 1950 through 19 August 1955 ARL-15 Loaned to the Republic of Korea (1955), Fate: Unknown Originally ordered as LST-645 ARL-16 Sold, 21 December 1960 Originally ordered as LST-948 ARL-17 Sold, and converted to a drydock Originally ordered as LST-954 ARL-18 Sunk as a target, 1969 Originally ordered as LST-650, Recommissioned: 14 December 1951 through 30 September 1968 ARL-19 Transferred to Turkey, 15 November 1952, Scrapped, September 1993 Originally ordered as LST-955 ARL-20 Sold, 13 June 1960 Originally ordered as "LST-1115" ARL-21 Sold, 26 September 1960 Originally ordered as LST-1116, Recommissioned: 27 October 1950 through 24 May 1956 ARL-22 Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Transferred to the Philippine Navy, November 1961, fate: unknown Originally ordered as LST-962 ARL-23 Transferred to South Vietnam, 30 September 1971, Transferred to the Philippines, 1975, scrapped, 2004 Originally ordered as LST-852, Recommissioned: 8 September 1950 through 17 April 1956 and 15 February 1968 through 30 September 1971 ARL-24 Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group, Towed for scrapping, 1 December 2007 Originally 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-26 Sold for scrap, 23 January 1961 Originally ordered as LST-858, Recommissioned: 28 April 1945 through 1 December 1947 ARL-27 Released 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-28 Typhon, Naval History and Heritage Command Sold to private interest, 23 February 1961 Originally ordered as LST-1118 ARL-29 Sold, 16 April 1962 Originally ordered as LST-1124 ARL-30 Sold to Indonesian Navy, 1971 Originally ordered as LST-1131, Recommissioned: 23 July 1945 through 1 September 1971 ARL-31 Sold for scrapping, 20 June 1980 Originally ordered as LST-1132 ARL-32 Grounded, 1 December 1945, Declared unsalvageable & destroyed with explosives, 14 May 1946 Originally ordered as LST-1136 ARL-33 Unknown, Final Disposition, sold, 20 March 1962 to NASSCO, Terminal Island, San Pedro, CA Originally ordered as LST-1137 ARL-35 Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group, Sold, 28 October 1960 Originally ordered as LST-1143 ARL-36 Transferred to Iran, 7 September 1968, fate: unknown Originally ordered as LST-1145, Recommissioned: 14 September 1945 through 21 December 1955 ARL-37 Transferred to North Carolina, January 1992, Sunk as an artificial reef, 4 August 1992 Originally ordered as LST-1147, Recommissioned: 16 December 1967 through 1 May 1970 ARL-38 Sold to the Republic of the Philippines, 30 October 1971 Originally ordered as LST-1149 ARL-39 Transferred to Venezuela, June 1962, Scuttled. Used as a target ship Originally ordered as LST-1151 ARL-40 sold for scrapping, 16 December 1947 Originally ordered as LST-453 ARL-41 transferred to the Republic of China, 8 September 1947, run aground and abandoned, 1949, captured 1949, by People's Liberation Army Navy, fate: unknown Originally 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

What is an ARL? – USS Askari (ARL-30) Association Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940–1945 US Navy, ships World War 2, page 119