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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Helios (ARB-12)
ex
 USS LST-1127 (1945)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Mike - Romeo
 NJMR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

USS Helios (ARB-12) was transferred to Brazil and renamed Belmonte (G24)
Aristaeus Class Battle Damage Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, date unknown, at Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca, IL.
  • Launched, 14 February 1945
  • Commissioned USS LST-1127, 26 February 1945, LT. Adam W. Melohusky, USN in command
  • Decommissioned, 16 March 1945, at Maryland Dry Dock Co., Baltimore, MD., for conversion to a Battle Damage Repair Ship
  • Recommissioned, USS Helios (ARB-12), 23 July 1945, LT. Adam W. Melohusky, USN in command
  • USS Helios was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater but arrived after the war had ended, her services were no longer need
  • Decommissioned, 3 December 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs
  • Transferred (leased) to Brazil, 19 January 1962, renamed Belmonte (G24)
  • Sold outright to Brazil via the Security Assistance Program, 1 December 1977
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 10 December 1977
  • Decommissioned by the Brazilian Navy, 7 June 1997
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 19 March 2002
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,781 t.(lt) 3,960 t.(fl)
    Length 328'
    Beam 50'
    Draft 11' 2"
    Speed 11.6 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 15
    Enlisted 271
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Armament
    two quad 40mm AA gun mounts
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Ship's Service Generators
    four 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    two 100Kw 450V A.C.
    Fuel Oil Capacity Diesel 4,480 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 12-567A Diesel engines
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    two propellers, 1800shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Helios (ARB-12)
    Helios 94k USS Helios (ARB-12) underway near Baltimore, MD., 28 July 1945 after completion of conversion to a Battle Damage Repair Ship. Robert Hurst
    Belmonte (G24)
    Helios 61k Ex-USS Helios (ARB-12) in Brazilian naval service as Belmonte (G24) underway, date and location unknown.  
    Helios 48k Belmonte (G24) underway in 1969, location unknown.
    Official Brazilian Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Helios (ARB-12)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Melohusky, Adam Walter, USN26 February 1945 - 16 March 1945
     Decommissioned16 March 1945 - 23 July 1945
    01LT. Melohusky, Adam Walter, USN23 July 1945 - 3 December 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler, Ron Reeves and Russ Moody
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 10 February 2017