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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Achelous (ARL-1)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Quebec - Sierra
NJQS
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (16-18 August 1943) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal


Achelous Class Landing Craft Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 15 August 1942, as LST-10 at Dravo Corp., Neville Island, PA.
  • Reclassified as a Landing Craft Repair Ship while still building
  • Launched, 25 November 1942
  • Commissioned USS Achelous (ARL-1), 2 April 1943, at Baltimore, MD., LT. Walter Ringies, in command
  • During World War II USS Achelous was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Sicilian occupation, 15 July to 19 August 1943 Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, May, June and August 1945
    Invasion of southern France, August 1944  

  • Decommissioned, 6 September 1946, at Astoria, OR.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1973
  • USS Achelous earned three battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition sold for scrapping, 1 January 1974
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,900 t.(lt) 4,100 t.(fl)
    Length 328'
    Beam 50'
    Draft 11' 2" (lim)
    Speed 11.6 kts.
    Largest Boom Capacity 60 t.
    Complement
    Officers 22
    Enlisted 233
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal. dual purpose gun mount
    two quad 40mm AA gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors
    six twin 20 mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 4,715 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 12-567A Diesel engines
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    three Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
    two propellers, 1,800shp
    twin rudders

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    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Achelous 54k USS Achelous (ARL-1) steams beneath the Cooper River Bridge, Charleston, S.C., 19 February 1945. She is painted in the Measure 31 camouflage scheme (dull black, ocean green and Navy green).
    Note the large A-frame on her port side for hoisting damaged landing craft aboard for repair, and the booms stepped port and starboard for handling cargo.
    US National Archives photo # 19-N-78643, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
     
    Achelous 196k Starboard broadside view of USS Achelous (ARL-1) passing under the Cooper River Bridge at Charleston, S.C., 19 February 1945.
    US National Archives Photo # 19-N-78642, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Mike Green
    Achelous 27k Starboard broadside view of USS Achelous (ARL-1) under way on the Cooper River off Charleston, S.C., 19 February 1945.
    US Navy Yard Charleston, S.C. photo #619-45
    Robert Hall
    Achelous 53k USS Achelous (ARL-1) under way, April 1943, location unknown.
    US Navy photo
     

    USS Achelous (ARL-1)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Ringies, Walter, USNR2 April 1943 - March 1944
    02LT. Hays, William Robert, USNMarch 1944 - March 1945
    03LT. Lundell, Wilbur H., USNRMarch 1945 - 12 December 1945
    04LTjg. Jimenez, Salvador, USNR12 December 1945 - June 1946
    05LTjg. Huffman, C. A., USNRJune 1946 - 6 September 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    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
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    Last Updated 15 September 2017