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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Satyr (ARL-23)
ex
 USS LST-852 (1944)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Lima - Foxtrot
 NILF

Nicknamed "The Green Weenie"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Presidential Unit Citation - Navy Unit Commendation (4)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal (2) - Vietnam Service Medal (7) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (3)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korean War Service Medal

USS Satyr (ARL-23) was transferred to South Vietnam, renamed RVNS Vinh Long (HQ-802), transferred to the Philippines; renamed BRP Yakal (AR-617)
Achelous Class Landing Craft Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 16 August 1944, as LST-852 at Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca IL.
  • Launched, 13 November 1944
  • Placed in reduced commission as USS LST-852, 27 November 1944, LT. William. J. Gavigan, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 28 December 1944, at Jacksonville FL., for conversion to a Landing Craft Repair Ship
  • Recommissioned USS Satyr (ARL-23), 28 April 1945
  • During World War II USS Satyr (ARL-23) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, from 2 April to 5 May 1945

  • Following World War II USS Satyr (ARL-23) was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    September 1945 to 11 April 194616 April to 5 July 1946
    8 to 10 July 1946 

  • Decommissioned, 1 August 1947, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 23 October 1950
  • During the Korean War USS Satyr (ARL-23) operated in the Korean War zone from 7 to 14 December 1951, 21 September 1953 to 16 March 1954 and from 31 March to 5 April 1954, participating in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Communist China Spring Offensive
    29 April to 8 July 1951     		UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    9 to 16 July 1951

  • Decommissioned, 17 April 1956, at San Diego
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 15 February 1968, at US Naval Support Activity, Algiers LA.
  • During the Vietnam War USS Satyr (ARL-23) participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase V
    8 July to 1 November1968     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 June to 30 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VI
    2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII
    1 July to 28 September 1970
    14 December to 31 December 1970
    14 April to 30 June 1971
    Tet 69/Counteroffensive
    23 February to 27 April 1969     		Consolidation I
    1 July to 30 September 1971
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969,
    12 June 1969     		 

  • Decommissioned, 30 September 1971, at Long Xuen South Vietnam and transferred to the South Vietnamese Navy, renamed RVNS Vinh Long (HQ-802)
  • USS Satyr (ARL-23) earned one battle star for World War II service, two battle stars for Korean War service and seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Placed in the custody of the Philippines government in 1975 with the fall of the South Vietnamese government
  • Renamed BRP Yakal (AR-617), date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 June 1975
  • Sold to the Republic of the Philippines, 24 January 1977
  • Decommissioned in March 2004, by the Republic of the Philippines Navy
  • Final Disposition, reefed in 2004
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,220 t.(lt) 3,960 t.(fl) 4,840 t.(lim)
    Length 327'9"
    Beam 50'1½"
    Draft 16'2" (fully loaded)
    Speed 10 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 21
    Enlisted 232
    Ship's Boatstwo 36' LCVP
    Cranes
    one 25 Ton Fixed Kingpost Crane
    one 5 Ton Bridge Gantry Crane
    Armament
    two MK2 Mod 18 quad 40mm AA gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors
    two Gun Directors MK5 Mod2
    six .50 cal. Machine Guns
    two Stinger Firing Stations
    Fuel Capacity 4,715Bbls
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 12-567A Detroit Twelve Cylinder Diesel Engines, combined horsepower 1800
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
     four Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V A.C.
     five Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V D.C.
    two fixed pitch 7' bronze propellers
    twin rudders
    <
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Satyr (ARL-23)
    Satyr27k Walt Disney Studios caricature created especially for USS Satyr (ARL-23) circa 1945. Stephen R. Hendricks in honor if his father-in-law, MoMM3/c Louis Laramie Jr. USS Satyr
    Satyr 54k USS Satyr (ARL-23) Commissioning Program Susan Roper for the Roper Family
    Satyr 25k USS Satyr (ARL-23) World War II matchbook cover Tommy Trampp
    Satyr 54k USS Satyr (ARL-23) anchored at Tsingtao, China, circa 1946 Bruce Shulze RM3 USS Satyr 1970-71. Photo courtesy T. M. Logan USS Satyr 1947
    Satyr 55k USS Satyr (ARL-23) entering the harbor at San Diego, CA., date unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII Web Site
    Satyr 102k USS Satyr (ARL-23) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo. This photo also appeared in the 1968 Commissioning booklet.    		 Bruce Shulze RM3 USS Satyr 1970-71, courtesy Joe McMillan MM3 USS Satyr 1967-69
    and David Buell for his father CWO4 Benton, E. Buell USN Ret. USS Satyr early 1950's.
    Satyr 72k USS Satyr (ARL-23) anchored in the Mekong River at Tan Chao, South Vietnam near the Cambodian border in May 1970. The ship is painted olive drab like most of the mobile riverine force ships and assault craft to blend in with the surroundings. 10192407-Artie Kitchen EN3 and
    10192420-Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Satyr 28k
    Satyr 35k USS Satyr (ARL-23) anchored in South Vietnamese waters, circa 1970. Bruce Shulze RM3 USS Satyr 1970-71
    Satyr 124k USS Satyr (ARL-23) anchored in South Vietnamese waters, circa 1971.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1971.    		 Stan Svec
    RVNS Vinh Long (HQ-802)
    Satyr 27k Ex-USS Satyr (ARL-23) in South Vietnamese service as RVNS Vinh Long (HQ 802)
    US Navy photo, date unknown    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    USS Satyr (ARL-23)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    History from Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Gavigan, William James USNR27 November 1944 - 28 December 1944
     Decommissioned28 December 1944 - 28 April 1945
    01LCDR. Gavigan, William James USNR28 April 1945 - 9 February 1946
    02LTjg. Hanson, Harry Ellis, USN (OinC)9 February 1946 - 20 March 1946
    03LCDR. Molton, Thomas Smith, USNR20 March 1946 - 22 May 1946
    04CDR. Gaither, Earl Percy, USNR22 May 1946 - 15 December 1946
    05LCDR. Wichmann, Charles John, USN15 December 1946 - 1947
    06LCDR. Gatheral, Malcom Ingram, USN1947 - 1 August 1947
     Decommissioned1 August 1947 - 23 October 1950
    07LCDR. Turpin, Edward Allen, USN23 October 1950 - December 1952
    08LCDR. Sanders, USNDecember 1952 - 1954
    09LCDR. Marshall, John Kendirck1954 - July 1955
    10LCDR. Bartsch, Lauren HowardJuly 1955 - 17 April 1956
     Decommissioned17 April 1956 - 15 February 1968
    11LCDR. Ruthford, Donald Charles15 February 1968 - 10 October 1968
    12LCDR. Kronnagel, Julius10 October 1968 - 12 February 1969
    13LT. Millis Jr., Archibald Edward, USN (XO Acting)12 February 1969 - 15 March 1969
    14LCDR. West, Charles Thomas, USN 15 March 1969 - 4 August 1969
    15LCDR. Fellis, Richard Thomas4 August 1969 - 28 July 1970
    16LCDR. Giganti, George Maurice, USN28 July 1970 - 5 July 1971
    17LCDR. Curling, Fred Boyd, USN5 July 1971 - 30 September 1971
     CDR. Edwards, Joe Duke, USN (USNA 1956)no dates
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Brownwater Navy in Vietnam Web Book
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Ship Tank (LST) Photo Index Back To The Landing Craft Repair Ship (ARL) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 4 January 2019