USS Endymion

Last updated

USS Endymion (ARL-9) at anchor in Hampton Roads, Virginia (USA), in May 1944.jpg
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameUSS Endymion
Namesake Endymion
Launched17 December 1943
Commissioned9 May 1944
Decommissioned30 November 1946
Stricken1 June 1972
Identification IMO number:  8332461
FateSold for commercial service, 1 September 1973
General characteristics
Class and type Achelous class repair ship
Displacement
  • 1,781 long tons (1,810 t) light
  • 3,960 long tons (4,024 t) full
Length328 ft (100 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
Draft11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Propulsion2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Complement255 officers and enlisted men
Armament
  • 2 × quad 40 mm guns
  • 2 × twin 40 mm guns
  • 6 × twin 20 mm guns

USS Endymion (ARL-9) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Endymion (in Greek mythology, a handsome Aeolian shepherd or hunter), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Contents

Originally laid down as LST-513; reclassified ARL-9 on 3 November 1943; launched on 17 December; sponsored by Mrs. Mary C. Hanley; and commissioned on 9 May 1944. [1]

Service history

After a brief shakedown cruise in the Chesapeake Bay she sailed for Guantanamo Bay, joined a convoy headed toward the Panama Canal, and proceeded independently to San Diego. Continuing to Pearl Harbor she deployed with TG 32.6 to Guadalcanal where she arrived on 26 August 1944. She effected repairs here and at the Russell Islands before joining a task group preparing for the invasion of the Palau Islands where she carried on her vital work. From 3 October to 25 February 1945 she was active at Kossol Passage. On the latter date she sailed in convoy to Leyte where she remained for a month in the performance of diving operations and repairing of landing craft. She next proceeded with Task Unit 51.14.3 for the invasion of Okinawa and rendered invaluable service to battle- and weather-damaged destroyers, landing craft and patrol vessels. On 28 April 1945 she suffered damage from a shrapnel burst which wounded 15 of her crew. [1]

On 10 May 1945 she changed her anchorage to Buckner Bay where she underwent frequent suicide plane attacks, but continued uninterrupted her repair service. Endymion got underway with Task Unit 31.29.29 for Saipan on 7 June 1945. She then left Saipan for Pearl Harbor without benefit of protective escort—which was unusual, given the great potential for risk to the ship and its crew. [1]

On 21 June she was torpedoed. At least two torpedoes passed beneath the ship, but a third detonated directly under the fantail, causing damage to her steering gear and resulting in 11 [reported] wounded. The submarine then surfaced, but before its crew could man and operate its deck guns, one of the Endymion's gunners (Gunner's Mate First Class Alfred "Al" Lamay) directed continuous fire at the submarine's conning tower with one of the ship's twin 20mm anti-aircraft cannons (likely the Oerlikon 20mm/85 KAA). This heroic action is credited as having saved the lives of the Endymion's crew, because common practice was for Japanese naval commanders to sink damaged ships and leave no survivors. Cannon fire from the twin 20mm guns is thought to have severely damaged and possibly penetrated the conning tower, forcing the Japanese submarine to submerge and run. However, Endymion sat immobile for two to three days, during which time crew reported seeing a US Navy sea plane (Martin PBM-5 Mariner) approach, circle, turn around, and fly off. A submarine chaser was dispatched to bring her in to Eniwetok Harbor where temporary repairs were made. She continued to Pearl Harbor where she readied herself for return to take part in the invasion of Japan, but the war ended and Endymion headed back to the United States. Endymion began a period of overhaul at Astoria, Oregon on 9 November 1945. She was decommissioned on 30 November 1946 and was placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. [1]

Struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 June 1972, she was sold for commercial service 1 September 1973. Registered to Petrola Hellas S.A. of Panama in 1974 and renamed Petrola XVIII, she was restyled as Petrola 18 in September, 1976. Sold in 1978 to the Thetis Shipping & Trading Corporation S.A. of Panama, then resold (date unknown) to Sete Technical Services S.A. of Panama and renamed Sete 50, her final fate is unknown. [1]

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Achilles</i> (ARL-41) United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship

USS LST-455 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. She was converted at Sydney, Australia, into an Achelous-class repair ship, shortly after commissioning, and used in the repairing of landing craft. Named after the Greek hero Achilles, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Numitor</i>

USS Numitor (ARL-17) was to be laid down as an LST-542-class tank landing ship but was instead laid down as one of 39 Achelous-class repair ships landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Numitor, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Orange County</i> WWll navy landing ship

USS Orange County (LST–1068) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Unlike many of her class, which received only numbers and were disposed of after World War II, she survived long enough to be named. On 1 July 1955, all LSTs still in commission were named for US counties or parishes; LST-1068 was given the name Orange County, for counties in the states of California, Florida, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>LST-31</i> Tank landing ship of the United States Navy

USS LST-31 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used exclusively in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. Like many of her class, she was not originally named and is properly referred to by her hull designation. Later she was named for Addison County, Vermont. She was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Sarpedon</i>

USS Sarpedon (ARB-7) was laid down as a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship but was converted as one of twelve Aristaeus-class battle damage repair ships built for the Navy during World War II. Named for Sarpedon, and also she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Bellerophon</i>

USS Bellerophon (ARL-31) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Bellerophon, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Menelaus</i>

USS Menelaus (ARL-13) was laid down as a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship but converted to one of 39 Achelous-class repair ships that were used for repairing landing craft during World War II. Named for Menelaus, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Sphinx</i>

USS Sphinx (ARL-24) was laid down as a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship but converted to one of 39 Achelous-class repair ships that were used for repairing landing craft during World War II. Named for the Sphinx, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Agenor</i>

USS Agenor (ARL-3) was one of 39 Achelous-class repair ship landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Agenor, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Atlas</i> (ARL-7)

USS Atlas (ARL-7) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Atlas, she was the second U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Egeria</i>

USS Egeria (ARL-8) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Egeria, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Pandemus</i> American naval ship

USS Pandemus (ARL-18) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II and was in commission from 1945 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1968. Named for Pandemus, she has been the only U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Proserpine</i>

USS Proserpine (ARL-21) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Proserpine, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Romulus</i>

USS Romulus (ARL-22) was laid down as a United States Navy LST-542-class tank landing ship but converted to one of 39 Achelous-class repair ships that were used for repairing landing craft during World War II. Named for Romulus, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS LST-453 was a United States Navy LST-1-class tank landing ship used in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. She was converted at Brisbane, Australia, into an Achelous-class repair ship, shortly after commissioning, and used in the repairing of landing craft. She was later renamed for Remus, she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Stentor</i>

USS Stentor (ARL-26) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Stentor, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Typhon</i> US Navy landing craft repair ship

USS Typhon (ARL-28) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Typhon, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Amphitrite</i> (ARL-29)

USS Amphitrite (ARL-29) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Amphitrite, she was the third U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

USS <i>Pitkin County</i>

USS Pitkin County (LST-1082) was an LST-542-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after Pitkin County, Colorado, she was the only U.S. Naval Vessel to bear the name.

USS LST-766 was an LST-542-class Landing Ship, Tank in the United States Navy during World War II that took part in the amphibious landings during the war in the Far East.

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Endymion (ARL-9)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Naval History and Heritage Command - United States Navy. Retrieved 4 June 2023.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.