_underway,_in_the_1960s.jpg) USS Pandemus (ARL-18), a typical Achelous-class vessel.
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators |  United States Navy |
| Built | 1943–1945 |
| In commission | 1943–1971 |
| Completed | 39 |
| Active | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Repair ship |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 328 ft (100 m) |
| Beam | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Draft | 14 ft (4 m) |
| Propulsion | Diesel engines, twin screws, 1,800 hp (1,300 kW) |
| Speed | 11.62 kn (21.5 km/h) |
| Complement | 255 |
| Armament | 40 mm mounts, 20 mm mounts, numbers variable. |
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.