USS Bellerophon

USS Bellerophon
Bellerophon alongside the USS Broadwater in San Francisco Bay. A strike by civilian workers paralyzed civilian yards in the San Francisco area during the latter part of October, 1945. Bellerophon provided voyage repairs to "Magic Carpet" ships in the harbor during the strike.
History
United States
NameUSS Bellerophon
BuilderChicago Bridge and Iron Company
Laid down12 December 1944
Launched7 March 1945
Commissioned19 March 1945
DecommissionedSeptember 1947
StrickenOctober 1977
FateSold for scrapping, 20 June 1980
General characteristics
Class and typeAchelous 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

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 (a hero of Greek mythology, the son of Eurymede by either the Corinthian King, Glaucus, or the sea god, Poseidon), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Originally planned as an LST, she was redesignated as landing craft repair ship ARL-31 prior to construction. The ship was laid down on 12 December 1944 at Seneca, Illinois by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 7 March 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Hazel Nitherspoon; and commissioned on 19 March 1945.