USS Daedalus (ARL-35)

History
Name:	USS Daedalus
Builder:	Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
Launched:	27 April 1945
Commissioned:	9 May 1945
Decommissioned:	23 October 1947
Fate:	Sold, 28 October 1960
General characteristics
Class & type:	Achelous class repair ship
Displacement:	2,125 long tons (2,159 t) light 4,100 long tons (4,166 t) full
Length:	328 ft (100 m)
Beam:	50 ft (15 m)
Draft:	11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Propulsion:	2 × General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed:	12 knots (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Complement:	253 officers and enlisted men
Armament:	2 × quad 40 mm guns (Mark 51 director) 2 × twin 40 mm guns (Mark 51 director) 6 × twin 20 mm guns

USS Daedalus (ARL-35) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Daedalus (in Greek mythology, an exiled Athenian who served in the courts of Minos and Kokalos, regarded as representative of artists and artisans of the later Minoan or Mykenaian age; imprisoned by Minos, he made wings to escape), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Laid down as LST-1143 at Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois; redesignated landing craft repair ship ARL-35 14 August 1944; launched 27 April 1945; sponsored by Mrs. D. Steinmann; placed in partial commission 9 May 1945; sailed to Mobile, Alabama where she was decommissioned 21 May for conversion to a landing craft repair ship; and commissioned in full 19 October 1945 with Lieutenant R. E. Butler in command.

Service history

Daedalus departed Mobile 3 December 1945 and arrived at Norfolk six days later. She provided repair services to the fleet at Norfolk, Guantanamo Bay, and Newport, until arriving at Charleston, South Carolina 1 July 1947 for overhaul. Later towed to Green Cove Springs, Florida she was placed out of commission in reserve there 23 October 1947. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register (date unknown), she was sold 28 October 1960 to the Norfolk, Baltimore and Caroline Line for commercial service and renamed SS Virginia Clipper. The ship was resold in 1978 to Thor Corporation of Venezuela; her final fate is unknown.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• "LST-1143 / ARL-35 Daedalus". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved May 6, 2007.