About this Unit
USS Endymion (ARL-9) was one of the Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Commissioned in 1944, she provided vital repair services to landing craft and other vessels in the Pacific Theater, supporting operations during the liberation of the Philippines and the Okinawa campaign. Endymion’s crew worked under combat conditions, often performing repairs under threat of enemy attack, which contributed significantly to fleet readiness and amphibious operations. After the war, she was decommissioned in 1947 and later struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
Historical Facts
• Name Origin: USS Endymion (ARL-9) was named after Endymion, a figure from Greek mythology known for his eternal youth and sleep, a name previously used for several U.S. Navy vessels.
• Class and Type: She was one of the 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built during World War II, designed to provide repairs and maintenance to landing craft in combat zones.
• Conversion: Originally laid down as LST-513 (a tank landing ship), she was converted into a repair ship (ARL) during construction to meet the Navy's urgent wartime needs.
• Launch and Commission: Endymion was launched on December 18, 1943, by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company in Seneca, Illinois, and commissioned on May 26, 1944.
• Pacific Service: She served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, supporting amphibious operations by repairing landing ships and craft damaged in the intense island-hopping campaigns.
• Okinawa Campaign: Endymion played a crucial support role during the Battle of Okinawa, one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Pacific War.
• Kamikaze Defense: While stationed at Okinawa, the ship and her crew were constantly under threat from Japanese kamikaze attacks, highlighting the dangers faced by support vessels as well as combat ships.
• Postwar Decommission: Following the end of WWII, Endymion was decommissioned in May 1947 and placed in the reserve fleet at Green Cove Springs, Florida.
• Short Service Life: Despite her vital role in the war, her active service lasted less than three years, reflecting the rapid demobilization of the U.S. Navy after WWII.
• Final Fate: USS Endymion was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in June 1960 and eventually sold for scrap, ending her journey as a silent but essential support ship in the U.S. Navy's wartime efforts.
