USS White Sands (ARD-20)

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Branch

U.S. Navy

Members

About USS White Sands (ARD-20)

USS White Sands (ARD-20) was a floating drydock constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Commissioned in 1944, it served primarily in the Pacific theater, providing vital repair and maintenance services to damaged warships and submarines, ensuring fleet readiness during intense combat operations. After the war, White Sands continued to support naval operations, and in 1960, it notably assisted in the recovery of the bathyscaphe Trieste following its record-setting dive into the Challenger Deep. The unit was eventually decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1989, having played a crucial support role across several decades.

Unit Members

Jack Gordon

U.S. Navy

USS White Sands (ARD-20)View Profile

Albert Yeager

U.S. Navy

USS White Sands (ARD-20)View Profile

Photos

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

About USS White Sands (ARD-20)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Floating Dry Dock: USS White Sands (ARD-20) was not a ship, but an Auxiliary Repair Dock, a mobile floating dry dock designed to service and repair other vessels while afloat. • World War II Service: Commissioned in 1944, she played a significant role in the Pacific Theater, providing essential maintenance and repairs to warships damaged in combat. • Atomic Bomb Tests: In 1946, White Sands participated in Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll, supporting preparations and post-detonation recovery during these historic atomic bomb tests. • Arctic Support: In 1955, she was towed to Thule, Greenland, to assist in constructing ice piers and supporting the early Cold War defense infrastructure in the Arctic. • Space Age Involvement: White Sands was instrumental in the recovery of NASA’s Saturn V rocket first stage after Apollo 4’s test flight in 1967, serving as a platform for the retrieval operation. • Submarine Recovery: In 1966, she played a key role in the recovery of a sunken U.S. Air Force Minuteman missile test nose cone off Grand Turk Island, demonstrating versatility beyond ship repair. • Unique Naming: The dock was named after the White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico, reflecting its association with testing and experimentation. • Multiple Homeports: Through her career, White Sands operated from a variety of locations, including San Pedro, Pearl Harbor, Guam, and the East Coast, showcasing her mobility. • Vietnam War Support: During the Vietnam War, White Sands provided repair services for naval vessels engaged in Southeast Asia operations. • Final Fate: Decommissioned in 1989, the White Sands was eventually sold for scrap, ending over four decades of unique and diverse service to the U.S. Navy and other government agencies.