USS Chimaera

USS Chimaera (ARL-33) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for the Chimaera (a mythological character, symbolic of the destructive forces of nature), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Chimaera underway in Baltimore harbor, c. 1945
History
United States
Name	USS Chimaera
Builder	Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
Laid down	3 January 1945
Launched	30 March 1945
Commissioned	7 August 1945
Decommissioned	8 March 1948
Stricken	July 1961
Identification	IMO number: 7431507
Fate	Sold March 1964
General characteristics
Class and type	Achelous class repair ship
Displacement	2,220 long tons (2,256 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

Originally planned as LST-1137, the ship was redesignated ARL-33 14 August 1944. Her design was a modification of the LST Mk.2. Other repair ships and tenders followed her precedent.

Service history

Chimaera was launched 30 March 1945 by Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca, Ill., sponsored by Mrs. D. L. Mahoney. She was placed in partial commission 11 April 1945 and decommissioned 7 May 1945 for conversion at Baltimore, Md.. She was commissioned in full on 7 August 1945. Sailing from Norfolk, Virginia 18 September 1945, Chimaera arrived at Green Cove Springs, Florida 21 September to serve as flagship for Commander, St. John's River Reserve Group, Atlantic Fleet until 1 March 1946. On 29 April she cleared for San Pedro, California, arriving 21 May. Local operations were conducted until 17 September when she got underway for the western Pacific. She called at Pearl Harbor and arrived at Qingdao, China 23 October to provide services to the 7th Fleet. On 14 October 1947 she departed Qingdao for San Pedro. Chimaera was placed out of commission in reserve 8 March 1948. Laid up at the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1961 and sold in March 1964.

References

• Rottman, Gordon L. (2012). Landing ship, tank (LST) 1942-2002. Tony Bryan. London. ISBN 978-1-78200-458-5. OCLC 957326293.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
• "LST-1137 / ARL-33 Chimaera". Amphibious Photo Archive. Retrieved May 6, 2007.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.