USS APL-15 circa August 1944
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        APL-2 (APL-2)
Design        Navy APL-2
Displacement (tons):        1,300 light, 2,600 full load
Dimensions (feet):        261.2' oa, 260.0' wl x 49.2' e x 8.5' full
Original Armament:        4-20mm
Later armaments:        --
Complement        71 + 583 troops
Speed (kts.):
Propulsion (HP):
Machinery:        None

Construction:
APL Name Ord. Builder Keel Launch Commiss.
2 APL-2 7 Oct 43 NYd Puget Sound 12 May 44 6 Jul 44 25 May 45
3 APL-3 7 Oct 43 NYd Puget Sound 31 May 44 3 Aug 44 30 Jul 45
4 APL-4 7 Oct 43 NYd Puget Sound 27 May 44 3 Aug 44 21 Sep 45
5 APL-5 7 Oct 43 NYd Puget Sound 8 Jul 44 14 Nov 44 5 Nov 45
6 APL-6 7 Oct 43 NYd Puget Sound 5 Aug 44 12 Feb 45 --
7 APL-7 7 Oct 43 NYd Puget Sound 5 Aug 44 12 Feb 45 --
8 APL-8 18 Nov 43 Nashville Bridge 21 Mar 44 5 Jun 44 6 Oct 44
9 APL-9 18 Nov 43 Nashville Bridge 5 May 44 21 Jul 44 24 Nov 44
10 APL-10 18 Nov 43 Nashville Bridge 12 Jul 44 19 Sep 44 6 Jan 45
11 APL-11 15 Jan 44 NYd Boston 5 Aug 44 4 Sep 44 10 Oct 44
12 APL-12 15 Jan 44 NYd Boston 5 Aug 44 4 Sep 44 24 Oct 44
13 APL-13 15 Jan 44 NYd Boston 5 Sep 44 12 Oct 44 20 Nov 44
14 APL-14 3 May 43 Nashville Bridge 11 Sep 43 17 Jan 44 29 Jun 44
15 APL-15 3 May 43 Nashville Bridge 29 Oct 43 29 Jan 44 1 Aug 44
17 APL-17 9 Nov 43 Tampa SB 15 May 44 2 Jul 44 20 Sep 44
18 APL-18 9 Nov 43 Tampa SB 15 May 44 2 Jul 44 29 Sep 44
19 APL-19 9 Nov 43 Tampa SB 21 Jun 44 6 Aug 44 14 Oct 44
20 APL-20 9 Nov 43 Tampa SB 20 Jul 44 3 Sep 44 2 Nov 44
21 APL-21 9 Nov 43 Tampa SB 29 Jul 44 3 Sep 44 16 Feb 45
22 APL-22 9 Nov 43 Tampa SB 9 Aug 44 1 Oct 44 24 Mar 45
23 APL-23 29 Jan 44 Pollock-Stockton SB 24 Jul 44 26 Sep 44 7 Jun 45
24 APL-24 29 Jan 44 Pollock-Stockton SB 24 Jul 44 26 Sep 44 24 Jul 45
25 APL-25 29 Jan 44 Pollock-Stockton SB 24 Jul 44 24 Dec 44 28 Sep 45
26 APL-26 29 Jan 44 Pollock-Stockton SB 24 Jul 44 24 Dec 44 18 Jan 46
27 APL-27 5 Apr 44 Tampa SB 10 Aug 44 15 Oct 44 9 Apr 45
28 APL-28 5 Apr 44 Tampa SB 30 Oct 44 10 Dec 44 30 Apr 45
29 APL-29 5 Apr 44 Tampa SB 30 Oct 44 10 Dec 44 14 May 45
30 APL-30 ca Apr 44 Everett Pacific SB 1 Jun 44 6 Sep 44 11 Apr 45
31 APL-31 ca Apr 44 Everett Pacific SB 1 Jun 44 30 Sep 44 14 Jun 45
32 APL-32 22 Jun 44 NYd Boston 5 Sep 44 12 Oct 44 17 Jan 45
33 APL-33 22 Jun 44 NYd Boston 18 Nov 44 1 Jan 45 5 Apr 45
34 APL-34 22 Jun 44 NYd Boston 18 Nov 44 1 Jan 45 16 May 45
41 APL-41 19 Jul 44 Willamette Iron & Steel 2 Sep 44 11 Nov 44 24 Mar 45
42 APL-42 19 Jul 44 Willamette Iron & Steel 9 Dec 44 6 Feb 45 30 Apr 45
43 APL-43 19 Jul 44 Willamette Iron & Steel 13 Dec 44 27 Feb 45 31 May 45
44 APL-44 19 Jul 44 Willamette Iron & Steel 26 Dec 44 30 Apr 45 30 Jun 45
45 APL-45 19 Jul 44 Willamette Iron & Steel 7 Feb 45 12 May 45 28 Jul 45
46 APL-46 19 Jul 44 Willamette Iron & Steel 28 Feb 45 23 May 45 31 Aug 45
47 APL-47 20 Jul 44 Puget Sound Bridge 17 Oct 44 5 Jan 45 1 Jun 45
48 APL-48 20 Jul 44 Puget Sound Bridge 8 Nov 44 26 Jan 45 26 Jul 45
49 APL-49 20 Jul 44 Puget Sound Bridge 28 Nov 44 28 May 45 15 Nov 45
50 APL-50 20 Jul 44 Puget Sound Bridge 29 Jan 45 26 Jul 45 2 Jan 46
51 APL-51 20 Jul 44 Puget Sound Bridge 15 May 45 -- --
52 APL-52 20 Jul 44 Puget Sound Bridge -- -- --
53 APL-53 26 Jul 44 Tampa SB 1 Jan 45 3 Mar 45 11 Jun 45
54 APL-54 26 Jul 44 Tampa SB 22 Jan 45 17 Mar 45 29 Jun 45
55 APL-55 26 Jul 44 Tampa SB 5 Mar 45 9 Jun 45 18 Jul 45
56 APL-56 26 Jul 44 Tampa SB 19 Mar 45 30 Jun 45 27 Jul 45
57 APL-57 31 Aug 44 Nashville Bridge 8 Jan 45 12 Feb 45 1 Jun 45
58 APL-58 31 Aug 44 Nashville Bridge 30 Jan 45 19 Mar 45 16 Jul 45

Disposition:
APL Name Decomm. Strike Disposal Fate MA Sale
2 APL-2 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
3 APL-3 -- 1 Jun 73 6 Nov 74 Sold --
4 APL-4 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
5 APL-5 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
6 APL-6 -- -- 13 Aug 45 Canc. --
7 APL-7 -- -- 13 Aug 45 Canc. --
8 APL-8 -- 2 Jul 73 6 Nov 74 Sold --
9 APL-9 -- 1 Apr 74 14 Aug 74 Sold --
10 APL-10 -- 1 Jun 73 6 Aug 74 Sold --
11 APL-11 -- 1 Sep 73 18 May 74 Tgt. --
12 APL-12 -- 25 Feb 46 9 Oct 45 Lost --
13 APL-13 23 Nov 45 21 Jan 46 9 Oct 45 Lost --
14 APL-14 3 Jan 46 21 Jan 46 May 47 FLC --
15 APL-15 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
17 APL-17 -- 1 Aug 69 14 Jan 71 Sold --
18 APL-18 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
19 APL-19 -- 13 Mar 01 13 Jun 02 Tgt. --
20 APL-20 -- 1 Jun 73 6 Nov 74 Sold --
21 APL-21 -- 1 Apr 72 ca. 1972 Sold --
22 APL-22 -- 1 Apr 61 31 Aug 61 Sold --
23 APL-23 -- 1 Jun 73 29 Jan 74 Sold --
24 APL-24 -- 1 Apr 62 29 May 62 MA --
25 APL-25 -- 1 Jun 73 20 Dec 73 Sold --
26 APL-26 -- 1 Nov 71 Mar 71 Trf. --
27 APL-27 -- 1 Nov 71 Mar 71 Trf. --
28 APL-28 -- 1 Dec 59 1 Apr 60 Sold --
29 APL-29 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
30 APL-30 -- 15 Jun 74 20 Feb 75 Sold --
31 APL-31 -- 1 Aug 00 15 Jun 01 Trf. --
32 APL-32 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
33 APL-33 12 Apr 46 1 May 46 7 Jun 46 Dest. --
34 APL-34 -- 26 Oct 93 7 May 04 Sold --
41 APL-41 -- 1 Apr 72 17 May 73 Sold --
42 APL-42 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
43 APL-43 -- 11 Dec 92 1 Oct 93 Trf. --
44 APL-44 -- 1 Jun 61 30 Apr 60 Trf. --
45 APL-45 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
46 APL-46 -- 1 Feb 70 ca. 1970 Sold --
47 APL-47 -- 6 Aug 87 Dec 72 Trf. --
48 APL-48 -- 1 Sep 60 4 Aug 58 Trf. --
49 APL-49 -- 1 Mar 63 18 Aug 61 Trf. --
50 APL-50 -- -- 2011 I.S. --
51 APL-51 -- -- 13 Aug 45 Canc. --
52 APL-52 -- -- 13 Aug 45 Canc. --
53 APL-53 -- 6 Aug 87 Dec 74 Trf. --
54 APL-54 -- 9 Nov 99 21 Aug 01 Sold --
55 APL-55 -- 27 Nov 72 10 Nov 72 Trf. --
56 APL-56 -- 1 Jun 61 16 Apr 60 Trf. --
57 APL-57 -- 26 Oct 93 28 Sep 01 Sold --
58 APL-58 -- -- 2011 I.S. --

Class Notes:
FY 1942 (APL 11-13 and 23-26), 1943 (APL 14-15), 1944 (others). These craft were pure service craft, being standard non-self-propelled 2,000-ton 260-foot Navy covered barges with a two-story barracks built on top instead of the usual simple warehouse, but they had an auxiliary vessel (A) instead of a service craft (Y) type designation and with the exception of one group (handled by CNO) they were added to the building program by the Auxiliary Vessels Board instead of being managed by the District Craft Development Board (DCDB).

The Navy, which already had hundreds of standard 110-foot covered barges (YF), developed the 260-foot type for long-distance ocean towing. The rectangular barges were fitted with a ship-style raised bow for seakeeping and large skegs aft to assist in towing. The DCDB directed the construction of the first group, YF 604-633, on 22 Mar 43. Ultimately the Navy ordered 105 of these ocean-going barges, YF 604-33, 718-57, 891-900, and 1054-78 (the survivors were reclassified YFNB 2-45 on 14 Jul 49). YF 608-09 and 628-33 were completed as APL 14-15 and 17-22, the other APLs were ordered as such and had no YF numbers.

APL 2-13: On 11 Jun 43 the Auxiliary Vessels Board recommended a large program of tenders and repair ships plus other auxiliary vessels to support a program of additional combatant vessels that had been approved by the President in May 1943. The Board then went on to state that, with the great numbers of ships of all types in the various and extended operating areas, it considered that additional repair ships were essential at the earliest possible date, and that the conversion of LST's and EC-2's (Liberty ships) to repair ships was the most expeditious and economical method of meeting the maintenance needs. After recommending a large program of these including 12 EC-2 conversions (ARG 4-13 and ARV 1-2), the Board then recommended that, in order to accommodate the necessary repair force to operate to maximum extent the machine tools placed aboard an EC-2 conversion, for each EC-2 converted to a repair ship a 2,000-ton barge be built and converted to a floating barracks for the repair force personnel assigned to the EC-2. This would permit accommodations for sufficient personnel to fully man the repair facilities on a three-shift basis. These barges were to be designed and constructed so that they were capable of being moved with or by the EC-2 to which they were assigned and would provide the necessary housing at any location to which the EC-2 was assigned.

APL 14-15: On 16 Jul 43 the Auxiliary Vessels Board noted that on 16 Apr 43 it had recommended the conversion of two EC-2s to ARG 2-3. These had not been included in its discussion of 11 Jun 43, and the Board recommended that two of the YF-604 group that had recently been ordered be converted to Barrack Ship Transports (APL) to house the repair parties assigned to ARG 2-3.

APL 17-31: On 22 Nov 43 BuShips, following the logic that had resulted in the acquisition of APL 2-13, recommended procuring an APL for each of the C3 type tenders and repair ships in the 1945-1946 tender and repair ship program, which at that time were AD 26-27, AR 13-14, and AS 29-30. CNO disapproved this proposal on 30 Nov 43, apparently motivating BuShips to make a further study of the matter. On 14 Dec 43 BuShips told CNO that experienced officers had stated in interviews that up to 50% gain in output could be obtained by furnishing sufficient additional ship repair personnel for shift work in the tenders, even in the large ones of the AD-14, AR-5, and AS-11 classes. The Bureau therefore recommended procuring 56 APL's in 1944-46, one for every tender then in service and authorized for construction. On 28 Dec 43 the Auxiliary Vessels Board reviewed the 2,000-ton steel barge construction program, which then totaled 68 YF's and 14 APL's. It noted that, due to the present shortage of tenders and repair ships in the fleet, some of those now in service should have their capacities augmented as soon as practicable by providing additional “floating barracks barges” to permit them to perform work on a shift basis. Accordingly it recommended that 6 of the 68 YF's then authorized be constructed or converted as APL's and that 9 additional barges be constructed as APL's. This would provide a total of 29 APL's, 23 of which the Board recommended be completed in 1944 to support ARG 2-9 and 15 large tenders. The contract with Tampa on 9 Nov 43 was for YF 624-33, and the date was retained for APL 17-22 after their redesignation from YF 628-33. The official contract date for APL 30-31 was 30 Nov 43 but they in fact replaced YF 726-27 in the Everett contract of 30 Nov 43 for YF 718-27 when funds became available in March or April, YF 726-27 being reordered from another yard on 3 Apr 44. APL 27-29 were originally ordered from Dravo, Pittsburgh on 3 Feb 44 but were cancelled there on 23 Mar 44 and reassigned to Tampa.

APL 32-43: On 11 Mar 44 CNO, as part of a large follow-on landing craft program, directed BuShips to proceed with the construction of 90 LST's, 105 LSM's, 90 LCIL's, and 105 LCT(6)'s. Under auxiliary tonnage BuShips was to proceed with the construction of 12 ARL's (ARL 13-24) and 12 APL's. SecNav approved this action on 13 Mar 44.

APL 44-58: On 2 May 44 the Auxiliary Vessels Board took note of the fact that 12 APL's had been authorized in connection with the Landing Craft construction program approved by SecNav on 13 Mar 44. In considering the additional Landing Craft program authorized for 1945, the Board took note of the shortage of ARL's and accompanying APL's for servicing landing craft and recommended that 15 ARL's (ARL 25-39, LST type) and 15 APL's be constructed for completion during the last three quarters of 1945.

APL-10, apparently referred to informally at this time as USS CASA MARINA, had her "engine room" (probably the compartment with her diesel electric generators) flooded while being towed from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco for inactivation ca. late 1946. APL-42 was also flooded while under tow at about the same time. The service status of these vessels during the late 1940s is indicated in the ship notes but later periods of service are generally not indicated.

APL-55 became a Repair, Berthing & Messing Barge (YRBM-18) on 1 Jun 68 while serving at Naval Support Activity, Saigon. At the same time YFNB-19 and 26 became YRBM 19-20 while YFNB-21 and 24 had already become YRBM 16-17. The four former YFNBs, (originally 260-foot YF's) thus had a family resemblance as YRBM's to the former APL-55.

Ship Notes:
APL Name Notes
2 APL-2 To Everett Pacific SB for completion, contract 5 Apr 45. In service in reserve by Jan 47. In service 2011 at San Diego.
3 APL-3 To Everett Pacific SB for completion, contract 5 Apr 45. In service in reserve by Jul 46. Merc. HT-II ca. 1974.
4 APL-4 To Everett Pacific SB for completion, contract 5 Apr 45. In service in reserve by Jan 47. In service 2011 at San Diego.
5 APL-5 To Everett Pacific SB for completion, contract 5 Apr 45. In service in reserve by Jan 47. On active duty in South Vietnam during the late 1960s. In service 2011 at San Diego.
6 APL-6 To Everett Pacific SB for completion (contract 5 Apr 45), cancelled (27 Aug 45), completed as barge CROWN No.2.
7 APL-7 To Everett Pacific SB for completion (contract 5 Apr 45), cancelled (27 Aug 45), completed as barge CROWN No.1.
8 APL-8 Completed 14 Sep 44, delivered 3 Oct 44. Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Merc. MCL-261 ca. 1974.
9 APL-9 Completed 4 Nov 44, delivered 18 Nov 44. In service in reserve by Jan 47. Merc. MCL-260 ca. 1974.
10 APL-10 Completed 21 Dec 44, delivered 4 Jan 45. In service in reserve by Jan 47. Loaned to Coast Guard 6 Sep 51, returned. Merc. WESTERN TRADER ca. 1974.
11 APL-11 Completed 9 Oct 44, delivered 10 Oct 44. Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Expended as target 1974 (authorized for expenditure by COMNAVAIRPAC in WEPTRAEX 11-14 Mar 74).
12 APL-12 Completed 23 Oct 44, delivered 24 Oct 44. Grounded in typhoon at Okinawa, 9 Oct 45, refloated 25 Oct 45 and given limited local repairs for local use. Destroyed 27 Jan 46.
13 APL-13 Completed 19 Nov 44, delivered 20 Nov 44. Grounded in typhoon at Okinawa 9 Oct 45, unsalvageable, destroyed (blown up) 22 Feb 46.
14 APL-14 Ex YF-608 12 Aug 43. Completed 17 Jun 44, delivered 29 Jun 44, placed in service 4 Jul 44. Grounded in typhoon at Okinawa 9 Oct 45 (fetched up near ARL-5 and IX-110, q.v.) and recommended for stripping. Could not destroy because of nearby populated area. Hulk abandoned 22 Aug 46 and included by FLC in May 1947 in the Berry Sale.
15 APL-15 Ex YF-609 12 Aug 43. Completed 22 Jul 44, delivered 1 Aug 44. In service in reserve by Jan 47. In service 2011 at San Diego.
17 APL-17 Ex YF-628 7 Jan 44. In service in reserve by Jul 46. Sold for scrap 1971.
18 APL-18 Ex YF-629 7 Jan 44. In service in reserve by Jan 47. In service 2011 at San Diego.
19 APL-19 Ex YF-630 7 Jan 44. Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Stk. 26 Oct 93, reinstated 16 Aug 96 as IX-520. Sunk in fleet training exercise east of Norfolk, Va., 13 Jun 02.
20 APL-20 Ex YF-631 7 Jan 44. In service in reserve by Jan 47. Merc. NORTHERN SHELL ca. 1974.
21 APL-21 Ex YF-632 7 Jan 44. In service in reserve by Jan 47. In South Vietnam by 1969. CNO on 7 Mar 72 authorized COMNAVFORV to dispose of the vessel locally upon completion of stripping.
22 APL-22 Ex YF-633 7 Jan 44. Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Sold to Foss Launch & Tug, delivered 10 Oct 61, merc. FOSS 251.
23 APL-23 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47.
24 APL-24 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. To NDRF 23 May 62, used by MA under the designation FB-62 as barracks support ship for NDRF Suisun Bay, still extant 2006.
25 APL-25 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Merc. MCL-25 ca. 1973.
26 APL-26 In service in reserve by Jan 47. Arrived in South Vietnam 22 Feb 67 for riverine duty. Sold to South Vietnam Mar 71 as HQ 9050. Captured by North Vietnam Apr 75.
27 APL-27 Earlier order: Dravo, Pittsburgh (3 Feb 44, canc. 23 Mar 44). Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Sold to South Vietnam Mar 71 as HQ 9051. Captured by North Vietnam Apr 75.
28 APL-28 Earlier order: Dravo, Pittsburgh (3 Feb 44, canc. 23 Mar 44). Sold 1960 to Foss Launch & Tug.
29 APL-29 Earlier order: Dravo, Pittsburgh (3 Feb 44, canc. 23 Mar 44). Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. In service 2011 on the East Coast.
30 APL-30 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. In South Vietnam ca. the late 1960s.
31 APL-31 Active at the U.S. Naval Academy as of Apr. 48. Transferred for use as fish reef 15 Jun 2001, sunk off Manasquan, N.J., 23 Jul 01.
32 APL-32 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Loaned to Coast Guard May 51, returned. Joined APL-31 at Annapolis during the 1950s. In service 2011 at Mayport, Fla.
33 APL-33 Completed 4 Apr 45, delivered and placed in service 5 Apr 45. Grounded in typhoon, Okinawa, 9 Oct 45, refloated 24 Nov 45, out of service 12 Apr 46, and destroyed (towed to sea and sunk) 7 Jun 46.
34 APL-34 Completed 15 May 45, delivered 16 May 45. Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Sold by DRMS 2004 for further use/conversion.
41 APL-41 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47.
42 APL-42 Assigned to Naval Reserve Training duty in the Third Naval District as of Mar 47, out of service in reserve Jul 49. In service 2011 on the East Coast.
43 APL-43 In service in reserve by Jan 47. Transferred 1993 (to Panama?) by GSA under the Property Donation Exchange Program.
44 APL-44 Loaned to MA 8 Dec 51. Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Transferred 1960 to U.S. Army District Engineer, Memphis, Tenn.
45 APL-45 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Inspection 31 Mar 71 revealed that the craft was not habitable, stk. 1 Nov 72, reinstated ca. 1974. In service 2011 on the East Coast.
46 APL-46 In service in reserve by Jan 47, active in the Pacific May 49. In South Vietnam ca. 1968. SecNav 26 Jan 70 approved disposal by sale of this vessel, then in the custody of the 14th Naval District.
47 APL-47 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Loaned to Turkey 1972, sold 17 Aug 87.
48 APL-48 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Loaned to MA 4 Aug 58, transferred to Virgin Islands 1970.
49 APL-49 In service in reserve by Jan 47. Transferred 1961 to the Commander, Thirteenth Naval District, probably as floating equipment.
50 APL-50 In service in reserve by Jan 47. In service 2011 on the East Coast.
51 APL-51 Cancelled, completed as barge PACIFIC RIM.
52 APL-52 Cancelled.
53 APL-53 In service in reserve by Jan 47. Loaned to Turkey 1974 as BINBASI NETIN SULUS (Y-1205), sold to Turkey 17 Aug 87.
54 APL-54 In service in reserve by Jan 47. Sold 2001 by DRMS for further use/conversion.
55 APL-55 In service in reserve by Jan 47. Loaned to Army ca. May 1951. To YRBM-18 1 Jun 68. Transferred to South Vietnam 1972.
56 APL-56 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. Transferred 1960 to U.S. Army Engineering District, Memphis, Tenn.
57 APL-57 Completed 19 May 45, delivered 1 Jun 45. Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. To NDRF 19 Aug 91, title not transferred, withdrawn for delivery to DRMS buyer 30 Oct 01. Sold 2001 by DRMS for further use/conversion.
58 APL-58 Out of service in reserve by Jan 47. In service 2011 at Portsmouth, Va. (probably there since 1 Feb 91).

Page Notes:
APL        1943
Compiled:        05 Jun 2011
© Stephen S. Roberts, 2002-2011