US Navy Auxiliary Ships: Luzon (ARG-2) Class

USS Oahu (ARG-5) on 12 May 1944
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        LUZON (ARG-2)
Design:        MC EC2-S-C1
Displacement (tons):        4,621 light, 11,500 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        441.5' oa, 416.0' pp x 56.9' e x 23.0' lim.
Original Armament:        1-5"/38 3-3"/50 2-40mmT 12-20mm (1943-45: all)
Later armaments:        1-5"/38 3-3"/50 2-40mmT 4<8-20mmT (1951-52: ARG-2, 4, 16-17); 1-5"/38 3-3"/50 2-40mmT (1955-56: ARG-4, 17);
1-5"/38 2-3"/50 2-40mmT 8-20mmT (1955-56: ARG-2);
3-3"/50 (1957: ARG-2, 4, 16)
Complement:        430-520 (1944)
Speed (kts.):        12.5
Propulsion (HP):        2,500
Machinery:        Gen. Mach. Corp. vertical triple expansion, 1 screw

Construction:

ARG	Name	Acq.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
2	LUZON	24 May 43	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	8 Apr 43	14 May 43	12 Oct 43
3	MINDANAO	20 May 43	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	11 Apr 43	13 May 43	6 Nov 43
4	TUTUILA	18 Sep 43	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	11 Aug 43	12 Sep 43	8 Apr 44
5	OAHU	15 Sep 43	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	14 Aug 43	9 Sep 43	4 Apr 44
6	CEBU	27 Oct 43	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	21 Sep 43	18 Oct 43	15 Apr 44
7	CULEBRA ISLAND	29 Nov 43	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	29 Oct 43	23 Nov 43	19 May 44
8	LEYTE	25 Feb 44	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	20 Jan 44	18 Feb 44	17 Aug 44
9	MONA ISLAND	20 May 44	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	10 Apr 44	11 May 44	17 Oct 44
10	PALAWAN	29 Aug 44	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	10 Jul 44	12 Aug 44	3 May 45
11	SAMAR	31 Oct 44	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	21 Sep 44	19 Oct 44	5 Jun 45
16	KERMIT ROOSEVELT	21 Oct 44	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	30 Aug 44	5 Oct 44	31 May 45
17	HOOPER ISLAND	30 Oct 44	Bethlehem-Fairfield SYs	16 Sep 44	18 Oct 44	13 Jul 45

Disposition:

ARG	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
2	LUZON	1 Jul 60	1 Sep 61	1 Sep 62	MA	26 Aug 74
3	MINDANAO	17 May 47	1 Sep 62	1 Sep 62	MA	--
4	TUTUILA	21 Feb 72	21 Feb 72	21 Feb 72	Trf.	--
5	OAHU	20 Nov 46	1 Jul 63	1 Jul 63	MA	27 Mar 78
6	CEBU	30 Jun 47	1 Sep 62	1 Sep 62	MA	18 Oct 73
7	CULEBRA ISLAND	15 Jan 47	1 Sep 62	1 Sep 62	MA	10 Dec 73
8	LEYTE	30 Aug 46	1 Sep 62	1 Sep 62	MA	3 Oct 72
9	MONA ISLAND	31 Oct 47	1 Sep 62	1 Sep 62	MA	--
10	PALAWAN	15 Jan 47	1 Jul 63	1 Jul 63	MA	--
11	SAMAR	24 Jul 47	1 Sep 62	1 Sep 62	MA	10 Dec 73
16	KERMIT ROOSEVELT	31 Oct 59	1 Jan 60	25 Aug 60	MA/S	18 Aug 60
17	HOOPER ISLAND	15 Jul 59	1 Jul 60	30 Jun 60	MA	2 Nov 70

Class Notes:
FY 1943 (ARG 2-3), 1944 (others). On 26 Mar 43 CominCh was advised that Commander, Southern Pacific Area had requested tenders for diesel driven ships. The shore based units used to support them were becoming immobile in spite of the best efforts to keep them on temporary mobile status. On 1 Apr 43 CominCh directed that OGLALA (CM-4) and two Liberty (EC2) ships, which were to be obtained from the Maritime Commission, be converted to internal combustion engine repair ships to fill this requirement. Liberty ships were considered sufficient because speed was not an important factor for these ships. The Auxiliary Vessels Board recommended the acquisition of the two Liberties (ARG 2-3) on 16 Apr 43.

On 11 Jun 43, as part of a major review of auxiliary ship requirements, the board stated 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 practicable date, and that in planning an auxiliary vessel conversion program for 1944 and 1945 the conversion of LSTs and EC2 ships to repair ships was the most expeditious and economical method of meeting maintenance needs. It noted that these converted ships could relieve to a great extent the installation of shore-based repair facilities in the forward operating areas. As part of this effort, it directed that a program of 12 EC2 ship conversions, six in 1944 and six in 1945, similar to those already being converted, be undertaken. The ships were designated ARG 4-15. When asking the MC for the ships on 28 Jul 43, VCNO explained that the large construction program for diesel engine driven craft had necessitated the acquisition of these additional tenders.

The Board then recommended that, in order to accommodate the necessary repair force to operate to maximum extent the machine tools placed aboard these EC2 conversions, that, one 2,000-ton barge be built and converted to a floating barracks for each EC2 converted to a repair ship to house the repair force personnel assigned to the EC2. This would provide accommodations for sufficient personnel to fully man the repair facilities on a three-shift basis. The barges would be designed and constructed so that they would be capable of being moved with or by the EC2 to which they were assigned and would provide the necessary housing at any location to which the EC2 was assigned. The barges ordered to accompany ARG 4-15 were APL 2-13 (see the APL-2 class). On 16 Jul 43 the Board recommended the conversion of two more (APL 14-15) for ARG 2-3. 42 more APLs of this type were ordered before the end of the war (six were soon reordered as larger, self-propelled ships, APB 35-40).

On 25 Aug 43 CominCh directed that ARG 14-15, the last two of the twelve provided for by the Auxiliary Vessels Board on 11 Jun 43, be converted instead to aircraft repair ships. They were reclassified ARV 1-2 in February 1944. On 14 Mar 44 the Auxiliary Vessels Board directed that ARG 12-13, hulls for which had not yet been selected, be converted instead to "combined barracks - stores - distilling ships." These became AG 68-69.

On 3 Jul 44 the Auxiliary Vessels Board directed the acquisition of 54 ships from the Maritime Commission including eight Liberty ships, six for conversion to combined barracks, issue and distilling ships (AG 73-78) and two for conversion to ARG 16-17, similar to the ARG 2-11 class. The hulls were to be taken over incomplete but capable of steaming under their own power for conversion by the Navy.

Ship Notes:

ARG	Name	MCE	Notes
2	LUZON	981	Ex merc. SAMUEL BOWLES. Delivered 86.3% complete. Converted by Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1946-50 (decommissioned 24 Jun 47, recommissioned 20 Sep 50). To NDRF 25 Aug 60, to buyer 8 Oct 74.
3	MINDANAO	983	Ex merc. ELBERT HUBBARD. Delivered 86.2% complete. Converted by Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1946-61. To NDRF 9 May 61. Delivered by MA to Florida 12 Mar 80 for use as a fish reef.
4	TUTUILA	1779	Ex merc. ARTHUR P. GORMAN. Delivered 80.0% complete. Converted by Maryland DD, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1946-51 (decommissioned 7 Dec 46, recommissioned 7 May 51). Trf. (sold) to Taiwan as PIEN TAI. Reportedly replaced as repair ship 1974 by YU TAI (ex-USS CADMUS, AR-14), may have served as a supply ship into 1979.
5	OAHU	1782	Ex merc. CALEB C. WHEELER. Delivered 80.0% complete. Converted by Maryland DD, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1946-62. To NDRF 13 Mar 62, to buyer 7 Jun 78.
6	CEBU	1805	Ex merc. FRANCIS P. DUFFY. Delivered 80.0% complete. Converted by Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1946-61. To NDRF 4 Aug 61, to buyer 14 Nov 73.
7	CULEBRA ISLAND	1830	Ex merc. JOHN F. GOUCHER. Delivered 80.0% complete. Converted by Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1946-61. To NDRF 1 Aug 61, to buyer 25 Jan 74.
8	LEYTE	2595	Renamed MAUI 31 May 45. Delivered 79.9% complete. Converted by Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1946-61. To NDRF 13 Jun 61, to buyer 2 Nov 72.
9	MONA ISLAND	2634	Delivered 79.9% complete. Converted by Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1947-61. To NDRF 24 Oct 61. To Virginia for use as a fish reef 25 Mar 74, delivered by MA 27 Feb 75, sunk 20 Aug 75.
10	PALAWAN	2668	Delivered 79.9% complete. Ferry comm. 29 Aug 44. Converted by Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1946-62. To NDRF 14 Mar 62. Delivered by MA to California 1 Nov 76 for use as a fish reef, sunk 13 Sep 77 off Redondo Beach.
11	SAMAR	2683	Delivered 79.9% complete. Converted by Bethlehem Steel, Key Highway, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1947-61. To NDRF 12 Oct 61, to buyer 25 Jan 74.
16	KERMIT ROOSEVELT	2680	Ex USS DEAL ISLAND 29 Sep 44, ex merc. KERMIT ROOSEVELT. Delivered 79.9% complete. Converted by Maryland DD, Baltimore, Md. Continuously active 1945-59. To buyer 25 Aug 60.
17	HOOPER ISLAND	2682	Ex merc. BERT McDOWELL. Delivered 79.9% complete. Converted by Maryland DD, Baltimore, Md. In USN reserve 1946-51 (decommissioned 24 Jan 48, recommissioned 12 Apr 52). To NDRF 2 May 60, to buyer 5 Nov 70.