US Navy Auxiliary Ships: Gypsy (ARSD-1) Class

USS Gypsy (ARSD-1) on 25 June 1947
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        GYPSY (ARSD-1)
Design:        Navy LSM
Displacement (tons):        816 light, 1,080 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        224.25' oa, 195.4' pp x 34.0' e x 7.1' lim
Original Armament:        1-20mmT (ARSD 1-2, 1952)
Later armaments:        --
Complement:        --
Speed (kts.):        13.2
Propulsion (HP):        2,800
Machinery:        Diesel, 2 screws

Construction:

ARSD	Name	Reclas.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
1	GYPSY	24 Apr 45	Brown SB, Houston	25 Aug 45	7 Dec 45	28 Feb 46
2	MENDER	24 Apr 45	Brown SB, Houston	25 Aug 45	7 Dec 45	8 Mar 46
3	SALVAGER	24 Apr 45	Brown SB, Houston	27 Aug 45	7 Dec 45	22 Mar 46
4	WINDLASS	24 Apr 45	Brown SB, Houston	27 Aug 45	7 Dec 45	9 Apr 46

Disposition:

ARSD	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
1	GYPSY	1955	1 Jun 73	29 Jan 74	Sold	--
2	MENDER	20 Dec 55	1 Jun 73	29 Jan 74	Sold	--
3	SALVAGER	23 Nov 65	1 Aug 72	6 Mar 73	Sold	--
4	WINDLASS	23 Nov 65	1 Aug 72	6 Mar 73	Sold	--

Class Notes:
FY 1944. On 9 May 1944 CNO directed the construction of 100 LSM's, including LSM 459-552 at Brown SB, Houston and LSM 553-558 at the Charleston Navy Yard. The Brown ships were awarded in two groups, the second being LSM 499-552 on 30 Aug 44. Of this group, many were later designated for construction to extensively modified designs, LSM 501-536 becoming LSMR's on 9 Feb 45 (LSMR 501-24) and 21 Apr 45 and LSM 549-52 becoming ARSD 1-4 on 21 Apr 45.

The authorized armament of the ARSD-1 class as built was two 20mm singles. It was changed in around 1947 to one 20mm twin, but only ARSD 1-2 appear actually to have ever received any weapons. The length of ARSD 1-2 was also recorded as 231.2' oa. The overall length of a regular LSM (without bow horns, etc.) was 203.4'.

Ship Notes:

ARSD	Name	Notes
1	GYPSY	Ex-LSM-549 24 Apr 45. In USN reserve 1947-51 (decommissioned 21 Jan 48, recommissioned 8 Aug 51) and 1955-73.
2	MENDER	Ex-LSM-550 24 Apr 45. In USN reserve 1947-51 (decommissioned 21 Jan 48, recommissioned 12 Sep 51) and 1955-73.
3	SALVAGER	Ex-LSM-551 24 Apr 45. Decommissioned 1965 and custody passed to salvage contractor Merritt Chapman & Scott Corp. To YMLC-3 1 Nov 67.
4	WINDLASS	Ex-LSM-552 24 Apr 45. Decommissioned 1965 and custody passed to salvage contractor Merritt Chapman & Scott Corp. To YMLC-4 1 Nov 67. Sunk in the Ham Luong River, South Vietnam, 15 Nov 68 and stricken 1 Jan 69. Raised, stricken again and sold.