USS Pontus (AGP-20)

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The pontoon drydock assigned to USS LST-201, circa 1944.
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Images of LST-201 as Pontus (AGP-20) are wanted.

Class:        PONTUS (LST type, AGP-20)
Design:        Navy LST
Displacement (tons):        1,490 lt. (as LST), 4,100 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        328.0' oa, 316.0' pp x 50.0' e x 11.2' lim.
Original Armament:        1-3"/50 1-40mmS 6-20mm (1944)
Later armaments:        1-3"/50 1-40mmS 8-20mm (1945)
Complement:        --
Speed (kts.):        11.6
Propulsion (HP):        1,800
Machinery:        G.M. diesels, 2 screws

Construction:

AGP	Name	Reclas.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
20	PONTUS	15 Aug 44	Chicago Bridge, Seneca	13 Jul 42	2 Mar 43	2 Apr 43

Disposition:

AGP	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
20	PONTUS	2 Apr 46	1 May 46	26 Nov 47	MC/D	26 Nov 47

Class Notes:
This LST was only reclassified to AGP in mid-1944, but she operated as a MTB tender from essentially the beginning of her career. LST-201 arrived at Brisbane, Australia, from the U.S. east coast on 11 Aug 43 and was sent two weeks later to Mackay, Australia for partial conversion to a PT-boat tender. Between 26 August and 9 October the destroyer tender DOBBIN installed water distillers, a huge machine shop and a carpenter shop on the tank deck, extra generators, and a ten-tone Lorraine crane forward on the top deck. The final touches were put on this conversion work after LST-201 arrived at her first operational base, Milne Bay, New Guinea, on 18 Oct 43. Lacking an "A" frame hoist for raising PT boats out of the water for hull, shaft, and screw repairs, LST-201 took alongside a pontoon drydock which lifted the boats. Plans by the Navy Department in late 1943 to further convert her and redesignate her ARTEMIS (AGP-16) were cancelled because she was involved in intensive operations in New Guinea and could not be spared. The name PONTUS and classification AGP-20 were approved for her on 21 Jul 44 to take effect on 15 August. PONTUS left for Brisbane on 24 Aug 44 for a complete overhaul and additional conversion, the latter including additional living compartments, enlarged repair facilities, improvements to the radio shack, and torpedo racks and a new shop on the tank deck. This work was completed on 17 Oct 44. The bow doors of PONTUS were fully functional and she beached several times during her career to load supplies and otherwise support her PT boats.

See the REMUS (ARL-40) class for two other improvised LST conversions with somewhat similar histories.

Ship Notes:

AGP	Name	Notes
20	PONTUS	Ex LST-201 15 Aug 44. Ferry commission 24 Mar 43. Sold by MC as LST-201 for scrap.