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.
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). |