USS Laysan Island (ARST-1) Class

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USS Okala (ARST-2) in Puget Sound in 1946
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        LAYSAN ISLAND (ARST-1)
Design:        Navy LST
Displacement (tons):        1,949 light, 4,100 lim.
Dimensions (feet):        328.0' oa, 316.0' pp x 50.0' e x 11.2' lim
Original Armament:        2-40mmQ 6-20mmT (1945: ARST 1-2)
Later armaments:        2-40mmQ 8-20mmS (1945: ARST-3);
6-20mmT (1946-47: ARST-1)
Complement:        269
Speed (kts.):        11.6
Propulsion (HP):        1,800
Machinery:        G.M. diesels, 2 screws

Construction:

ARST	Name	Reclas.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
1	LAYSAN ISLAND	14 Dec 44	Jeffersonville Boat & Mach	6 Dec 44	27 Jan 45	5 Jun 45
2	OKALA	14 Dec 44	Jeffersonville Boat & Mach	1 Dec 44	8 Feb 45	28 Jun 45
3	PALMYRA	14 Dec 44	Jeffersonville Boat & Mach	11 Dec 44	20 Feb 45	28 Jul 45

Disposition:

ARST	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
1	LAYSAN ISLAND	21 Apr 47	1 Jun 73	29 Jan 74	Sold	--
2	OKALA	5 Aug 46	15 Oct 46	13 Aug 47	MC	25 Jul 47
3	PALMYRA	20 Jun 47	1 Jun 73	22 Apr 74	Sold	--

Class Notes:
FY 1944 (Landing craft program). On 14 Aug 44 Commander Service Forces, Pacific Fleet, requested that three LST's be converted along the lines of the AGP conversions to serve as salvage tenders. These would support the salvage vessels and tugs that participated in amphibious operations and would carry large items such as salvage pumps, air compressors, anchors, etc., as well as plates, timbers and other repair materials and firefighting equipment for issue to the smaller ships. They were also to have extra divers and other critical personnel on board, repair facilities to maintain the smaller vessels, and additional boats, lifting gear, etc., that the smaller ships could not accommodate. On 27 Oct 44 CominCh directed the conversion of 11 new construction LST's to tenders, including the three tenders for salvage craft plus four aircraft repair ships and four "mother ships for small craft." The ships, subsequently designated ARST 1-3, ARVE 3-4, ARVA 5-6, and AKS 16-19 (later APB 45-48), were built under their LST contracts and modified to tenders by their builder during construction. They were placed in reduced commission for ferrying down the Mississippi River and commissioned in full at New Orleans.

Ship Notes:

ARST	Name	Notes
1	LAYSAN ISLAND	Ex LST-1098 14 Dec 44. Ferry commission (for transit from builder to New Orleans) 25 May-5 Jun 45. In USN reserve 1946-73
2	OKALA	Ex LST-1099 14 Dec 44. Ferry commission 19-28 Jun 45. To buyer 13 Aug 47 (in Navy records as 21 Aug 47, also reported as 2 Sep 47). Merc. SAIPAN 1948, SAIPAN MARU 1953.
3	PALMYRA	Ex LST-1100 14 Dec 44. Ferry commission 18-28 Jul 45. In USN reserve 1946-73