USS Fabius (ARVA-5) Class

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USS Fabius (ARVA-5)
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Class:        FABIUS (ARVA-5)
Design:        Navy LST
Displacement (tons):        1,753 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: both)
Later armaments:        --
Complement:        --
Speed (kts.):        11.6
Propulsion (HP):        1,800
Machinery:        G.M. diesels, 2 screws

Construction:

ARVA	Name	Reclas.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
5	FABIUS	14 Dec 44	American Bridge, Ambridge	12 Jan 45	11 Apr 45	7 Jun 45
6	MEGARA	14 Dec 44	American Bridge, Ambridge	22 Jan 45	25 Apr 45	27 Jun 45

Disposition:

ARVA	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
5	FABIUS	4 Apr 52	1 Jun 73	29 Jan 74	Sold	--
6	MEGARA	16 Jan 56	1 Jun 73	1 Oct 73	Trf.	--

Class Notes:
FY 1944 (Landing craft program). On 7 Mar 44 the Bureau of Aeronautics recommended that some ships be configured to repair aircraft engines and airframes in the forward area. On 27 Oct 44 CominCh directed the conversion of 11 new construction LST's to tenders, including four aircraft repair ships (ARV's) plus three tenders for salvage craft (ARST 1-3) and four "mother ships for small craft" (AKS 16-19, later APB 45-48). On 4 Nov 44 CNO initiated action to make 4 LST's available for conversion to aircraft repair ships. The number of repair shops listed by BuAer as necessary for an ARV required the division of its functions between two LST's, and the decision was made to have one specialize in airframe repairs (the ARVA) and one in engine repairs (the ARVE). The design of both was based on the plans for ARL-10. The ships 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.

An Aviation Circular Letter of 2 Feb 51 states that the ARVA's and ARVE's were to operate in Aircraft Repair Ship Units consisting of one ship of each type. Their ultimate operational objective was to beach and put mobile units ashore--this would enable them to conduct full line maintenance of aircraft in support of an advanced base which they could not do while afloat due to their inability to handle complete aircraft on board. They were not expected to carry a full supply of spare parts--these were to be supplied by ships of the AVS or other types. After up to three months on the beach they were to withdraw for re-outfitting and use elsewhere. In late 1945, MEGARA (ARVA-6) was the senior ship of ARV Unit II and CHLORIS (ARVE-4) was the junior ship. The same two ships operated together as Aircraft Repair Division TWO after their recommissioning in 1951 while the other two ships were recommissioned in 1950 as Aircraft Repair Division ONE.

Ship Notes:

ARVA	Name	Notes
5	FABIUS	Ex LST-1093 14 Dec 44. Ferry commission (for transit from builder to New Orleans) 30 May-7 Jun 45. In USN reserve 1946-50 (decommissioned 30 Aug 46, recommissioned 28 Jul 50) and 1951-73. To buyer 27 Feb 74.
6	MEGARA	Ex LST-1095 14 Dec 44. Ferry commission 19-27 Jun 45. In USN reserve 1946-50 (decommissioned 4 Jun 46, recommissioned 5 Jan 51) and 1955-73. Trf. to Mexico as GENERAL VICENTE GUERRERO. Renamed RIO GRIJALVA 1993 and VICENTE GUERRERO 2001. Still in service 2002.