USS Aventinus (ARVE-3) Class

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USS Aventinus (ARVE-3) on 5 June 1951
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Class:        AVENTINUS (ARVE-3)
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:

ARVE	Name	Reclas.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
3	AVENTINUS	14 Dec 44	American Bridge, Ambridge	8 Jan 45	24 Mar 45	30 May 45
4	CHLORIS	14 Dec 44	American Bridge, Ambridge	17 Jan 45	21 Apr 45	19 Jun 45

Disposition:

ARVE	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
3	AVENTINUS	4 Apr 52	25 Jun 92	23 Aug 63	Trf.	--
4	CHLORIS	9 Dec 55	1 Jun 73	25 Apr 74	Sold	--

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:

ARVE	Name	Notes
3	AVENTINUS	Ex LST-1092 14 Dec 44. Ferry commission (for transit from builder to New Orleans) 19-30 May 45. In USN reserve 1946-50 (decommissioned 30 Aug 46, recommissioned 25 Jul 50) and 1951-63. Trf. to Chile as AGUILA. Grounded in storm at Valparaiso 10 Apr 80, salvaged and decomm. Hulk sold to Chile June 1992.
4	CHLORIS	Ex LST-1094 14 Dec 44. Ferry commission 8-19 Jun 45. In USN reserve 1946-50 (decommissioned 18 Jun 46, recommissioned 5 Jan 51) and 1955-73. To buyer 14 Jun 74.