USS Xanthus (AR-19)

USS "Xanthus" (AR-19) was a "Xanthus"-class repair ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of providing repairs to the fleet. She was named after the Xanthus, a mythical beast.

"Xanthus" was laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 2664) as "Hecla" on 6 June 1944 at Baltimore, Maryland, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Inc.; launched on 31 July 1944; sponsored by Mrs. J.W.A. Waller; delivered to the Navy on a loan basis on 16 August 1944; renamed "Xanthus" and designated "AR-19" on 6 December 1944; and commissioned on 9 May 1945, Comdr. Stanley G. Nichols in command.

World War II operations

Following training operations and a transit of the Panama Canal, "Xanthus" arrived at Pearl Harbor on 20 July to serve there as a repair ship. On 11 August, she sailed for Adak, Alaska, to join forces massing there for the projected assaults on the Kurils and northern Japan. The Japanese capitulation, however, obviated such operations. Instead of an invasion -- there was now an occupation.

End-of-war activity

As part of Task Group (TG) 40.2, "Xanthus" proceeded to Japan and arrived at Ominato on 9 September -- the same date that Japanese forces there surrendered to Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher. The ship remained at Ominato through 21 November, serving as flagship for the commander of TG 56.2, the repair and logistics group. Subsequently reporting for duty with Service Squadron 104, the ship operated out of Okinawa through late January 1946.

China operations

On 10 February 1946, "Xanthus" sailed for Tsingtao, China, and helped to stabilize troubled conditions there in the wake of the Japanese withdrawal. As Communist and Nationalist Chinese jockeyed for position in the volatile situation in their country, "Xanthus" supported American naval activities in that port until sailing for home on 8 April 1946.

Return to Stateside

Subsequently arriving at Norfolk, Virginia, in the spring of that year, the repair ship was laid up at the Maritime Commission facility in the James River, Virginia, in an "on hand" status, through 1961.

Post-war decommissioning

On 1 September 1962, the ship was struck from the Navy list. In 1974, she was sold for scrapping in Cleveland, Ohio.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* World War II

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/25/2519.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AR-19 Xanthus]