- USS Cebu (ARG-6)
The USS "Cebu" (ARG-6) was a sclass|Luzon|internal combustion engine repair ship in the service of the
United States Navy inWorld War II . Named after Cebu, an island in thePhilippines , it was the second ship of the Navy to bear this name."Cebu" was laid down
21 September 1943 asLiberty ship SS "Francis P. Duffey" (MCE hull 1805) byBethlehem Fairfield Shipyard ,Baltimore, Maryland , under aMaritime Commission contract; launched18 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. M. C. Bird; acquired by the Navy27 October 1943 and commissioned15 April 1944 , Captain G. W. Scott in command."Cebu"'s special mission was providing shops and trained men for the repair of
internal combustion engine s, but through the course of the war, her men performed a variety of tasks, ranging from the repairing of ship's clocks to major work onbattleship s. She arrived at Manus in theAdmiralty Islands 10 September 1944 . At this fleet base, she prepared small craft and larger ships for their role in the Philippine operations, working many times around the clock in order to insure the readiness of ships vital to the invasion assaults.At Manus on
10 November 1944, "Cebu" was anchored only 800 yards from USS|Mount Hood|AE-11|2 when the ammunition ship exploded, showering "Cebu"'s decks with bomb fragments and heavy projectiles. Five of her men were killed and six wounded, but quick work prevented serious damage to the ship itself. She was able to continue her work without interruption, preparing ships for the Lingayen andIwo Jima assaults."Cebu" was stationed at
Ulithi from22 January 1945 to12 February when she sailed for San Pedro Bay. Her work continued at a furious rate as victims of suicide attacks required immediate repairs. Her services to small craft at Cebu Island continued until21 September , when she sailed for occupation duties atOkinawa andJapan until11 March 1946 ."Cebu" prepared at
Pearl Harbor from29 March 1946 to11 May for her role supporting the atomic tests ofOperation Crossroads at Bikini andKwajalein in the summer of 1946. She arrived at San Diego28 September , and was placed out of commission in reserve atStockton, California ,30 June 1947 . "Cebu" was scrapped in 1973."Cebu" received one
battle star for World War II service.References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c5/cebu.htm
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