USS Romulus (ARL-22)

The USS "Romulus" (ARL-22) was one of 39 "Achelous"-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Romulus (along with Remus, one of the legendary twin sons of Mars and the Vestal Rhea Silvia), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

"Romulus" was laid down as "LST-962" on 17 October 1944 by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Hingham, Massachusetts; launched 15 November 1944; and commissioned 9 December 1944 with Lieutenant George R. Hoell, USNR, in command. On 10 December LST-962 shifted to the Boston Navy Yard, and on the 11th departed for Jacksonville, Florida where she entered the Gibbs Gas Engine Works yard for conversion to a landing craft repair ship (ARL). Decommissioned on 8 January 1945, she was recommissioned on 10 May as USS "Romulus" (ARL-22). After shakedown, "Romulus" sailed for the Pacific. Transiting the Panama Canal in late June, she reached the Marianas in August and for a short time tended and repaired landing craft at Apra Harbor, Guam, and Tanapag Harbor, Saipan. In early September she continued west. From 25 September 1945 to 3 September 1946, she provided tender and repair services at the Yokosuka Naval Base, Honshū-, Japan. Then ordered to Okinawa, she served in a similar capacity at Buckner Bay into December. Departing the Ryukyus early in the month, she visited Hong Kong, then continued on to the United States. Arriving at San Pedro, California on 3 February 1947 she was decommissioned on 12 May and berthed with the Reserve Fleet at San Diego. Recommissioned at San Diego on 2 April 1952 "Romulus" remained on the west coast until January 1953. On the 31st, she sailed for the Far East, arriving at Yokosuka on 6 March. Operations servicing amphibious ships then took the ARL to the ports of Nagoya, Sasebo, Buckner Bay, and Nagasaki. At the end of May, she shifted to Inchon, Korea where she was assigned station ship and repair facility duty in support of U.N. forces in the area. Back in Japan from mid-June through July, she again served U.N. forces at Inchon from 2 to 26 August. She departed Yokosuka on 6 September and returned to San Diego on 5 October. "Romulus" remained in the 1st Fleet until 3 January 1955 when she sailed once more for Yokosuka and Sasebo, Japan, and her last tender duty with the 7th Fleet. Returning to San Diego on 27 April, "Romulus" briefly operated there, then prepared for inactivation. In January, 1956 she steamed to Astoria, Oregon. Six months later, on 1 June 1956, she was decommissioned and berthed with the Columbia River Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 October 1960 she was transferred, under the terms of the Military Assistance Program, to the Republic of the Philippines in November, 1961 and recommissioned as BRP "Aklan" (AR-67). Renamed "Kamagong" in 1975, the repair ship remained in the Philippine Navy until retired in 1989. "Romulus" earned one battle star during the Korean conflict.

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