USS ''Midas'' (ARB-5) was planned as a
United States Navy , but was redesignated as one of twelve
''Aristaeus''-class battle damage repair ships built for the
United States Navy during
World War II. Named for
Midas (in
Greek mythology, the king of
Phrygia
In classical antiquity, Phrygia ( ; grc, Φρυγία, ''Phrygía'' ) was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now Asian Turkey, centered on the Sangarios River. After its conquest, it became a region of the great empires ...
, whose touch turned all to gold), she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name.
Construction
Laid down as ''LST-514'' on 31 August 1943, by the
Chicago Bridge & Iron Company of
Seneca, Illinois; reclassified and named ''Midas'' (ARB‑5) 3 November 1943; launched 24 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Frederick J. Miller; converted by the
Maryland Drydock Company
The Maryland Drydock Company was a shipbuilding company that operated in Baltimore, Maryland during the 20th century.
The company started life in 1920 as the Globe Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Maryland. Its president at this time was B. C ...
for service as a battle damage repair ship; and commissioned on 23 May 1944, at
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was d ...
, Maryland.
Service history
''Midas'' got underway for the
Pacific, departing
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...
, on 25 June 1944. She arrived off
New Guinea on 26 August, having repaired ships in the
Society Islands and
New Caledonia
)
, anthem = ""
, image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of New Caledonia
, map_caption = Location of New Caledonia
, mapsize = 290px
, subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...
en route. She continued to operate along the northern coast of New Guinea until late in October, when ordered to the
Philippines, arriving on 12 November, as the first
7th Fleet repair ship at
San Pedro,
Leyte.
During her stay she witnessed numerous air attacks. She shot down an aircraft on 27 November, and she repaired ships of all types, readying them for further operations in the Philippines. After 25 May 1945, she continued her battle damage and routine repair work from
Guiuan Roadstead
Guiuan ( giˌwan; war, Bungto han Guiuan, fil, Bayan ng Guiuan), officially the Municipality of Guiuan, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines. It constitutes the southeastern extremity of Samar Island and ...
,
Samar, in the Philippine Islands. With the end of the war, ''Midas'' centered more on mine damaged hulls. Short handed as a result of men transferred for discharge, she steamed for home on 10 December, arriving
San Francisco on 17 January 1946.
Post-war service
''Midas'' served in the
12th Naval District
The naval district was a U.S. Navy military and administrative command ashore. Apart from Naval District Washington, the Districts were disestablished and renamed Navy Regions about 1999, and are now under Commander, Naval Installations Command ...
until transferred to
San Diego in May. The repair ship was placed in
reserve, in commission, on 30 November 1946, as part of the 19th Fleet. She was decommissioned on 17 January 1947. Transferred to the
Maritime Commission (MARCOM) for lay up in the
National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, California. She was struck from the
Naval Vessel Register on 15 April 1976. Disposed of by
MARAD
Marad (Sumerian: Marda, modern Tell Wannat es-Sadum or Tell as-Sadoum, Iraq) was an ancient Near Eastern city. Marad was situated on the west bank of the then western branch of the Upper Euphrates River west of Nippur in modern-day Iraq and roug ...
sale on 19 November 1980, sold to
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
, and retained her name, ''Midas''.
Awards
''Midas'' received one
battle stars for World War II service.
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
Online resources
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Midas (Arb-5)
Aristaeus-class repair ships
Aristaeus-class repair ships converted from LST-491-class ships
Ships built in Seneca, Illinois
1943 ships
World War II auxiliary ships of the United States
Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego