USS ''Proserpine'' (ARL-21) was one of 39
''Achelous''-class landing craft
Landing craft are small and medium seagoing watercraft, such as boats and barges, used to convey a landing force (infantry and vehicles) from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. The term excludes landing ships, which are larger. Pr ...
repair ships built for the
United States Navy during
World War II. Named for
Proserpine (a
Latinized form of
Persephone, from
Greek mythology; the daughter of
Zeus and
Demeter
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Demeter (; Attic: ''Dēmḗtēr'' ; Doric: ''Dāmā́tēr'') is the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth. Although s ...
, abducted by
Hades
Hades (; grc-gre, ᾍδης, Háidēs; ), in the ancient Greek religion and myth, is the god of the dead and the king of the underworld, with which his name became synonymous. Hades was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea, although this also ...
(Pluto) and made his wife), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
Originally laid down as ''LST–1116'' by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company 2 October 1944; launched 28 December 1944; and commissioned 9 January 1945. After drydocking in
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...
LST–1116 commenced shakedown in
St. Andrews Bay,
Florida 31 January 1945. She then decommissioned 15 February at Gibbs Gas Engine Company of
Jacksonville, Florida underwent conversion, and recommissioned as USS ''Proserpine'' (ARL–21), a landing craft repair ship, 31 May 1945.
Service history
1st commission
Assigned to Commander, Amphibious Force, Atlantic for shakedown, ''Proserpine'' operated out of
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James River, James, Nansemond River, Nansemond and Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's ...
, Virginia from 14 June through 6 July. Thereafter passing via the
Windward Passage and the
Panama Canal, she called at
San Diego, California 4 August. Three weeks later she was at
Pearl Harbor. From there she moved on to provide mobile repair services at
Eniwetok through 16 September, at
Guam through 6 October, and at
Leyte in the
Philippine Islands through 1 April 1946.
By the end of April, 1946 ''Proserpine'' stood out of Pearl Harbor and proceed via the Panama Canal,
Houston, and
New Orleans for
Mayport, Florida, arriving there 1 May. She decommissioned and was placed in reserve at
Green Cove Springs, Florida 18 January 1947.
2nd commission
Reactivation of ''Proserpine'' commenced 19 September 1950, and she recommissioned 27 October 1950. She entered drydock at Merrill-Stevens Shipyard, Jacksonville on 21 November, after which she commenced refresher training in
Chesapeake Bay. ''Proserpine'' returned to
Little Creek, Virginia and commenced repair activities 1 April 1951. Through 1955 she operated at the Amphibious Base, Little Creek, with regular training cruises into the
Virginia Capes Operating Areas, and periodic short deployments to the
Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
.
Placed in reserve at Little Creek 15 February 1956, she decommissioned 24 May and remained in reserve until sold 26 September 1960 to the Interamerican Standard Company of
New York City. Her final fate is unknown.
References
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External links
ARL-21 ''Proserpine'' 1953 Cruisebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Proserpine (ARL-21)
Achelous-class repair ships
Achelous-class repair ships converted from LST-542-class ships
World War II auxiliary ships of the United States
Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States
Ships built in Seneca, Illinois
1944 ships