USS ''Quirinus'' (ARL-39), originally ''LST-1151'', 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
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. Named for
Quirinus
In Roman mythology and religion, Quirinus ( , ) is an early god of the Roman state. In Augustan Rome, ''Quirinus'' was also an epithet of Janus, as ''Janus Quirinus''.
Name
Attestations
The name of god Quirinus is recorded across Roman sourc ...
(in
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of myths of ancient Rome as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans. One of a wide variety of genres of Roman folklore, ''Roman mythology'' may also refer to the modern study of these representat ...
, an early god of the Roman state, identified with
Romulus
Romulus () was the legendary foundation of Rome, founder and King of Rome, first king of Ancient Rome, Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus ...
), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
Initial operations
''LST-1151'' was laid down 3 March 1945 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company of
Seneca, Illinois
Seneca is a village in LaSalle County, Illinois, LaSalle and Grundy County, Illinois, Grundy counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 2,353 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 2,371 at the 2010 United States c ...
. The ship was then launched 4 June 1945 and placed in reduced commission 15 June 1945. Following initial commissioning, ''Quirinus'' steamed down the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...
to
, then proceeded to
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
where she decommissioned for the completion of conversion to a landing craft repair vessel. Commissioned in full 6 November 1945 she completed shakedown in
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the ...
and, on 23 January 1946 got underway for the Caribbean.
Caribbean service
On the 29th, she reported to TU 29.6.1 at
Guantanamo Bay, and remained there until she returned, briefly, to Norfolk in May. Reassigned to the 8th Fleet (TG 80.7), she anchored in Guantanamo Bay again 18 April. Abbreviated tours there and at
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...
preceded her return to Norfolk 8 June. She operated as a unit of Boat Pool No. 4 until reporting for duty with the 2nd Task Fleet, 1 February 1947. For the next six weeks, she cruised in 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 ...
, returning to
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 ...
15 March. In late June, she shifted to
Charleston
Charleston most commonly refers to:
* Charleston, South Carolina
* Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital
* Charleston (dance)
Charleston may also refer to:
Places Australia
* Charleston, South Australia
Canada
* Charleston, Newfoundlan ...
to begin inactivation.
Decommissioning and transfer
Officially becoming a unit of the Florida Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet on the 27th, she decommissioned and was berthed at
Green Cove Springs, Florida until June 1962. She was then transferred on loan, under the Military Assistance Program, to the government of Venezuela. Renamed ''Guayana'' (T-18), she served that country into 1970.
References
*
navsource.org: LST-1151 / ARL-39 ''Quirinus''
External links
at navsource.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quirinus (Arl-39)
Achelous-class repair ships
LST-542-class tank landing ships
Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States
Ships built in Seneca, Illinois
1945 ships
Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela