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USS ''ARD-10'' was an
Account
of a sailor on the ''Yuma'' during her journey with ''ARD-10'' to Australia
*Visible Letters 'ARD 10' on aft hull of background ship in the Clint Eastwood movie, "Magnum Force", visible just over Hal Holbrook's shoulder in final scene of the film at San Francisco Dock 54. ARD-2-class floating drydocks Ships built in Alameda, California 1943 ships World War II auxiliary ships of the United States Floating drydocks of the United States Navy {{US-mil-ship-stub
USS ''ARD-10'' was an auxiliary repair dock
An auxiliary repair dock (ARD) is a type of floating drydock employed by the U.S. Navy, especially during World War II. The Navy commissioned 33 ARD vessels: ARD-1 through ARD-33. ARDs were self-sustaining in World War II. ARDs have a rudder to h ...
in the service of 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 ...
in 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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
as an auxiliary floating drydock
An auxiliary floating drydock is a type of US Navy floating dry dock. Floating dry docks are able to submerge underwater and to be placed under a ship in need of repair below the water line. Water is then pumped out of the floating dry dock, ...
, built by Pacific Bridge Company
Pacific Bridge Company was a large engineering and construction company. During World War II, Pacific Bridge Company of Alameda, California was selected to build US Navy Auxiliary Repair Docks (ARD) a type of Auxiliary floating drydock and Ty ...
. As was common with other auxiliary repair docks, the ship was only known by her designation and was not otherwise named.
''ARD-10'' was commissioned in Alameda, California
Alameda ( ; ; Spanish for " tree-lined path") is a city in Alameda County, California, located in the East Bay region of the Bay Area. The city is primarily located on Alameda Island, but also spans Bay Farm Island and Coast Guard Island, as we ...
in October 1943. She was towed by from San Francisco, California
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...
on 12 December 1943 first to Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mounta ...
, Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...
and then on to Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metro ...
on 1 February 1944. ''Yuma'' and ''ARD-10'' finally arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive fo ...
, on 6 March 1944. There ''ARD-10'' served the submarine base until end of the war.
''ARD-10'' returned to the United States after in 1946. She was stricken from US Navy service in July 1972 and subsequently sold to Bendershipbuilding Repair Co. of Mexico. the ship was still operational.
''ARD-10'' was a member of the ''ARD-2'' class of Auxiliary Repair Drydocks (ARD). The ''ARD-2'' class of drydocks dates to early World War II and were towed to where they were required, generally forward area anchorages. Five of the 7 ''ARD-2''-class drydocks built are still in existence in foreign navies. The ARD could handle World War II-era ships up to destroyer size.
References
Account
of a sailor on the ''Yuma'' during her journey with ''ARD-10'' to Australia
*Visible Letters 'ARD 10' on aft hull of background ship in the Clint Eastwood movie, "Magnum Force", visible just over Hal Holbrook's shoulder in final scene of the film at San Francisco Dock 54. ARD-2-class floating drydocks Ships built in Alameda, California 1943 ships World War II auxiliary ships of the United States Floating drydocks of the United States Navy {{US-mil-ship-stub