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USS ABSD-4

May 09, 2024

USS ABSD-4, later redesignated as AFDB-4, was a nine-section, non-self-propelled, large auxiliary floating drydock of the US Navy. Advance Base Sectional Dock-4 (Auxiliary Floating Dock Big-4) was constructed in sections during 1942 and 1943 by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California for World War II. With all ten sections joined, she was 927 feet long, 28 feet tall (keel to welldeck), and with an inside clear width of 133 feet 7 inches. ABSD-4 had a traveling 15-ton capacity crane with an 85-foot radius and two or more support barges. The two side walls were folded down under tow to reduce wind resistance and lower the center of gravity. ABSD-4 had 6 capstans for pulling, each rated at 24,000 lbf (110,000 N) at 30 ft/min (0.15 m/s), 4 of the capstans were reversible. There were also 4 ballast compartments in each section.[1] [2][3]

USS ABSD-4
ABSD-4 background in Seeadler Harbor with ABSD-2 (foreground) in September 1945
History
United States
NameUSS AFDB-4 - ABSD-4
OwnerUS Navy
BuilderMare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California
Laid down1942 and 1943
Completed1944
Recommissioned1946 to AFDB-4
Out of service30 April 1945
Stricken15 April 1989
Honors and
awards		 American Campaign Medal

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal

National Defense Service Medal
FatePartly sunk in place at Lombrum Naval Base
General characteristics
Displacement38,500 (in ten sections)
Length927 ft (283 m) (in ten sections)
Beam256 ft 0 in (78.03 m)
Height9 ft (2.7 m) floated, 78 ft (24 m) flooded
Propulsionnone
Capacity90,000 tons lift
Complement690 officers and men
Armamentnone
USS ABSD-4 ballast pontoons and moor chains at Seeadler Harbor at Admiralty Islands
USS New York (BB-34) repaired ABSD-4 in March 1945. New York here is cleaned and painted

World War II edit

The ABSD-4 floating drydock departed California in 1944 and made the voyage across the Pacific Ocean in convoys in 48 days. USS ABSD-4 sections were reassembled at Espiritu Santo Naval Base at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), in the South Pacific Ocean. Once assembled in the fall of 1944 she was moved for operation at Seeadler Harbor (also called Port Seeadler), at Admiralty Islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea also called the Manus Islands, after the largest island there, at Manus Naval Base. USS ABSD-4 sister ship USS ABSD-2 also worked at Seeadler Harbor during the war. ABSD-4 repaired the large ships in the US Navy and United Kingdom's Royal Navy during World War II. Able to lift 90,000 tons ABSD-2 could raise large ships like, aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, and large auxiliary ships, out the water for repair below the ship's waterline. She was also used to repair multiple smaller ships at the same time. Ships in continuous use during war need repair both from wear and from war damage from naval mine and torpedoes. Rudders and propellers are best serviced on dry docks. Without ABSD-4 and her sister ships, at remote locations months could be lost in a ships returning to a home port for repair. ABSD-4 had provisions for the repair crew, such bunk beds, meals, and laundry. ABSD-4 had power stations, ballast pumps, repair shops, machine shops, and mess halls to be self-sustaining. ABSD-2 had two rail track moveable cranes able to lift tons of material and parts for removing damage parts and install new parts.[4][2][5] [6]
[7][3]

Some of the ships repaired:

Attacked edit

Near the end of the war on April 22, 1945 at 2pm a Mitsubishi A6M Zero two seater plane piloted by Shimbo and Ensign Chuhei Okubo in the second seat, overflew Seeadler Harbor at 14,000 feet. They saw what they thought were two "aircraft carriers", but here actually empty floating dry docks ABSD-4 and ABSD-2. On April 27, 1945 at about 11:15pm a three Nakajima B5N a Japanese Zero fighter aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy flying from Truk flew over ABSD-4, one plane dropped an aerial torpedo and it hit one of the pontoons tanks of ABSD-4 damaging the dry dock. At the time of the attacked ABSD-4 was repairing a cargo ship, Landing Ship, Tank (LST) ship and a seaplane tender ship. The seaplane tender was loaded with ammunition and under an emergency repair. She was repaired and returned to service. On the same day shortly after ABSD-4 was hit, ABSD-2 was hit by an aerial torpedo into pontoon tank in section G, damaging the dry dock. ABSD-2 was repaired and returned to service.[9][10][11][12] [13][14][15]

Post-war edit

After the war ABSD-4, ABSD-4 was reclassified AFDB-4 and was taken out of service. ABSD-4 was left in Seeadler Harbor off Lombrum Point at Lombrum Naval Base. ABSD-4 was officially decommissioned and struck from the US Navy register on April 15, 1989. ABSD-4 is now a shipwreck that is partially sunk. The outer walls of the ABSD-4 remain above the water line. She rest at Lombrum, Papua New Guinea, GPS coordinates: 2°02′36″S 147°24′24″E / 2.043333°S 147.406667°E / -2.043333; 147.406667.[16][2][17]

See also edit

External links edit

  • pacificwrecks.com ABSD-4 and ABSD-2
  • pacificwrecks, Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock AFDL-12 inside ABSD-4 in Seeadler Harbor
  • pacificwrecks, ABSD-4 sunk side view
  • pacificwrecks, ABSD-4 sunk front view
  • Youtube, BATTLESHIP USS IDAHO REPAIRED AT ESPIRITU SANTO in 1944 in USS Artisan (ABSD-1)1
  • Youtube, August 15, 1944 mighty battleship Idaho at ABSD-1
  • Youtube, Floating Dry Docks WWII

References edit

  1. ^ ww2db.com, ABSD-2
  2. ^ a b c Building the Navy's Bases in World War II, History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946 Chapter IX, Floating Drydocks
  3. ^ a b Navsource - AFDB-4
  4. ^ USS ABSD-1 [1943-1946]
  5. ^ US Navy AFDL-6
  6. ^ US Navy 80-G-354318 Naval Amphibious Base, Manus, Admiralty Islands
  7. ^ US Navy Department, Manual of Advanced Base Development and Maintenance, April 1945
  8. ^ navsource, USS New York (BB-34)
  9. ^ Pacific Wrecks, ABSD-2 Floating Dry Dock 2
  10. ^ The Siege of Rabaul, by Henry Sakaida, 1996, page 79-85
  11. ^ US Navy, NH 96177 USS ABSD-2
  12. ^ US Navy NH 96176 USS ABSD-2
  13. ^ The Siege of Rabaul, by Henry Sakaida, a Phalanx book, 1996
  14. ^ rootsweb.com, Jack Jackson aboard ABSD-2
  15. ^ War is Hell, November 12, 2014
  16. ^ "Floating Dry-Docks (AFDB, AFDM, AFDL, ARD, ARDM, YFD)". shipbuildinghistory.com. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  17. ^ pacificwrecks.com AFDB-4 pacificwrecks.com, ABSD-4 - AFDB-4

May 09, 2024
absd, later, redesignated, afdb, nine, section, self, propelled, large, auxiliary, floating, drydock, navy, advance, base, sectional, dock, auxiliary, floating, dock, constructed, sections, during, 1942, 1943, mare, island, naval, shipyard, vallejo, california. USS ABSD 4 later redesignated as AFDB 4 was a nine section non self propelled large auxiliary floating drydock of the US Navy Advance Base Sectional Dock 4 Auxiliary Floating Dock Big 4 was constructed in sections during 1942 and 1943 by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo California for World War II With all ten sections joined she was 927 feet long 28 feet tall keel to welldeck and with an inside clear width of 133 feet 7 inches ABSD 4 had a traveling 15 ton capacity crane with an 85 foot radius and two or more support barges The two side walls were folded down under tow to reduce wind resistance and lower the center of gravity ABSD 4 had 6 capstans for pulling each rated at 24 000 lbf 110 000 N at 30 ft min 0 15 m s 4 of the capstans were reversible There were also 4 ballast compartments in each section 1 2 3 USS ABSD 4 ABSD 4 background in Seeadler Harbor with ABSD 2 foreground in September 1945History United States NameUSS AFDB 4 ABSD 4 OwnerUS Navy BuilderMare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo California Laid down1942 and 1943 Completed1944 Recommissioned1946 to AFDB 4 Out of service30 April 1945 Stricken15 April 1989 Honors andawardsAmerican Campaign Medal Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal FatePartly sunk in place at Lombrum Naval Base General characteristics Displacement38 500 in ten sections Length927 ft 283 m in ten sections Beam256 ft 0 in 78 03 m Height9 ft 2 7 m floated 78 ft 24 m flooded Propulsionnone Capacity90 000 tons lift Complement690 officers and men Armamentnone USS ABSD 4 ballast pontoons and moor chains at Seeadler Harbor at Admiralty Islands USS New York BB 34 repaired ABSD 4 in March 1945 New York here is cleaned and painted Contents 1 World War II 2 Attacked 3 Post war 4 See also 5 External links 6 ReferencesWorld War II editThe ABSD 4 floating drydock departed California in 1944 and made the voyage across the Pacific Ocean in convoys in 48 days USS ABSD 4 sections were reassembled at Espiritu Santo Naval Base at Espiritu Santo New Hebrides now Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean Once assembled in the fall of 1944 she was moved for operation at Seeadler Harbor also called Port Seeadler at Admiralty Islands in the Bismarck Archipelago to the north of New Guinea also called the Manus Islands after the largest island there at Manus Naval Base USS ABSD 4 sister ship USS ABSD 2 also worked at Seeadler Harbor during the war ABSD 4 repaired the large ships in the US Navy and United Kingdom s Royal Navy during World War II Able to lift 90 000 tons ABSD 2 could raise large ships like aircraft carriers battleships cruisers and large auxiliary ships out the water for repair below the ship s waterline She was also used to repair multiple smaller ships at the same time Ships in continuous use during war need repair both from wear and from war damage from naval mine and torpedoes Rudders and propellers are best serviced on dry docks Without ABSD 4 and her sister ships at remote locations months could be lost in a ships returning to a home port for repair ABSD 4 had provisions for the repair crew such bunk beds meals and laundry ABSD 4 had power stations ballast pumps repair shops machine shops and mess halls to be self sustaining ABSD 2 had two rail track moveable cranes able to lift tons of material and parts for removing damage parts and install new parts 4 2 5 6 7 3 Some of the ships repaired USS Duluth CL 87 repaired storm damaged on 10 June 1945 completed repairs 5 July back in service USS New York BB 34 repaired early March 1945 repaired propellers and repainted Due to the USS New York 29 ft 7 in 9 02 m draft with a full load the battleship had to unload much of her ammunition and fuel oil before entering AFDB 4 8 USS Allen M Sumner DD 69 repaired on 20 Jan 1945Attacked editNear the end of the war on April 22 1945 at 2pm a Mitsubishi A6M Zero two seater plane piloted by Shimbo and Ensign Chuhei Okubo in the second seat overflew Seeadler Harbor at 14 000 feet They saw what they thought were two aircraft carriers but here actually empty floating dry docks ABSD 4 and ABSD 2 On April 27 1945 at about 11 15pm a three Nakajima B5N a Japanese Zero fighter aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy flying from Truk flew over ABSD 4 one plane dropped an aerial torpedo and it hit one of the pontoons tanks of ABSD 4 damaging the dry dock At the time of the attacked ABSD 4 was repairing a cargo ship Landing Ship Tank LST ship and a seaplane tender ship The seaplane tender was loaded with ammunition and under an emergency repair She was repaired and returned to service On the same day shortly after ABSD 4 was hit ABSD 2 was hit by an aerial torpedo into pontoon tank in section G damaging the dry dock ABSD 2 was repaired and returned to service 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Post war editAfter the war ABSD 4 ABSD 4 was reclassified AFDB 4 and was taken out of service ABSD 4 was left in Seeadler Harbor off Lombrum Point at Lombrum Naval Base ABSD 4 was officially decommissioned and struck from the US Navy register on April 15 1989 ABSD 4 is now a shipwreck that is partially sunk The outer walls of the ABSD 4 remain above the water line She rest at Lombrum Papua New Guinea GPS coordinates 2 02 36 S 147 24 24 E 2 043333 S 147 406667 E 2 043333 147 406667 16 2 17 See also editDry dock Heavy lift ship Hughes Mining Barge PD 50 Russia s largest floating dry dock Semi submersible naval vessel Semi submersible platformExternal links editpacificwrecks com ABSD 4 and ABSD 2 pacificwrecks Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock AFDL 12 inside ABSD 4 in Seeadler Harbor pacificwrecks ABSD 4 sunk side view pacificwrecks ABSD 4 sunk front view Youtube BATTLESHIP USS IDAHO REPAIRED AT ESPIRITU SANTO in 1944 in USS Artisan ABSD 1 1 Youtube August 15 1944 mighty battleship Idaho at ABSD 1 Youtube Floating Dry Docks WWIIReferences edit ww2db com ABSD 2 a b c Building the Navy s Bases in World War II History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940 1946 Chapter IX Floating Drydocks a b Navsource AFDB 4 USS ABSD 1 1943 1946 US Navy AFDL 6 US Navy 80 G 354318 Naval Amphibious Base Manus Admiralty Islands US Navy Department Manual of Advanced Base Development and Maintenance April 1945 navsource USS New York BB 34 Pacific Wrecks ABSD 2 Floating Dry Dock 2 The Siege of Rabaul by Henry Sakaida 1996 page 79 85 US Navy NH 96177 USS ABSD 2 US Navy NH 96176 USS ABSD 2 The Siege of Rabaul by Henry Sakaida a Phalanx book 1996 rootsweb com Jack Jackson aboard ABSD 2 War is Hell November 12 2014 Floating Dry Docks AFDB AFDM AFDL ARD ARDM YFD shipbuildinghistory com 30 April 2015 Retrieved 8 January 2019 pacificwrecks com AFDB 4 pacificwrecks com ABSD 4 AFDB 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS ABSD 4 amp oldid 1174706383, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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