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 for service as a battle damage repair ship; and commissioned on 23 May 1944, at Baltimore, Maryland.[2]
Service history
Midas got underway for the Pacific, departing Norfolk, Virginia, on 25 June 1944. She arrived off New Guinea on 26 August, having repaired ships in the Society Islands and New Caledonia 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.[2]
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, 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.[2]
Post-war service
Midas served in the 12th Naval District 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 sale on 19 November 1980,[2] sold to Colombia, and retained her name, Midas.
Awards
Midas received one battle stars for World War II service.[2]
midas, planned, united, states, navy, class, tank, landing, ship, redesignated, twelve, aristaeus, class, battle, damage, repair, ships, built, united, states, navy, during, world, named, midas, greek, mythology, king, phrygia, whose, touch, turned, gold, only. USS Midas ARB 5 was planned as a United States Navy LST 491 class tank landing ship 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 whose touch turned all to gold she was the only US Naval vessel to bear the name USS Midas ARB 5 underway date and location unknown Note Midas is painted Camouflage Measure 31 Design 8L HistoryUnited StatesNameLST 514 MidasNamesakeMidasBuilderChicago Bridge amp Iron Company Seneca IllinoisLaid down31 August 1943Launched24 December 1943Commissioned23 May 1944DecommissionedJanuary 1947ReclassifiedBattle Damage Repair Ship 3 November 1943Stricken15 April 1976IdentificationHull symbol LST 514 Hull symbol ARB 5 Code letters NJXJ IMO number 5007510Honors andawards1 battle star World War II FateDisposed of by MARAD sale 19 November 1980General characteristics 1 Class and typeLST 491 class tank landing ship Aristaeus class battle damage repair shipDisplacement1 781 long tons 1 810 t light 4 100 long tons 4 200 t full Length328 ft 100 m oaBeam50 ft 15 m Draft11 ft 2 in 3 40 m Installed power2 900 hp 670 kW Electro Motive Diesel 12 567A diesel engines 1 700 shp 1 300 kW Propulsion1 Falk main reduction gears 2 PropellersSpeed11 6 kn 21 5 km h 13 3 mph Complement20 officers 234 enlisted menArmament1 3 in 76 mm 50 caliber gun 2 quad 40 mm 1 57 in Bofors guns 8 20 mm 0 79 in Oerlikon cannonsService recordOperations Leyte landings 5 18 October 12 29 November 1944 Awards Combat Action Ribbon American Campaign Medal Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Philippine Liberation Medal Contents 1 Construction 2 Service history 3 Post war service 4 Awards 5 Notes 5 1 Citations 6 Bibliography 7 External linksConstruction EditLaid down as LST 514 on 31 August 1943 by the Chicago Bridge amp 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 for service as a battle damage repair ship and commissioned on 23 May 1944 at Baltimore Maryland 2 Service history EditMidas got underway for the Pacific departing Norfolk Virginia on 25 June 1944 She arrived off New Guinea on 26 August having repaired ships in the Society Islands and New Caledonia 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 2 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 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 2 Post war service EditMidas served in the 12th Naval District 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 sale on 19 November 1980 2 sold to Colombia and retained her name Midas Awards EditMidas received one battle stars for World War II service 2 Notes EditCitations Edit Navsource 2013 a b c d e DANFS 2015 Bibliography EditOnline resources Midas Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships Naval History and Heritage Command 10 August 2015 Retrieved 28 July 2017 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain USS Midas ARB 5 Navsource org 8 November 2013 Retrieved 28 July 2017 External links EditPhoto gallery of USS Midas ARB 5 at NavSource Naval HistoryPortal World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Midas amp oldid 1159502077, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
