Name ARD-17 Name Amazonas (DF 81) Length 150 m Displacement 4.717 million kg | Struck 1 December 1977 Acquired 1 December 1977 Weight 5,284 tons Builder Alameda | |
Fate Sold to Ecuador, 1 December 1977 Class and type ARD-12-class floating dry dock | ||
USS ARD-17 was an ARD-12-class floating dry dock built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Like most of the ships of her class, she was not named but known only by her designation.
History
ARD-17 was built at Pacific Bridge Company in Alameda, California and delivered to the Navy in early 1944.
In July and August 1944, ARD-17 served a support role in the liberation of Guam.
In late September 1944, USS Zuni (ATF-95) towed ARD-17 from Guam to Palau. On 30 November 1944 ARD-17 was damaged by a near miss from a Japanese bomber while anchored at Kossol Roads, Palau.
In February 1945, ARD-17 and sister ship ARD-16 were at Leyte Gulf servicing ships returning from Iwo Jima and preparing for Okinawa.
After the war, she eventually was returned to the United States, and for a time was laid up as part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Naval Shipyard at Boston, Massachusetts.
On 1 December 1977, ARD-17 was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, and sold the same day to Ecuador under the Security Assistance Program. Renamed Amazonas (DF-81), her current fate is unknown.