Name Agenor Yard number 45 Construction started 24 January 1943 Length 100 m | Namesake Agenor Laid down 24 January 1943 Launched 3 April 1943 | |
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Ordered as a Type S3-M-K2 hull, MCE hull 1010 Builder Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California Operations Battle of Saipan (25 June–21 July 1944) | ||
USS Agenor (ARL-3) was one of 39 Achelous-class repair ship landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Agenor (in history and Greek mythology, a king of Tyre), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.
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Construction
Originally projected as LST-490, an LST-1-class tank landing ship, this ship was redesignated ARL-3 and named Agenor on 13 January 1943. She was laid down on 24 January 1943, MC hull 1010, by Kaiser Shipyards, Yard No. 4, Richmond, California; launched on 3 April 1943; and commissioned at San Francisco, on 20 August 1943, Lieutenant Argyle W. Markley, USNR, in command.
United States Navy
From December 1943 through 9 June 1944, Agenor provided repair services to numerous landing craft operating in the Solomon, Russell, and Marshall Islands. On 9 June, the repair ship got underway for the Marianas. Eight days later, Japanese torpedo bombers attacked Agenor's convoy. Despite several near misses, the ship continued on safely to waters off Saipan where she arrived on 24 June.
Agenor was then assigned duty with a salvage group, Task Group 52.7 (TG 52.7). While air raids were a constant threat, the vessel carried out her work successfully. On 15 July, she moved to Tinian to supply services to invasion forces there.
The ship sailed to Guam in early August, and reported to Task Force 53 (TF 53). That island was her base of operations through 2 October, when the ship shifted to Ulithi in the Carolines. Agenor returned to Guam on 10 February 1945, to prepare for the Iwo Jima landings.
On 20 February, the repair ship arrived off Iwo Jima and joined TG 51.3. During the operations there, Agenor carried out her work despite air attack and heavy seas. The ship remained at Iwo Jima until 25 June. She then got underway for Saipan, where she dropped anchor on 29 June.
Soon after reporting to Service Squadron 10 for duty, Agenor left Saipan bound for Hawaii and a much-needed overhaul. The vessel reached Pearl Harbor on 18 July and entered the navy yard. The Japanese surrender found the ship still undergoing repairs at Pearl Harbor. Upon completion of the yard work, Agenor served in the Hawaiian operating area until placed out of commission, in reserve, on 15 November 1946.
French Navy
Agenor was transferred to the government of France on 2 March 1951, under the terms of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act and renamed RFS Vulcain (A-656). Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 26 March 1951.
Republic of China Navy
Transferred by France to the Republic of China Navy in 1957 and renamed Shung Shan (ARL-336), later being renamed Tai Wu (AP-520.
Awards
Agenor earned three battle stars for her World War II service.