USS Telamon

File:Telamon ARB-8.jpg USS Telamon (ARB-8) underway, date and location unknown.
Career
Laid down:	5 December 1944
Launched:	10 January 1945
Commissioned:	5 February 1945
Decommissioned:	20 May 1947
Struck:	1 June 1973
Fate:	Scrapped
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,781 tons (light); 3,700 tons (full)
Length:	328 ft 0 in
Beam:	50 ft 0 in
Draft:	11 ft 2 in
Propulsion:	Two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
Speed:	12 kts
Complement:	260 officers and enlisted men
Armament:	Two 40mm gun mounts, eight 20mm gun mounts

The USS Telamon (ARB-8) was one of 12 Aristaeus-class battle damage repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Telamon (in Greek mythology, son of the King Aeacus, who accompanied Jason as one his Argonauts), it was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

History

Originally designated LST-956, the ship was redesignated ARB-8 and named Telamon on 28 April 1944, before its construction began. It was laid down on 5 December 1944 at Hingham, Massachusetts by the Bethelehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc.; launched on 10 January 1945; and commissioned on 5 February 1945. After steaming to Baltimore, it was decommissioned, underwent conversion at Maryland Drydock Company, and was recommissioned on 1 June 1945. On 14 July the new battle damage repair ship reported for duty with the Pacific Fleet and on the 23rd was assigned Pearl Harbor as its home port and yard. It joined Service Squadron 10 at Guam in September shortly before being placed in the Pacific Fleet Reserve on 11 September 1945. In the spring of 1946, as part of Service Group 1.8, it took part in preparations for Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll. On 21 June 1946, before the nuclear tests took place, it departed the atoll and steamed to Kwajalein. It was decommissioned on 20 May 1947 and joined the San Diego Group Reserve Fleet that same day. It remained inactive until 1 June 1973 when it's name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register.

Telamon was sold for scrapping 1 March 1974 by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• "LST-976 / ARB-8 Telamon". Service Ship Photo Archive. Retrieved April 12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)