USS Daedalus

History
United States
Name	LST-1143 Daedalus
Namesake	Daedalus
Ordered	as a Type S3-M-K2 hull
Builder	Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois[1]
Laid down	31 January 1945
Launched	27 April 1945
Commissioned	9 May 1945 (reduced) 19 October 1945 (full)
Decommissioned	21 May 1945 23 October 1947
Reclassified	ARL-41
Refit	converted to Landing Craft Repair Ship
Identification	Hull symbol: LST-1143 Hull symbol: ARL-35
Fate	Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group Sold, 28 October 1960
United States
Name	Virginia Clipper
Owner	Norfolk, Baltimore and Caroline Line
Acquired	28 October 1960
Identification	IMO number: 5381992
Fate	Sold, 1978
General characteristics [2]
Class and type	LST-542-class tank landing ship Achelous-class repair ship
Displacement	3,900 long tons (4,000 t) light 4,100 long tons (4,200 t) full load
Length	328 ft (100 m) oa
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Draft	11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Installed power	2 × 900 hp (670 kW) Electro-Motive Diesel 12-567A diesel engines 1,800 shp (1,300 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Falk main reduction gears 2 × Propellers
Speed	11.6 kn (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph)
Complement	19 officers, 270 enlisted men
Armament	1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber dual purpose gun 2 × quad 40 mm (1.57 in) Bofors guns (with Mark 51 directors) 6 × twin 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

USS Daedalus (ARL-35) was one of 39 Achelous-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Daedalus (in Greek mythology, an exiled Athenian who served in the courts of Minos and Kokalos, regarded as representative of artists and artisans of the later Minoan or Mykenaian age; imprisoned by Minos, he made wings to escape), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

Laid down as LST-1143 at Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois; redesignated landing craft repair ship ARL-35 14 August 1944; launched 27 April 1945; sponsored by Mrs. D. Steinmann; placed in partial commission 9 May 1945; sailed to Mobile, Alabama, where she was decommissioned 21 May, for conversion to a landing craft repair ship; and commissioned in full 19 October 1945.^[3]

Daedalus departed Mobile 3 December 1945, and arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, six days later. She provided repair services to the fleet at Norfolk, Guantanamo Bay, and Newport, Rhode Island, until arriving at Charleston, South Carolina, 1 July 1947, for overhaul. Later towed to Green Cove Springs, Florida, she was placed out of commission in reserve there 23 October 1947.^[3] Struck from the Naval Vessel Register (date unknown), she was sold 28 October 1960, to the Norfolk, Baltimore and Caroline Line for commercial service and renamed Virginia Clipper. The ship was resold in 1978, to Thor Corporation of Venezuela; her final fate is unknown.^[2]

• Photo gallery of USS Daedalus (ARL-35) at NavSource Naval History