USS AFDM-2, (former YFD-4), is an medium auxiliary floating drydock built in Mobile, Alabama, by the Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company for the United States Navy. Originally named USS YFD-4, Yard Floating Dock-4, she operated by Todd Shipyards at New Orleans, Louisiana for the repair of US ships during World War II. YFD-4 was renamed an Auxiliary Floating Dock Medium AFDM-2 in 1945 after the war.
Design AFDM-2 was tall, wide, length of (all three section connected), and has a displacement of 6,360 tons. AFDM-2 could lift capacity 9,000 tons and had two service cranes to lift material and parts for removing damage parts and the installation of new parts. The floating drydock can repair ships up to a beam of , as she is 90 feet wide between the wing walls. Ballast pontoons tanks are flooded with water to submerge or pumped dry to raise the ship. Submerged she can load a ship with a draft up to .NavSource USS AFDM-2, ex USS YFD-4 (1943–1945)The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia, Floating Dry DocksBuilding the Navy's Bases in World War II, History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940–1946 Chapter IX, Floating DrydocksUSN AFDM-2 Floating Drydocks & Shipyards WWI & Beyond old films, a DVD, Jan 1, 2012, 95.00 minutes, Campbell Films
History It was built by Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company in Mobile, Alabama. she was laid down in January 1942 and commissioned on 1 October 1943, right after her delivery to the Navy.
Hurricane Betsy, Category 4, sank and damaged AFDM-2 on 9 September 1965. USS AFDM-2 was at Todd Shipyards on the west side of the Mississippi River in Algiers, New Orleans. AFDM-2 had the water pumped out of her pontoon tanks and was raised for repair. The salvage ships MS Cable and and , an Achomawi-class fleet ocean tug, helped in the recovery of AFDM-2. Due to the large size of AFDM-2 two rescue and salvage ships, and arrived with three special support barges to help in the salvage. Land-based winches were also used in the recovery. On 25 August 1966 tugs returned AFDM-2 to Todd Shipyards, eleven months after her sinking. Repairs where completed and she was put back in service. Divers had to repair more than 100 holes in AFDM-2 to float her again.US Navy USS AFDM-2 (YFD-4)
On 16 May 1995 she was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, Texas. On 11 February 1999 she was reactivated and transferred to the Government of the Dominican Republic. She was later sold to Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation at Port Arthur, Texas and renamed Mr. Morris.marad, AFDM-2 In 2013 , a landing ship, tank, now a museum ship, was repaired in AFDM-2.USS LST-325 repaired in AFDM-2, January 31, 2013 On 17 December 2021, USS Orleck (DD-886) arrived in Port Arthur to be repaired in AFDM-2.
Awards
American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal
See also Dry dock Hughes Mining Barge Semi-submersible naval vessel List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy
References
External links photo USS LST-325 a Landing Ship, Tank in AFDM-2 – Mr. Morris photo USS LST-325 high and dry in AFDM-2 – Mr. Morris photo USS LST-325 high and dry in AFDM-2 – Mr. Morris