The APL-17-class barracks ship was a class of barracks ships of the United States Navy after the start of the Second World War, in the 1940s.
Development Eighteen ships were built during World War II with 6 cancelled, later built as Benewah-class. Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the construction of tenders and repair ships in May 1943, it was then recommended by the Auxiliary Vessels Board on 11 June later that year, the construction of barracks ships.
The class consists of barges with a two-story barracks built on top instead of a warehouse design, and they had an auxiliary vessel designation of "A". Moreover, on their top deck, 4 Oerlikon 20 mm cannons were placed together with 2 guns and their platforms located on each side of the ship. The guns were later removed after being put into the reserve fleet in 1946.
During the Vietnam War, 4 ships (APL-21, 26, 27 and 30) were dispatched to South Vietnam, with APL-26 and 27 later transferred to South Vietnam. The two ships were captured by North Vietnam in April 1975.
Since 2011, only 3 ships have been in service at Naval Station San Diego, Mayport and Norfolk. Notably, APL-24 served as a headquarter for the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet for the Maritime Administration, since 23 May 1962. On 7 June 1946, APL-33 became the only ship of the class to be intentionally sunk because after grounding in Okinawa, caused by a typhoon.
Ships of class APL-17-class barracks shipNameBuildersLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFateAPL-17Tampa Shipbuilding Co.15 May 19442 July 194420 September 1944 -Scrapped on 14 January 1971APL-1815 May 19442 July 194429 September 1944 -CincPacFlt Berthing and Messing Program and is berthed at San DiegoAPL-1921 June 19446 August 194414 October 1944 -Sunk as target on 13 June 2002APL-2020 July 19443 September 19442 November 1944 -Sold to commercial service as merchant barge Northern Shell (ON 571572), 1974APL-2129 July 19443 September 194416 February 1945 -Scrapped in 1972 APL-225 August 194412 February 194524 March 1945 -Sold to commercial service as merchant barge FOSS 251., 1961APL-23Pollock-Stockton Shipbuilding Co.24 July 194426 September 19447 June 1945 -Disposed in 1971APL-2424 July 194426 September 194424 July 1945 -Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet Headquarters for the Maritime AdministrationAPL-2524 July 194424 December 194428 September 1945 -Sold to commercial service as merchant barge MLC-262 (ON 563795), 1973APL-2624 July 194429 December 194418 January 1946 -Transferred to South Vietnam and redesignated HQ-9050, March 1971APL-27Tampa Shipbuilding Co.10 August 194415 October 19449 April 1945 -Transferred to South Vietnam and redesignated HQ-9051, March 1971APL-2830 October 194410 December 194430 April 1945 -Sold to commercial service, 1960APL-2930 October 194410 October 194414 May 1945 -CincPacFlt Berthing and Messing Program and is berthed at NorfolkAPL-30Everett Pacific Shipbuilding Co.1 June 19446 September 194411 April 1945 -Scrapped on 1 February 1975APL-311 June 194430 September 194414 June 1945 -Sunk as artificial reef on 23 July 2001APL-32Boston Navy Yard5 September 194412 October 194417 January 1945 -CincPacFlt Berthing and Messing Program and is berthed at MayportAPL-3318 November 19441 January 19455 April 194512 April 1946Destroyed on 7 June 1946APL-3418 November 19441 January 194516 May 1945 -Sold to Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, 7 May 2004APL-35Converted to Benewah-class barracks ship as USS Benewah (APB-35)APL-36Converted to Benewah-class barracks ship as USS Colleton (APB-36)APL-37Converted to Benewah-class barracks ship as USS Echols (APB-37)APL-38Converted to Benewah-class barracks ship as USS Marlboro (APB-38)APL-39Converted to Benewah-class barracks ship as USS Mercer (APB-39)APL-40Converted to Benewah-class barracks ship as USS Nueces (APB-40)
See also Barracks ship List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy § Barracks Craft (APL)
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