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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Assistance BAR-17
HMS Assistance (F-173)


Assistance (BAR-17) was transferred under terms of the Lend-lease Act to the Royal Navy upon completion and commissioned HMS Assistance (F-173)
  • Laid down, 19 May 1944, as Assistance (BAR-17) a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 2649) at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard Inc., Baltimore, MD.
  • Launched, 20 June 1944
  • Delivered incomplete to the US Navy, 28 August 1944
  • Fitted out as a repair ship and turned over to the government of the United Kingdom under terms of the Lend-lease Act, 20 January 1945, BAR-17 never saw active service with the US Navy
  • Commissioned as the Repair Ship HMS Assistance (F-173), 20 January 1945
  • Returned to US Navy custody in 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register and transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Fort Eustis , VA.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in 1974
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,801 t.(lt) 10,920 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 22'
    Speed 12.5 kts.
    Complement 525
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    three 3"/50 guns dual purpose gun mounts
    four 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion Worthington Pump & Machinery Corp, Harrison, N.J. reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Assistance 52k Assistance (BAR-17) after launching at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard Inc., Baltimore, MD., 20 June 1944 David Nixon
    HMS Assistance (F-173)
    Assistance 73k HMS Assistance (F-173) at anchor in Plymouth Sound, date unknown. Courtesy David Page Webmaster Navyphotos.co.uk
    Assistance 44k HMS Assistance (F-173) at anchor, date and place unknown. Robert Hurst
    View the Assistance (AR-17)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 5 May 2006