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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
"All Hands" magazine, May 1954
Contributed by Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.

AR-21 Dionysus

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Xanthus Class Repair Ship:
  • Laid down, 4 October 1944 as Faithful a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 2681) at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard Inc., Baltimore, MD.
  • Launched, 10 October1944
  • Intended for the Royal Navy as HMS Faithful (F-177)
  • Acquired by the Navy, 25 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS Dionysus (AR-21), 28 April 1945, Commander S. D. Simpson in command
  • Decommissioned, 31 June 1947, at San Pedro, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Pedro, CA.
  • Recommissioned, 13 February 1952, at Long Beach, CA.
  • Decommissioned, 1 July 1955, at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange Group
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1978
    Specifications:
    Displacement 5,801 t.(lt) 14,250 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 27' 11" (max.)
    Speed 12.5 kts.
    Complement 525
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    three single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Dionysus 78k Dionysus (AR-21) at anchor, date and place unknown.
    Photo is from Dionysus Cruise book.    		 Russ Padden, courtesy Gene Stanton
    Dionysus 72k Dionysus (AR-21) From left to right; LCDR C. F. Sanders, Executive Officer, Capt. S. D. Simpson, Commanding Officer, and LCDR H. W. Packard, Repair Officer, date unknown.
    Photo is from Dionysus Cruise book.    		 Russ Padden, courtesy Gene Stanton
    View the Dionysus (AR-21)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    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
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    Last Updated 11 August 2006