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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AFDB-1 Artisan ex ABSD-1
(Sections, A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,K)
IX-521 / IX-525

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Romeo - Bravo
NYRB
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal


AFDB-1 Class Large Auxiliary (10-section, non-self-propelled) Floating Dry Dock:
  • Constructed in sections during 1942 and 1943 at Everett Shipbuilding Co., Everett, WA., the Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Eureka, CA., the Pollack-Stockton Shipbuilding Co., Stockton, CA.., and Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Morgan City, LA.
  • Commissioned, USS ABSD-1, 10 May 1943, at Everett, WA., CAPT.. A.R. Mack, USN, in command
  • During World War II ABSD-1 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • ABSD-1 was towed to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides and assembled for service in World War II
  • Disassembled and towed to Manicani Bay, P.I. and reassembled for service by September 1945
  • Decommissioned on 31 May 1946, in the Philippines
  • Redesigned AFDB-1 in August 1946
  • Disassembled and towed to Pearl Harbor for lay up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 2 June 1951, at Pearl Harbor, HI.
  • Towed by sections to Orote, Guam, Marianas Islands, reassembled and ready for duty in March 1952
  • Decommissioned, 1 November 1956, at Apra Harbor, Guam, Marianas Islands
  • Five sections towed to Subic Bay, P.I. reassembled and place in service 17 November 1970
  • Named Artisan, 7 June 1979
  • Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register in October 1986
  • Reinstated in the Naval Register in March 1987
  • Final/Current Disposition
    Specifications:
    Displacement 38,500 t.(lt) (10 sections)
    Length 927' (10 sections)
    Beam 256'
    Draft 9' (light), 78' (flooded)
    Height 28' (keel to welldeck)
    Inside Width 133' 7"
    Lifting Capacity 90,000 tons
    Complement 690

    Specifications: IX-521 and IX-525
    Displacement 3,500 t.
    Length 280'
    Beam 80'
    Draft 9' (light)

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source/ Contributed
    By
    ABSD-1 88k ABSD-1 with California (BB-44) in the dock, at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, circa September 1944.
    US Navy photo from DANFS
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    BB-44 California 106k ABSD-1 with California (BB-44) in the dock, at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, 8 September 1944 as repairs to the ship nears completion. Scaffolding along the port side of the ship shows the damaged area. .
    ABSD-1 87k ABSD-1 with California (BB-44) in the dock, at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, circa 1944.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1971.
    Stanley C. Svec
    ABSD-1 98k ABSD-1 with an four LSTs in the dock, probably at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, (date unknown).
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1971.
    Stanley C. Svec
    CL-55 248 Cleveland (CL-55) docked in ABSD-1, at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. January 1944.
    US Navy photo #2173-44
    Darryl Baker
    Cleveland 76k Cleveland (CL-55) in ABSD-1 at Aessi Island, off Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 12 January 1944.
    US Navy photo Center # NH 98059 for the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
    US Naval Historical Center
    Columbia 188k Columbia (CL-56) docked in ABSD-1 at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, January 1944.
    US Navy photo #2169-44
    Darryl Baker
    Columbia 199k Columbia (CL-56) docked in ABSD-1 at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, January 1944.
    US Navy photo #2170-44

    .
    AFDB-1 133k AFDB-1 with West Virginia (BB-48) high and dry in the dock, off Aessi Island, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 13 November 1944. The battleship was docked for upkeep and repair to propellers damaged when she touched ground off Leyte on 21 October.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-314220, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    LSM-67/218 83k USS ABSD-1 at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, with LSM-67 and LSM-218 in the dock, 17 November 1944.
    US Navy photo, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
    USS LSM / LSMR Association
    LSM-67/218 90k USS ABSD-1 at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, with, front, left to right LSM-67 and LSM-218 and at the rear, left to right, LSM-269 and LSM-219, 17 November 1944.
    US Navy photo # NH 22082A, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
    Bill Brinkley and the USS LSM/LSMR Association
    LSM-67/218 97k USS ABSD-1 at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, with, front, left to right LSM-67 and LSM-218 and at the rear, left to right, LSM-269 and LSM-219, 17 November 1944.
    US Navy photo, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
    USS LSM / LSMR Association
    Antelope 72k Antelope (IX-109) entering ABSD-1 at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, 5 January 1945.
    US Navy photo # NH 97018 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
    US Naval Historical Center
    LST-120/Antelope 150k ABSD-1 with Antelope (IX-109) and LST-120 in the dock at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, 8 January 1945
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-314233, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    US Naval Historical Center
    AFDB-1 67k AFDB-1 at Orote, Guam, Marianas Islands, with Wisconsin (BB-64) in her dock, circa April 1952
    US Navy photo from DANFS
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    AFDB-1 67k AFDB-1 decommissioning crew, 1 November 1956, at Apra Harbor, Guam, Marianas Islands
    US Navy photo
    A. L. Vick EMP1 USNR USS AFDB-1
    AFDB-1 235k AFDB-1 decommissioning crew, 1 November 1956, at Apra Harbor, Guam, Marianas Islands. Orote Point in the background.
    US Navy photo
    A. L. Vick EMP1 USNR USS AFDB-1
    AFDB-1 273k AFDB-1 decommissioning crew, 1 November 1956, at Apra Harbor, Guam, Marianas Islands
    US Navy photo
    A. L. Vick EMP1 USNR USS AFDB-1

    View the ABSD-1 Armed Forces Day Pamphlet for 19 May 1956
    View the ABSD-1 Decommissioning Ceremony Program for 1 November 1956
    View the ABSD-1 / Artisan (AFDB-1)
    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
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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 10 November 2006