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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Megara (ARVA-6)

/International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Romeo - Kilo NIRK

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

USS Megara (ARVA)-6 was transferred to Mexico and renamed ARM General Vicente Guerrero (A-05)

Fabius Class Aircraft Repair Ship (Aircraft):

Authorized as LST-1095

Redesignated Aircraft Repair Ship (Aircraft) ARVA)-6, 14 December 1944

Laid down, 22 January 1945, at American Bridge Co., Ambridge, PA.

Launched, 25 April 1945

Placed in temporary commission, 19 June 1945, for transit to her fitting out yard at New Orleans LA,

Completed and placed in full commission as USS Megara (ARVA-6), 27 June 1945, at Algiers, LA., LCDR. Maxwell, T. Dalby, USNR in command

Decommissioned, 3 June 1946, at Green Cove Springs, FL.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group

Recommissioned, 5 May 1951, Cove Springs, FL., LCDR. R. J. Devito, USN in command

Decommissioned, 16 January 1956, at Green Cove Springs, FL.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Green Cove Springs Group

Transferred, date unknown, to Atlantic Reserve Fleet Orange, TX.

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1973

Sold by DRMS, to Mexico, 1 October 1973, renamed ARM General Vicente Guerrero (A-05)

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 2,110 t.(lt) 3,960 t.(fl), 4,100 t.(lim)
Length 328'
Beam 50'
Draft 11' 2" (lim)
Speed 11.6 kts.

Complement

Officers - 20

Enlisted - 225 240

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

two quad 40mm AA gun mounts

twelve 20mm AA guns

Fuel Capacity - Diesel 3,600Bbls

Propulsion

two General Motors 12-567A Diesel engines

single Falk Main Reduction Gears

Ship's Service Generators

three Diesel-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C.

two Diesel-drive 60Kw 230V A.C.

two shafts, twin rudders, 1,800shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Megara (ARVA-6)
	744k	*USS Megara* (ARVA-6)** under way at Jacksonville, FL., circa 1951. US Navy photo.	Alex Grosholz for his grandfather Earl A Dimmick FA USN 1951
	25k	*USS Megara* (ARVA-6)** at anchor, date and location unknown.	Gunter Krebs
	69k	*USS Megara* (ARVA-6) at anchor, 23 December 1952, in a French port. Megara** was deployed to the Mediterranean from 18 August 52 to 1 March 1953. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo # 84650, courtesy of D.M. McPherson, 1976	Robert Hurst
	53k	*USS Megara* (ARVA-6)** at anchor in the harbor at Naples, Italy in 1952 Howard H. Hofmann	HullNumber.com
	67k	*USS Megara* (ARVA-6)** change of command, July 1953, LCDR. Franklin B. McMillan USN relieved LCDR. Wade W. Lape USN.	Russell H. Hanseter
09350608	135k	*USS Megara* (ARVA-6) broached on the beaches of La Pineda, Spain, 29 January - 1 February 1955. On January 20, 1955, the US 6th Fleet began maneuvers with the Spanish Navy. It was part of a strategic engagement with the government of General Francisco Franco to prove the ability of the United States to quickly assemble effective, albeit austere, temporary aviation repair facilities to combat any would-be Communist aggression in the Mediterranean. Known as ADVEX 1-55, it took place near Tarragona, on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Not everything went as planned. On January 29, USS Megara (ARVA-6)** broached on the beaches of La Pineda.It would be three days before an international salvage effort pulled her clear.	Brian Miller
09350609	218k
09350610	245k
09350611	269k
09350612	460k	On 29 January 1955, *USS Megara* (ARVA-6)** broached on the beaches of La Pineda, off the Mediterranean Coast of Spain during an exercise with Spain known as ADVEX 1-55. Over the next three days, several ships came to her aid. Among them were USS LST-32, the Spanish destroyer *Almirante Antequera, and USS San Marcos* (LSD-25). Pictured here are the salvage efforts of those ships that pulled Megara** free on 1 Feb 1955.	Brian Miller
09350613	169k
09350614	202k
09350607	141k	*USS Megara* (ARVA-6)** underway near Tarragona, Spain, circa 1 February 1955.	Brian Miller
	78k	*USS Megara* (ARVA-6)** under way, circa 1960, location unknown. US Navy photo.	Robert Hurst
ARM General Vicente Guerrero (A-05)
120801508	57k	*Namesake*Vicente Guerrero - Vicente Ramón Guerrero Saldaña (August 10, 1782 – February 14, 1831) was one of the leading revolutionary generals of the Mexican War of Independence. He fought against Spain for independence in the early 19th century, and later served as President of Mexico, coming to power in a coup. He championed the cause of Mexico's common people, and abolished slavery during his brief term as president. His execution in 1831 by the conservative government that ousted him in 1829 was a shock to the nation	Tommy Trampp

USS Megara (ARVA)-6)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Dalby, Maxwell Thomas, USNR	27 June 1945 - March 1946
02	LT. Pace, John T., USNR	March 1946 - 1946
03	LTjg. Cleere, Timothy Joseph, USN	1946 - 3 June 1946
	Decommissioned	3 June 1946 - 5 May 1951
04	CDR. Devito, Raymond Joseph, USN	5 May 1951 - 1952
05	LCDR. Lape, Wade Wenger, USN	1952 - July 1953
06	LCDR. McMillan, Franklin Barnes, USN	July 1953 - 23 July 1954
07	LCDR. Leischner, William USNR	23 July 1954 - 1955
08	LCDR. Scott, Frank S. USNR	1955 - 16 January 1956


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Postal Covers related to the ship

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Last Updated 27 March 2020