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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USNS Aeolus (T-ARC-3)
ex
 USS Aeolus (ARC-3) (1955 - 1973)
 USS Turandot (AKA-47) (1945 - 1955)

Aeolus International Radio Call Sign:
November - Oscar - Victor - Whiskey
 NOVW
Turandot International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Uniform - Romeo
 NTUR
Aeolus ARC-3 - Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3) - National Defense Service Medal
Turandot AKA-47 - Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Artemis Class Attack Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 29 March 1945, as a Maritime Commission type (S4-SE2-BE1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1908), at Welsh-Kaiser Co. Providence, R.I.
  • Launched, 20 May 1945
  • Commissioned USS Turandot (AKA-47), 18 June 1945, LCDR. Franklyn W. C. Swicker, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 21 March 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 17 April 1947
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 25 June 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 4 November 1954, for conversion to a Cable Repair/Laying Ship
  • Converted, renamed and recommissioned USS Aeolus (ARC-3), 14 March 1955, CDR. Merrill M. Sanford in command
  • Decommissioned, 1 October 1973 and placed in service by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Aeolus (T-ARC-3)
  • Placed out of service, May 1985
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 28 February 1985
  • Transferred by the Maritime Administration to the state of North Carolina for sinking as an artificial reef
  • Sunk as an artificial reef in August 1988 in 110 feet of water, approximately 22 miles from the Beaufort inlet
    AKA Specifications:
    Displacement 4,087 t.(lt) 7,080 t(fl)
    Length 426'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 16' 5"
    Speed 16.9 kts.
    Complement 303
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    ten single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo capacity 4,450 DWT
    Boats
    one LCP(L)
    twelve LCVP
    eight LCM(3)
    Troop Accommodations 264
    Propulsion two turbo-electric engines, twin shafts, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Aeolus (ARC-3)
    Aeolus 805k USS Aeolus (ARC-3) commissioning crew (plankowners) 14 March 1955 Michael Jarvis, Secretary/Treasurer
    USS Aeolus Association
    Aeolus 51k USS Aeolus (ARC-3) underway, date and location unknown. Michael Jarvis, Secretary/Treasurer
    USS Aeolus Association
    Aeolus 59k USS Aeolus (ARC-3) underway, date and location unknown. Michael Jarvis, Secretary/Treasurer
    USS Aeolus Association
    Aeolus 30k Aeolus (ARC-3) underway, date and place unknown. Michael Jarvis, Secretary/Treasurer
    USS Aeolus Association
    Aeolus 122k USS Aeolus (ARC-3) underway, date and location unknown. William Zarkas, Retired MSC Boatswain
    President, MSC Retiree Association
    Aeolus 118k USS Aeolus (ARC-3) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine December 1962    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Aeolus 61k USS Aeolus (ARC-3) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Robert Hurst
    Aeolus 107k Photo of one of the USS Aeolus (ARC-3) Engineering Department Divisions, date and location unknown. Michael Jarvis, Secretary/Treasurer
    USS Aeolus Association
    Aeolus 60k USS Aeolus (ARC-3) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1960.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    USNS Aeolus (T-ARC-3)
    Aeolus 13k USNS Aeolus (T-ARC-3) underway, date and location unknown. Ramon Jackson
    View the USS Turandot (AKA-47) / USS Aeolus (ARC-3) / USNS Aeolus (T-ARC-3)
    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
    USS Aeolus ARC-3
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Cargo Ship (AKA) Photo Index Back To The Cable Repair Ship (ARC) Photo Index
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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 25 April 2008