Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Sphinx (ARL- 24)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Mike - Quebec
NDMQ

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (5-5NOV68, 18JUN69, 21JUN69, 21NOV70, 23NOV70) - Presidential Unit Citation (2) - Navy Unit Commendation (3)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (1)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (8) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (8) - Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal

Achelous Class Landing Craft Repair Ship:

Authorized as LST-963

Redesignated Landing Craft Repair Ship (ARL), 11 September 1944

Laid down, 20 October 1944 at Bethlehem Steel Co., Hingham, MA.

Launched, 18 November 1944

Placed in partial commissioned for ferrying to her fitting out yard, 12 December 1944, LT. Evans, Maurice H. in command

Decommissioned, 8 January 1945, at Merrill Stevens Dry Dock Co., Jacksonville, FL. for fitting out

Recommissioned, USS Sphinx (ARL-24), 10 May 1945, LCDR. Evans, Maurice H. in command

Decommissioned, 24 May 1947, at San Diego, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group

Recommissioned, 3 November 1950, at San Diego, LCDR Collier, Leland H. in command

During the Korean War USS Sphinx (ARL-24) participated in the following campaign:

**Korean War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates
UN Summer-Fall Offensive, 26 to 28 April 1952

Decommissioned, 31 January 1956, at San Diego

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group

Recommissioned, 16 December 1967, at New Orleans, LA., LCDR Looby, Robert J. in command

During the Vietnam War USS Sphinx (ARL-24) participated in the following campaigns:

**Vietnam War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase IV 8 June to 30 June 1968	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 June to 20 June 1969 23 August to 31 October 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase V 1 July to 1 November 1968	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase VI 2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969	Sanctuary Counteroffensive, 1 May to 30 June 1970
Tet 69/Counteroffensive, 23 February to 8 June 1969	Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase VII, 1 July to 12 December 1970 11 March to 30 June 1971

Decommissioned, 30 September 1971, at Bremerton, WA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 16 April 1977

Re-acquired by the Navy in 1985

Recommissioned, 26 July 1985, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA., CDR Vosseler, Paul K. in command

Decommissioned, 16 June 1989, at Norfolk, VA.

Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., 15 June 1990

Custody transferred, 2 December 2002, to Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum, Dunkirk, N.Y.

Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park, was unable to raised the required funds to tow Sphinx out of the National Defense Reserve Fleet

MARAD retained title and officially withdrew it from donation in April 2007

Sold for scrapping 24 August 2007, to North American Ship Recycling, Sparrows Point, MD. as part of a five ship contract worth $2,161,610

Abandoned at Baltimore, MD., when North American Ship Recycling went out of business in 2007

Scrapping contract re-awarded, 30 November 2007, to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., for $695,000

Final Disposition, towed from North American Ship Recycling at Baltimore, MD. to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., 1 December 2007, for scrapping

USS Sphinx received one battle star for the Korean War and eight campaign stars for the Vietnam War

Specifications:
Displacement 2,220 t.(lt) 3,960 t.(fl) 4,100 t.(lim)
Length 328'
Beam 50'
Draft 11' 2" (lim)
Speed 11.6 kts. (trial)
Complement

Officers 21

Enlisted 232
Armament

one single 3"/50 cal. dual purpose gun mount

two quad 40mm AA gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors

six twin 20mm AA gun mounts
Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
Fuel Capacity 4,715Bbls
Propulsion

two General Motors 12-567A Diesel engines

single Falk Main Reduction Gears

Ships Service Generators

three 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.

two 60Kw 450V A.C.

two propellers, 1,800shp

twin rudders

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
9k	*USS Sphinx* (ARL-24)** in Vietnamese waters, date unknown	Tom Willoughby USS Askari (ARL30) Association, courtesy Dennis Miller
98k	*USS Sphinx* (ARL-24)** in Vietnamese waters, date unknown.	Albert Moore, Mobile Riverine Force Association
27k	*USS Sphinx* (ARL-24)** underway in Puget Sound prior to recommissioning in 1985 at Bremerton Naval Shipyard.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
59k	*USS Sphinx* (ARL-24)** laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., date unknown.	Joe Lombardi, Ocean Technical Services
95k	Ex-Sphinx (ARL-24) being moved by commercial tug through Hampton Roads (downtown Norfolk, VA. in the background) from North American Ship Recycling at Baltimore, MD. to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., for scrapping, 1 December 2007	Photo by Mabel Clark
279k	Ex-Sphinx (ARL-24) moored forward of Ex-Hoist (ARS-40) at Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., awaiting the scrappers cutting torch, 20 December 2007	Photo by Jerry Crow
284k	Ex-Sphinx (ARL-24) moored at Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., awaiting dismantling, 20 December 2007	Photo by Jerry Crow
315k	Ex-Sphinx (ARL-24) moored at Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., awaiting dismantling, 20 December 2007	Photo Jerry Crow
206k	Ex-Sphinx (ARL-24) moored at Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., awaiting dismantling, December 2007.	Robert Hurst

USS Sphinx (ARL-24)
DANFS history entry located at the US Navy History and Heritage Command and at the
Mobile Riverine Force Association

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Evans, Maurice H.	12 December 1944 - 8 January 1945
	Decommissioned	8 January 1945 - 10 May 1945
02	LCDR. Evans, Maurice H.	10 May 1945 - 13 May 1946	Photo and Bio
03	LTjg. Salisbury, Harley G.	13 May 1946 - 20 July 1946
04	LT. Hass, Walter H.	20 July 1946 - 24 May 1947
	Decommissioned	24 May 1947 - 3 November 1950
05	LCDR. Collier, Leland H.	3 November 1950 - 31 July 1952
06	LCDR. Hann, Edward Neyland	31 July 1952 - 9 August 1954
07	LCDR. Doran, Edward M.	9 August 1954 - 31 January 1956
	Decommissioned	31 January 1967 - 16 December 1967
08	LCDR. Looby, Robert J.	31 October 1967 - 6 December 1968	Photo and Bio
09	LCDR. Marchfield, William E.	6 December 1968 - 3 December 1969
10	LCDR. Garcia, Rudolpho C.	3 December 1969 - 9 November 1970
11	LCDR. Seeber, Lauren	9 November 1970 - 26 July 1971
12	LT. Lake, Larry J.	26 July 1971 - 6 August 1971
13	LCDR. Young Jr., Sol	6 August 1971 - 30 September 1971	Photo and Bio
	Decommissioned	30 September 1971 - 26 July 1985
14	CDR. Vosseler, Paul K.	26 July 1985 - 1986
15	LCDR. Londot, Jack L.	1986 - 7 July 1987
16	CDR. Kendall, Gene R.	7 July 1987 - 26 July 1988
17	CDR. Baker, Thomas K.	26 July 1988 - 16 June 1989	Photo and Bio


Courtesy USS Sphinx (ARL-24) Web Site

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

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Sphinx (ARL-24)
Mobile Riverine Force Association
Brownwater Navy in Vietnam Web Book
USS Sphinx (ARL-24) at Wikipedea
Recommissioning, 26 July 1985 - Defense Imagery
ARL-24 Online Photos at Picturetrail.com
USS Sphinx ARL-24 on Facebook
Recommissioning Program on Facebook

Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page

Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index

Back To Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index

Back To The Landing Craft Repair Ship (ARL) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 27 November 2010