USS Xanthus (AR-19)
USS Xanthus (AR-19) was a Xanthus-class repair ship acquired by the United States Navy for the task of providing repairs to the fleet. She was named after Xanthus, a mythical beast of Greek legend.
Intended for the Royal Navy as HMS Hecla (F 175), she was laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 2664) as Hecla on 6 June 1944 at Baltimore, Maryland, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Inc.. She was launched on 31 July 1944, sponsored by Mrs. J.W.A. Waller, and delivered to the Navy on a loan basis on 16 August 1944.
On 6 December 1944, she was renamed Xanthus and designated AR-19. She was commissioned on 9 May 1945 with Commander Stanley G. Nichols in command.
Read more about USS Xanthus (AR-19): World War II Operations, Return To Stateside, Post-war Decommissioning
Famous quotes containing the word xanthus:
“We shall renew the battle in the plain
Tomorrow—red with blood will Xanthus be;
Hector and Ajax will be there again,
Helen will come upon the wall to see.”
—Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)