Dionysus-AR-21

Dionysus

The Greek god of wine and the grape.

(AR-21: dp. 10,920 (f.); 1. 441'6"; b. 56'11"; dr. 22';
s. 12 k.; cpl. 524; a. 1 6", 3 3"; cl. Xanthus)

Dionysus (AR-21) was launched 10 October 1944 as Faithful by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, Md., under a Maritime Commission contract sponsored by Mrs. H. C. McClelland; transferred to the Navy 25 October 1944; and commissioned 28 April 1945, Commander S. D. Simpson in command.

Westward bound for her role in the war in the Pacific Dionysus arrived at Pearl Harbor 30 June 1945. On 13 July she was underway for Eniwetok where she was stationed as repair ship from 24 July to 8 September. Entering Tokyo Bay 17 September Dionysus served there until 10 November when she sailed for overhaul at Bremerton, Wash., arriving 28 November. On 30 May 1946 she reached San Pedro, where she was placed out of commission in reserve 31 January 1947.

Recommissioned 13 February 1952, Dionysus sailed from Long Beach 8 April to join the Atlantic Fleet. She arrived at Norfolk 29 April and served primarily at this base, except for a period in 1953 in the Caribbean to repair the ships operating from Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, until 16 April 1954 when she sailed to visit Charleston. She arrived at Newport, R.I., 11 May to continue her repair services there until 3 February 1966. At New York from 4 February to 11 April, she sailed for Beaumont, Tex., where she was placed in commission in reserve upon her arrival 20 April. She arrived at Orange, Tex., 25 April and was placed out of commission in reserve there 1 July 1955.