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Abarracks shiporbarracks bargeorberthing barge,or in civilian useaccommodation vesseloraccommodation ship,is a ship or a non-self-propelledbargecontaining asuperstructureof a type suitable for use as a temporarybarracksfor sailors or other military personnel. A barracks ship, a military form of adormitory ship,may also be used as a receiving unit for sailors who need temporary residence prior to being assigned to their ship. TheUnited States Navyused to call themYard Repair Berthing and Messingwith designationsYRBMandYRBM(L)[1]and now classes them as eitherAuxiliary Personnel Barracks(APB) orAuxiliary Personnel Lighter(aka barge) (APL).[2]
Early use
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Barrack ships were common during the era of sailing ships when shore facilities were scarce or non-existent. Barrack ships were usuallyhulks.At times, barrack ships were also used asprison shipsfor convicts, prisoners of war or civilian internees.
Use in World War II
editBarracks shipsin the combat area provided necessary residence for sailors and merchantmen whose ship had been sunk, or whose ship had been so damaged that on-board berthing was no longer possible. They were also used asaccommodationat advanced bases, and asmobile barracksfor units such as construction battalions. Occasionally, they would be used for other roles such as providingoffice space.
APL were non-self-propelled barracks ships, which were used by theUnited States Navyin forward areas duringWorld War II,especially in the Pacific Ocean, and were designated APL, such as APL-18 which was commissioned in 1944 and had the following specifications for APL-1 to APL-58:
- Displacement 1,300 t.(lt), 2,579 t.(fl)
- Length 261 ft (80 m)
- Beam 49 ft (15 m)
- Draft 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Complement unknown
- Accommodations 5 Officers, 358 Enlisted
TheAPL-17-class barracks shipcoveredAPL-17 to APL-40with APL-35 to APL-40 converted to becomeBenewah-class barracks ships.
Transport ships were also used as barracks by other war-time navies, such as theKriegsmarine'sSSGeneral San Martin.One of the two abortiveJade classauxiliary aircraft carriers (Elbe) was also converted into a barracks ship.
Subsequent use
editThe United Kingdom used barracks ships to help garrison the Falkland Islands after it ousted the Argentinian occupation force in the 1982Falklands War.The former car ferriesMVSt EdmundandTEVRangatirawere deployed toPort Stanleyin 1982, andRangatirastayed until September 1983.[3]
Rangatirais also an example of a civilian accommodation ship. She and another former ferry,MVOdysseus,housed workers who built anoil platforminLoch Kishornin Scotland in 1977–1978, andRangatirahoused workers who builtSullom Voe Terminalin theShetland Islandsin 1978–1981.[3]
Post World War II USN use
editA large number ofUnited States Navybarges survived World War II[4]and continued to act in a support role. Some were used by the "Brown Water Navy"of the United States during theVietnam Waras bases for specialized river boats. The barge YRBM-18 (later renamed to APL-55) received thePresidential Unit Citationfor service during theVietnam Warfrom 6 December 1968 to 31 March 1969.
The following Yard Repair types have been created:[4]
- Floating Workshops are YR, 96 built, 24 built before ww2
- Repair and Berthing Barges are YRB, 36 built
- Repair, Berthing and Messing Barges were YRBM, 56 built
- Dry-Dock Workshops – Hull are YRDH, 8 built
- Dry-Dock Workshops – Machinery are YRDM, 8 built
- Radiological Repair Barges are YRR, 14 built. Used to support nuclear plant overhauls ofnuclear ships and submarines,also refueling and decontamination of used equipment.
The YRB and YRBM barges were renames as Auxiliary Personnel Lighters (APL)[2]and are available to temporarily house personnel off ships. The 70 ships are assigned to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to bases around the world (Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia; San Diego; Bremerton, Washington; Mayport, Florida; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Yokosuka and Sasebo in Japan; and Guam).
APL 65 class
editThe United States Navy placed a contract for two APL 65 berthing barges in August 1998 which were delivered to the Navy in November and December 2000. The APL 65 berthing barges include post office, barber shop, bank, classrooms, laundry, medical facilities and fitness services.[5]
APL 67 class
editThe older berthing barges are being replaced by five newer ships of the APL 67 class which are being purpose built byVT Halter Marine.[5][6]The first contract was awarded in September 2018 with APL 67 launched in June 2020 and delivered to the USN in August 2021 followed by APL 68 which was delivered in November 2021.[7][8]
- Displacement: 2,744 t
- Length: 269 ft (82 m)
- Beam 69 ft (21 m)
- Draft 16 ft (4.9 m)
- Accommodations: 600 (5 Officers, 358 Enlisted)
The APL67 fleet is planned to be 14 in total. 26 'medium' APLs are also planned.[9]
On 21 November 2022, the Navy accepted APL68, saying it would support the impendingUSS Harry S. Trumancarrier repair cycle.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"YRBM – Berthing Barge".www.globalsecurity.org.Retrieved18 February2022.
- ^ab"The Navy has a floating barracks that is somehow worse than living on an actual ship".Task & Purpose.26 July 2021.Retrieved4 February2022.
- ^abCastell, Marcus (2003–2005)."The Turbo Electric Vessel Rangatira of 1971".The New Zealand Maritime Record. Archived fromthe originalon 14 September 2013.Retrieved29 May2013.
- ^ab"Repair Barges (YR, YRB, YRBM, YRDH, YRDM, YRR)".
- ^ab"Navy to Replace 70-Year-Old Berthing Barges".www.nationaldefensemagazine.org.Retrieved4 February2022.
- ^"APL 67 Sails Away From Pascagoula".Naval Sea Systems Command.Retrieved4 February2022.
- ^"APL 67".Naval Vessel Register.Retrieved4 February2022.
- ^"APL 68".Naval Vessel Register.Retrieved4 February2022.
- ^abNew Temporary Home for USS Truman Sailors Features More Privacy, Better Computer Access, Navy Says,Military.com, 20222-11-22
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.