Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:
Laid down, 8 April 1943, as SS Samuel Bowles a Maritime Commission type (EC-2-S-C1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 981) at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, MD.
Launched, 14 May 1943
Acquired by the Navy, 24 May 1943, from the Maritime Commission and converted to an Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship at Maryland Drydock Co, Baltimore, MD.
Commissioned USS Luzon (ARG-2), 12 October 1943, CDR. Elmer R. Runquist in command
During World War II USS Luzon was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
Following World War II USS Luzon performed occupation service in the Far East from 3 October to 24 December 1945
Decommissioned, 25 March 1947, at Orange, TX.
Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange, TX.
Recommissioned, 20 September 1950, CDR. W. F. Christie in command
During the Korean War USS Luzon participated in the following campaign:
Korean War Campaign
Campaign and Dates
Korea, Summer-Fall 1953, 14 to 17 July 1953
Decommissioned, 3 June 1960, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
Transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1961
USS Luzon earned one battle star for Korean War service
Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 26 August 1974, to Sangyong Trading Co., Seoul, South Korea.
Specifications: Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(trial) Length 441' 6" Beam 56' 11" Draft 23' (lim) Speed 12.5 kts. (trial) Complement
Officers 31
Enlisted 552 Largest Boom Capacity 10 t. Armament
one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
one 3"/50 gun mount
two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts Ship's Service Generators
three 350Kw 450V A.C.
two 60Kw 120V D.C. Fuel Oil Capacity 19,540Bbls Propulsion
one General Machine Corp. vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engine
two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers 220psi 450°
single propeller, 2,500shp
After recommissioned: Luzon was recommissioned at San Diego on 3 November. After completing training off southern California, she sailed for the Far East on 9 March 1956. She arrived at Sasebo on 9 April, and began duty as station repair ship for Service Squadron 3. During the next 4 years she remained in the western Pacific, supporting peacekeeping operations of the 7th Fleet. Although based at Sasebo, she steamed to Okinawa, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and to various Japanese ports while carrying out her assigned tasks.
