page_title: Repair ship
section_title: United States Navy
hierarchical_section_title: Repair ship / United States Navy
caption_attribution_description: English: The U.S. Navy repair ship USS Vulcan (AR-5) tied up at pier 9 at Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia (USA) on 29 June 1992. The Vulcan had returned to Norfolk following deployment in the Persian Gulf area during "Operation Desert Storm". Behind Vulcan lies USS Nashville (LPD-13), an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, on the opposite side of the pier lies an Iwo Jima-class helicopter carrier.
context_page_description: A repair ship is a naval auxiliary ship designed to provide maintenance support to warships. Repair ships provide similar services to destroyer, submarine and seaplane tenders or depot ships, but may offer a broader range of repair capability including equipment and personnel for repair of more significant machinery failures or battle damage.
context_section_description: The United States Navy became aware of the need for repair ships to maintain Asiatic Fleet ships stationed in the Philippines. Two colliers were converted to USS Prometheus and Vestal in 1913 before the purpose-built USS Medusa was completed at the Puget Sound Navy Yard in 1923.
  USS Medusa (AR-1)
  USS Bridgeport (AR-2)
  USS Prometheus (AR-3)
  USS Vestal (AR-4)
  USS Vulcan (AR-5)
  USS Ajax (AR-6)
  USS Hector (AR-7)
  USS Jason (AR-8)
  USS Delta (AR-9)
  USS Alcor (AR-10)
  USS Rigel (AR-11)
  USS Briareus (AR-12)
  USS Amphion (AR-13)
  USS Cadmus (AR-14)
  USS Xanthus (AR-19)
  USS Laertes (AR-20)
  USS Dionysus (AR-21)
  USS Klondike (AR-22)
  USS Markab (AR-23)
  USS Grand Canyon (AR-28)
caption: With a capable crew of qualified repairmen, USS Vulcan was kept in good repair for a long service life.
exif: {}