USS Krishna ( ARL - 38 ) USS " Krishna " ( ARL - 38 ) was one of 39 " Achelous " - class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II . Named for Krishna ( a deity worshipped across many traditions of Hinduism ) , she was the only U . S . Naval vessel to bear the name , and only one of two ships ( along with the USS " Indra " ) to be named after a Hindu deity . Originally classified " LST - 1149 " , " Krishna " was reclassified " ARL - 38 " on 14 August 1944 ; laid down 23 February 1945 by Chicago Bridge & Iron Company of Seneca , Illinois ; launched 25 May 1945 ; sponsored by Mrs . Eva Best Smith ; placed in reduced commission during transfer to Mobile , Alabama for conversion ; and commissioned 3 December 1945 at Mobile , with LT Lyle E . Brown in command . Service history . Departing Mobile 8 January 1946 " Krishna " arrived Norfolk 14 January for duty with Amphibious Group 2 at Little Creek , Virginia . For more than 19 years the landing craft repair ship operated out of Little Creek , during which time support - and - repair operations carried her from Baffin Bay to the Caribbean . From 25 May to 31 August 1951 while under the command of CDR Harold C . " Brownie " Brown she participated in " Operation Blue Jay " during the initial phase of establishing the large air base at Thule , Greenland . While at Little Creek she made annual deployments to Puerto Rico , the Virgin Islands , and other Caribbean islands supporting amphibious landing exercises . " Krishna " departed Little Creek 5 October 1964 and sailed to waters off southern Spain , arriving at Huelva 26 October . While there she participated in " Operation Steel Pike " ( the largest amphibious landing operation since World War II , which sent more than 28 , 000 2nd Division Marines storming the shores on a mock invasion ) . One of 84 naval ships , " Krishna " provided support and replenishment services during this impressive exercise that clearly illustrated the strength and diversity of American naval sea power and emphasized the Navy ' s ability and readiness to move a vast amphibious force to any shore if needed in keeping the peace . Departing Huelva 4 November , " Krishna " steamed to the East Coast via Oporto , Portugal , and arrived Little Creek 29 November . Vietnam . From 1 December to 22 February 1965 " Krishna " reactivated the , and on 1 June she was assigned to Service Force , Pacific Fleet . Departing Little Creek , she steamed via Pearl Harbor and Guam for duty in the Far East . Operating out of Subic Bay , Philippines , she reached the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Vietnam 17 September and began duty as support ship for patrol craft of U . S . Coast Guard Squadron One based on Phu Quoc Island . While the cutters patrolled coastal waters to prevent infiltration of ammunition and supplies to the Viet Cong , " Krishna " served as a repair facility and fueling station as well as an operations , communications , and command center . Later in the year she also provided services for eight 50 - foot " Swift " launches that arrived to strengthen the coastal surveillance program . " Krishna " remained on station until 1 December when she departed for Bangkok , Thailand , arriving 3 December . She returned to her various support duties in the Gulf of Thailand 11 December . In February " Krishna " raised and salvaged fast patrol craft " PCF - 4 " . On 30 April , men from " Krishna " helped extinguish a fire in An Thoi , a South Vietnam ese village . She had a number of distinguished visitors through 1966 , including Secretary of the Navy Paul H . Nitze on 15 July . On 21 July the landing craft repair ship headed for Sasebo , Japan with a stopover at Kaoshiung , Taiwan on 29 July to provide repair facilities , arriving Sasebo 9 August . " Krishna " departed Sasebo for Vietnam 22 September , arriving in the Gulf of Siam 7 October to resume her WestPac mission . " Krishna " continued to patrol off the coast of Vietnam through 1966 into 1967 . During the Vietnam War " Krishna " participated in the following campaigns : " Krishna " earned twelve battle star s for service during the Vietnam War . Fate . Decommissioned on 15 September 1971 at Subic Bay , " Krishna " was struck from the Naval Vessel Register the same day . Sold to the Republic of the Philippines 30 October 1971 and renamed RPS " Narra " ( AR - 88 ) , her final fate is unknown .