The USS Atlas (ARL-7) was an Achelous-class landing craft repair ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Originally laid down as LST-231 on June 3, 1943, in Seneca, Illinois, by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, she was launched on October 19, 1943. She was sponsored by Mrs. Nettie Singer and was later renamed Atlas and redesignated ARL-7 on November 3, 1943. Following her commissioning on November 15, 1943, she was transported to Baltimore for conversion into a landing craft repair ship, completed by early February 1944. Her service began with shakedown training along the Atlantic coast before departing Boston in March 1944, heading to the British Isles via Halifax. She arrived in Milford Haven, Wales, and subsequently Falmouth, England, where she remained until May. During the invasion of Europe, although not present at D-Day, Atlas arrived in Plymouth shortly after, on June 8, 1944, and commenced repairing damaged landing craft under enemy air attack, operating along the English Channel for the remainder of the European campaign. After concluding her European duties in April 1945, Atlas returned to the United States, arriving in Norfolk in May for repairs and preparing for Pacific service. She transited the Panama Canal in July and arrived in San Diego in late July 1945. Post-Japan's surrender, she moved through Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Guam, providing repair services in the Pacific theater until late 1945. She continued operations in the Pacific until April 1946, after which she was decommissioned in September 1946 and placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Reactivated in June 1951 amidst the Korean War, Atlas operated along the West Coast before deploying to Japan, where she serviced vessels involved in the conflict, mainly at Yokosuka and Sasebo. She returned to California in October 1952, then resumed Far East operations in 1954, including service in Indochina, providing repair, communication, and support services. Her final deployment concluded in October 1955, after which she returned to San Diego. Atlas was decommissioned on April 13, 1956, and berthed with the Astoria Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. She remained in reserve until her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on June 1, 1972, and was sold for scrapping in September 1973. Throughout her service, she earned one battle star for her World War II operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.