The USS Cebu (ARG-6) was a Luzon-class internal combustion engine repair ship that served the United States Navy during World War II. Originally laid down as the liberty ship SS Francis P. Duffy on September 21, 1943, by the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland, she was launched on October 18, 1943, and acquired by the Navy on October 27, 1943. She was commissioned on April 15, 1944, and identified by the hull number ARG-6. Designed for repair and maintenance, Cebu specialized in providing shops and trained personnel for internal combustion engine repairs, but her operational scope extended to repairs of various ship components, including ship's clocks and major work on battleships. Her service record highlights her active role in the Pacific Theater, beginning with her arrival at Manus in the Admiralty Islands on September 10, 1944. There, she supported the preparations for the Philippine invasion, often working tirelessly to ready ships for critical operations. A notable incident occurred on November 10, 1944, at Manus, when Cebu was only 800 yards from the explosion of the ammunition ship Mount Hood. Bomb fragments and projectiles showered her decks, resulting in five fatalities and six injuries. Despite the damage, Cebu sustained no serious harm and continued her repair duties, contributing to the success of the Lingayen Gulf and Iwo Jima assaults. Throughout 1945, Cebu operated at Ulithi and Leyte, providing vital repair services amidst ongoing combat and kamikaze attacks. She also supported occupation duties at Okinawa and Japan until March 1946 and prepared for atomic tests at Bikini and Kwajalein in mid-1946. She was decommissioned on June 30, 1947, and placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Stockton, California. Later, she was transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1961, reverting to her original name, Francis P. Duffy, before being sold for scrapping in 1973. Cebu earned one battle star for her World War II service, marking her contributions to the naval efforts in the Pacific.

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