USS Waterford (ARD-5)

Waterford (ARD-5) was originally the unnamed, steel-hulled, auxiliary repair drydock ARD-5. She was completed in June 1942 at Alemeda, California, by the Pacific Bridge Company. During the war, she served Pearl Harbor and San Francisco. At the end of World War II she was serving at the navy yard at Mare Island, California. She remained there until shifting to the east coast to serve the repair needs of the Atlantic Fleet. ARD-5 was named Waterford on 17 November 1976. She remained active, "in service" with the Atlantic Fleet into 1979—serving Groton and Naval Submarine Base New London. In 1984, Waterford assisted in repairs of the USS Sculpin.

Fate

In February 1997, the nuclear research submarine NR-1 docked, and undocked by late March.[5] Waterford was decommissioned on 9 September 1997, and struck from the Naval Register on 1 October 1997. On 10 March 1999, she was disposed of via the Security Assistance Program to the Republic of Chile. She was renamed Talcahuano (133) on 30 August 1999.

International radio call sign of USS Waterford (ARD-5)
November	Charlie	Echo	Alpha

• - NavSource, ARD-5 WATERFORD
• - The USS Waterford
• Page 40-43, All Hands Magazine, March 1984
• - U.S. Naval Register, ARD-5
• - Navy Crew List ARD-5

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.