ARL-7
Displacement 2120
Length 328'
Beam 50'
Draw 14'
Speed 11.6 k
Complement 255
Armament 1 3"
Class Achelous

The Atlas (ARL-7) was launched as LST-281 19 October 1943 by Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca, Ill.; sponsored by Mrs. Nettie Singer, placed in reduced commission 1 November 1943, placed out of commission 14 December 1943, converted into an auxiliary repair ship: recommissioned as Atlas (ARL - 7) 8 February 1944, Lieutenant B. A. Nesbitt, USNR, In command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.

In April 1944 Atlas arrived in the British Isles to prepare for the invasion of Europe. On 7 June she departed Plymouth, England, and sailed to the artificial harbor at St. .Martin de Varreville, France Between 7 and 25, June 1944 she performed her mission of repair and salvage on amphibious craft. Atlas remained in the Channel area until 16 April 1945 when she departed Plymouth, England, and returned to Norfolk, Va., arriving 5 May.

On 8 July Atlas transited the Panama Canal, reporting to the Pacific Fleet on the 10th. Between 15 August 1945 and 24 May 1946 she operated at Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Guam and then reported to Astoria, Oreg., for inactivation. Atlas was placed out of commission in reserve there 13 September 1946.

Recommissioned l June 1951, Atlas operated along the west coast until 12 November 1951 when she departed for the Far East. Arriving at Yokosuka, Japan, 20 December 1961, she provided repair services to ships participating in Korean operations until 24 September 1952 when she departed for San Diego, arriving 24 October.

Between November 1952 and November 1955 Atlas operated along the west coast and made two more extended Far Eastern cruises (16 March-7 November 1954 and 16 March-19 October 1955). On 14 November 1955 she reported to Astoria for inactivation and was placed out of commission in reserve there 5 April 1956.

Atlas received one battle star for her World War II service.