Enriquillo Historical Background

Historical Background

Photo Courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command

The Enriquillo was originally constructed as ATA-193 on October 26th, 1944 in Orange, TX. by the Levingston Shipbuilding Co. It was launched on November 24th, 1944 and commissioned on February 1st, 1945. The ship completed shakedown out of Galveston, TX. along the Gulf coast between 11 February and 2 March. ATA-193 was in service during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, participating in the Okinawa Gunto Operation under the command of LT. Allen Oliver. The ship was then decommissioned in September 1946. In July 1948, ATA-193 was renamed the USS Stallion and remained assigned to the 16th (reserve) fleet until July 19th, 1949, when she was assigned to Hydrographic Survey in the Persian Gulf. The Stallion spent several months operating in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf. 

The USS Stallion saw service throughout the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf until 1952, when she returned to Norfolk, Virginia. The Stallion operated in the United States for the Naval Ordnance Laboratory until 1969 assisting NOL in ordinance evaluation tests when the ship was decommissioned. In 1970 she was transferred to the Dominican Republic under the Security Assistance Program where the Dominican Navy renamed the Stallion to the Enriquillo (RM-22). The ship was named after a famous Taino cacique who rebelled against the Spanish in the early 16th century. The Enriquillo was retired by the Dominican Navy in 2006 and sunk as an artificial reef, where it now sits in about 60 feet of water. 

(Naval History and Heritage Command)

Enriquillo (RM-22), Indiana University.
Enriquillo (RM-22), Indiana University.
Enriquillo (RM-22), Indiana University.

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