USS ABSD-6

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ABSD-6 is an advanced base sectional dock which was constructed of nine advance base docks (ABD) sections for the US Navy as an auxiliary floating drydock for World War II.

The two side walls were folded down under tow to reduce wind resistance and lower the center of gravity.

On an island in the harbor at Guam the Navy built a base to support the crew of ABSD-6 and ABSD-3.

Due to South Dakota's 36.3 ft (11.1 m) draft with a full load, the battleship had to unload much of her ammunition and fuel oil before entering AFDB-6.

Another large ship repaired and painted was USS Makin Island, a 7,800-ton Casablanca-class escort carrier.

Some of the ships repaired by ABSD-6 at Guam: ABSD-6 was decommissioned on 29 June 1946 and laid up in the US Navy Reserve Fleet.

USS ABSD-6 submerged, USS ABSD-6 repaired USS South Dakota in Guam. Repairs were done in ABSD-6 dry dock after an accidental explosion damaged her on 6 May 1945, while rearming from USS Wrangell
USS Makin Island halfway into USS ABSD-6, at Guam, 8 June 1945.
USS LST-646 and USS LST-662 in ABSD-6, in Apra Harbor, Guam, 29 May 1945
USS ABSD-6 being assembled at Apra Harbor, Guam in 1945
ABSD-6's Section D and one crane under tow to Guam. pontoons are folded down to reduce wind resistance and lower center of gravity
ABSD-6's sister ship, USS ABSD-3 at Guam, to the rear right of ABSD-3 is the land base that supported ABSD-6 and ABSD-3 crew