AR-305 - AEOLUS

The Aeolus was intentionally sunk in 1988 30 miles from shore. Since then sand tiger sharks and many angelfish have called the ship home. The Aeolus is lying on its starboard side. Great wreck diving and easy penetration. Bow 34° 16.700' / 076° 38.592' Stern 34° 16.683' / 076° 38.650' USS Aeolus (ARC-3) began service as USS Turandot (AKA-47), an Artemis-class attack cargo ship built by the Walsh-Kaiser Co., Inc. of Providence, Rhode Island. In the mid-1950s, she was converted into a cable repair ship to support the SOSUS program. She performed cable duties for nearly thirty years. During her career, Aeolus received three Meritorious Unit Commendations (in 1970, 1971, and 1973). Aeolus continued performing cable installations and repairs until 1985, when she was decommissioned and placed in the James River reserve fleet near Ft. Eustis, VA. In 1987 she was transferred to the State of North Carolina, and in 1988 was sunk to form an artificial reef. Name: USS Aeolus Launched: 20 May 1945 Recommissioned: 14 March 1955 Decommissioned: 1985 Reclassified: T-ARC-3, 1973 Struck: 28 March 1985 Motto: Ubique (Latin: "Everywhere") Class and type: Artemis-class attack cargo ship Displacement: 4,087 long tons (4,153 t) light 7,080 long tons (7,194 t) full Length: 439 ft (134 m) Beam: 58 ft (18 m) Draft: 19 ft (5.8 m) Propulsion: Turbo-electric, two shafts Speed: 16.9 knots (31.3 km/h; 19.4 mph) The Aeolus is available by a 1-1/2 to 2 hour boat ride from Morehead City/Beaufort. AR-305 - AEOLUS is also known as AR-305 - 439' US Navy Cable Layer "AEOLUS".