SHIP NOTES: Sources (3,4,7,8)
Name: Indra (ARL-37/LST-1147) Type: Landing craft repair ship
Date Sunk: 1992 Cause: artificial reef program (AR-330)
Size (ft.): 328 x 50 x 14 Tonnage: 2125 tons
Propulsion: Diesel Location 21739.5/39570.2 & 21739.5/39570.8 (loran)
Speed: 12 knots Armanment: (1) 3" and (8) 40mm
Crew Complement: 253
USS INDRA (6)
Insignia of the USS INDRA (6)
SHIP HISTORY: Sources (3,4,7,8)

USS Indra (ARL-37), Achelous class landing craft repair ship, was laid down as LST-1147 on 12 February 1945; reclassified while building and launched as ARL-37 by Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., Seneca, Ill., 21 May 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Regina Hlubek - placed in reduced commission and brought to Bethlehem-Key Highway Shipyard, Baltimore, for conversion, and commissioned 2 October 1945, Lt. Comdr. R. J. Siegelman in command.

After shakedown Indra sailed to Green Cove Springs, Fla., where she remained from 30 November 1945 until 8 May 1946. She then steamed through the Panama Canal to San Diego, arriving 4 June. The ship remained in California until departing 7 January 1947 for the Far East. Indra arrived Tsingtao 19 February to support American Marines there attempting to stabilize the volatile Chinese situation and protect American lives and property. She performed repair and general services there and at Shanghai until 30 August, when she sailed for San Diego. Upon her arrival 25 September 1947, Indra decommissioned 6 October and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego group.

After two decades in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Indra was recommissioned in December 1967. She arrived in the Republic of Vietnam in May 1968 to serve as a tender and floating base for the Mobile Riverine Force. Following her return to the United States, she decommissioned in May 1970 and rejoined the Reserve Fleet. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in 1989, USS Indra was disposed of by transfer to the State of North Carolina in January 1992.

USS INDRA in the 1960's (6)
DIVING NOTES:
Diving Depths: 30 to 60 ft.
Current: none to slight
Visibility: 20-30 ft.
Summer Temperature: mid to high 70s
Points of Interest: intact ship
Fish/Animal Life: usual inshore species — barracuda, amberjack, toadfish, sea bass, baitfish and other small fish; flounder at certains times of the year.
Description: This is one of those dives that can be a pleasant surprise for the off-shore NC deep diver — one can actually take a leisurely stroll around the wreck without having to worry about decompression time or checking your pressure gauge every couple of minutes! Just don't come here too often— and don't come here expecting offshore conditions. It is pretty rare for the viz or temp to approach Gulf Stream conditions, but it can happen! The wreck is so close to the surface though that any bright sun will make the viz appear better than it would be on deeper wreck. The Indra hull is completely intact so navigation is easy. And unlike the Theodore Parker, there are still some deck levels and structure which make the dive more interesting for you and the fish. According to the site map for AR-330, there are supposed to be some aircraft wreckage (F-4 and C-130s) a couple of hundred yards to the west of the Indra and some boxcars a couple of hundred yards to the southwest. I have never been on them.

PHOTOS:
Copyright © 2000 by Paul M. Hudy
Bollards on the deck
Looking down the starboard side
Miscellaneous items on the deck
Bow point of the Indra Remains of superstructure at the stern

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