{{Short description|AFDM-3-class dry dock of the United States Navy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = AFDM3centersectionlaterYFD-6floatedPanamaCanal.jpg | image_caption = USS ''YFD-6'' }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | way_number = | commissioned = 9 December 1943 | acquired = 1 December 1943 | completed = | launched = | laid_down = January 1943 | yard_number = | country = United States | original_cost = | builder = Chicago Bridge & Iron Company | awarded = | ordered = | name = ''YFD-6'' | flag = {{shipboxflag|United States|naval}} | decommissioned = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = yes | identification = *Callsign: NAHY *{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Alpha}}{{ICS|Hotel}}{{ICS|Yankee}} | notes = | fate = *Leased to Alabama Shipbuilding, 1999 *Sold to Alabama Shipbuilding, 2002 | honors = ''See Awards'' | struck = 15 November 2000 | reclassified = AFDM-3, 1946 }}
|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | power = | capacity = | complement = 4 officers, 146 enlisted | range = | speed = | propulsion = | draft = {{convert|7|-|15|ft|m|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|124|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}} | length = {{convert|622|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}} | displacement = *{{convert|6,800|t|LT|0|abbr=on}}, light load *{{convert|8,000|t|LT|0|abbr=on}}, full load | class = ''AFDM-3''-class floating drydock | notes = }} }}
'''USS ''AFDM-3''''', (former '''''YFD-6'''''), was the lead ship of the ''AFDM-3''-class floating dry dock built in 1943 and operated by the United States Navy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=6 June 2002|title=No Name (AFDM 3) |url={{Naval Vessel Register URL|AFDM-3}} |access-date=8 February 2022|website=Naval Vessel Register}}</ref>
== Construction and career == ''YFD-6'' was built at the Chicago Bridge and Iron Shipyard, in Chicago, Illinois in January 1943. She was commissioned on 9 December 1943.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock (AFDM)|url=https://www.navsource.net/archives/09/28/2803.htm|access-date=2022-02-08|website=NavSource}}</ref>
From 24 to 26 June 1944, {{USS|Larch|YN-16}} was dry-docked inside ''YFD-6''.<ref>{{Cite DANFS |title=Larch (YN-16)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/larch.html|access-date=2022-02-08}}</ref> In late December 1944, {{USS|Arikara|AT-98}} voyaged to Trinidad where she took ''YFD-6'' in tow before continuing on to the Panama Canal.<ref>{{Cite DANFS |title=Arikara (AT-98)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/arikara.html|access-date=2022-02-08}}</ref> On 26 June 1945, ''YFD-6'' was prepared transiting the Panama Canal, circa 1945. ''YFD-6''<nowiki/>'s center section fully turned 90 degrees, floating on its side with the support of a thousand Navy pontoons installed atop the wing wall. This work, done by Navy SeaBees, was necessary to allow the drydock section to fit through the canal's locks. {{USS|YT-355}}, {{USS|Alarka|YTB-229}} and {{USS|Umpqua|ATA-209}} guided and towed the dry dock through the canal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NH 98828 Floating drydock YFD-6 (center section)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-98000/NH-98828.html|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Naval History and Heritage Command |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=NH 98829 Floating drydock YFD-6 (center section)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-98000/NH-98829.html|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Naval History and Heritage Command |language=en-US}}</ref> In AUgust 1946, the dry dock was re-designated as ''AFDM-3''. {{USS|Gauger|YO-55}} towed ''AFDM-3'' and steaming in company with {{USS|Bluebird|ASR-19}}, {{USS|Cahuilla|ATF-152}} and {{USS|Tawakoni|ATF-114}}, she reached Pearl Harbor on 12 October 1946.<ref>{{Cite DANFS |title=Gauger (YO-55) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/g/gauger.html|access-date=2022-02-08}}</ref> In latter 1948, ''AFDM-3'' and {{USS|Sustain|AFDM-7}} arrived at the Balboa yard to be prepared to transit the Panama Canal similarly to {{USS|AFDM-1}}.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nzIiypWUX-UC&dq=AFDM-3&pg=PA30|title=Annual Report of the Governor of the Panama Canal for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1949 |date=1949 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page=30|language=en}}</ref>
Throughout 1950, The US Navy done heavy workload on ''AFDM-3'', USS AFDM-7 and {{USS|AFDM-9}}.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qsUhAQAAMAAJ&dq=AFDM-3&pg=RA15-PA37|title=Annual Report of the Governor of the Panama Canal for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1935 |date=1935 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=37|language=en}}</ref>
In 1986, ''AFDM-3'', {{USS|ARD-10}} and {{USS|ARD-16}} were all laid up in Mobile, Alabama.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7vwvAQAAMAAJ&dq=AFDM-3&pg=PA93|title=The Port of Mobile, Alabama|date=1986|publisher=The Corps|page=93|language=en}}</ref>
In 1999, the dry dock was leased to the Bender Shipbuilding and Repair Company.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o4JhVxc4XEEC&dq=AFDM-3+alabama&pg=PA533|title=United States Statutes at Large|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|date=13 July 2000|page=114 STAT. 533|language=en}}</ref>
The ''AFDM-6'' was struck from the Naval Register on 15 November 2000.<ref name=":0" /> On 1 April 2002, it was sold to the company in Mobile.<ref name=":1" />
In 2010, the Bender Shipbuilding Company was declared bankrupt thus all systems were acquired by the Signal International. After 2018, the shipyard was sold to World Marine of Alabama.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 October 2020|title=Bender Shipbuilding |url=http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/large/bender.htm|access-date=8 February 2022|website=Shipbuilding History}}</ref>
== Awards == * American Campaign Medal * Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal * World War II Victory Medal
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{navsource|09/28/2803}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:AFDM-3}} Category:World War II auxiliary ships of the United States Category:Floating drydocks of the United States Navy Category:1943 ships Category:Ships built in Chicago