USS Piedmont AD 17 – History, Service Record & Navy Decals
USS Piedmont (AD-17): The Pacific Fleet's Steadfast Repair Ship
For the destroyermen who depended on her and the dedicated sailors who served aboard her, USS Piedmont (AD-17) was an indispensable force multiplier — a floating repair depot that kept America's destroyers combat-ready through decades of war and Cold War vigilance.
Ship History
USS Piedmont was a Dixie-class destroyer tender commissioned on January 5, 1944, at the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation in San Pedro, California. She was one of six ships in the Dixie class, purpose-built to provide comprehensive repair, maintenance, and logistical support to destroyer squadrons operating far from shore-based facilities.
Piedmont arrived in the Pacific Theater during the final stages of World War II, quickly establishing herself as a vital asset to the fleet. Her crew of skilled machinists, electricians, welders, and technicians could perform virtually any repair short of a full drydocking — returning damaged and worn destroyers to operational status in a fraction of the time it would have taken to send them back to a stateside shipyard.
After the war, Piedmont continued her essential mission during the Cold War era, supporting destroyer operations across the Pacific Fleet. She served at ports including San Diego, Pearl Harbor, and Subic Bay in the Philippines, providing a home away from home for the crews of countless destroyers over the years. Her ability to project repair capability forward — close to where the fleet operated — made her a strategic asset that extended the reach and endurance of the entire destroyer force.
USS Piedmont was decommissioned on January 15, 1982, after nearly four decades of distinguished service. Her hull number, AD-17, is a badge of honor for every veteran who served aboard her.
Hull Number Explained
The designation AD stands for Destroyer Tender — a vessel specifically designed and equipped to provide maintenance, repair, and logistical support to destroyer-type ships. Unlike combat vessels, destroyer tenders like Piedmont were force multipliers: by keeping destroyers operational, they extended the reach and effectiveness of the entire fleet.
Hull number 17 placed her as the fourth ship of the Dixie class, following her sister ships USS Dixie (AD-14), USS Prairie (AD-15), and USS Cascade (AD-16). The class was renowned for its versatility and the exceptional skill of the crews who operated these floating repair depots.
Fast Facts
- Commissioned: January 5, 1944
- Decommissioned: January 15, 1982
- Class: Dixie-class Destroyer Tender
- Builder: Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation
- Length: 530 feet
- Service: Nearly 38 years, Pacific Fleet
Honor Her Service
If you served aboard USS Piedmont — or want to honor a family member who did — we carry a full line of USS Piedmont (AD-17) products including license plate frames, aluminum license plates, vinyl decals, a wall clock, key rings, parking signs, and street signs:
Each item proudly displays the ship's name and hull number, made for veterans, families, and proud supporters of those who served.