USS Dewey (YFD-1) was a floating dry dock built for the United States Navy in 1905, and named for American Admiral George Dewey. The auxiliary floating drydock was towed to her station in the Philippines in 1906 and remained there until scuttled by American forces in 1942, to prevent her falling into the hands of the invading Japanese.
USS Pennsylvania in drydock Dewey, c. 1906–1907
Empty Dewey drydock with USS Jason in background in 1928
Auxiliary floating drydock
An auxiliary floating drydock is a type of US Navy auxiliary floating dry dock. Floating dry docks are able to submerge underwater and to be placed under a ship in need of repair below the water line. Water is then pumped out of the floating dry dock, raising the ship out of the water. The ship becomes blocked on the deck of the floating dry dock for repair. Most floating dry docks have no engine and are towed by tugboats to their destinations. Floating dry docks come in different sizes to accommodate varying ship sizes, while large floating dry docks come in sections and can be combined to increase their size and lift power. Ballast pontoon tanks are flooded with water to submerge or pumped dry to raise the ship.
USS Artisan (ABSD-1) with USS Antelope (IX-109) and LST-120 in the dock at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, 8 January 1945
Los Alamos (AFDB-7), with a repaired submarine at Holy Loch, Scotland in 1985
YFD-2 The first Yard Floating Dock built in 1901, arriving Pearl Harbor 23 October 1940 from New Orleans Naval Yard
USS Pennsylvania in drydock USS Dewey, the second YFD, c. 1906–1907