Barracks ship or barracks barge are terms used to indicate a ship or a non-self-propelled barge containing a superstructure of a type suitable for use as a temporary barracks for sailors. A barracks ship may also be used as a "Receiving Unit" for sailors who need temporary residence prior to being assigned to their ship. In civilian use the terms accommodation vessel or accommodation ship are used.
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Barracks ships in the combat area provided necessary residence for sailors and merchantmen whose ship had been sunk, or whose ship had been so damaged that on-board berthing was no longer possible.
Non-self-propelled barracks ships were used by the U.S. Navy in forward areas during World War II, especially in the Pacific Ocean, and were designated APL, such as APL-18 which was commissioned in 1944 and had the following specifications:
Transport ships were also used as barracks by other war-time navies, such as the Kriegsmarine's SS General San Martin.
Barrack ships were common during the era of sailing ships when shore facilities were scarce or non-existent. Barrack ships were usually hulks. At times, barracks ships were also used as prison ships.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
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