LION units

This is a definition for a LION:
LION: A large advanced base unit consisting of all the personnel and material necessary for the establishment of a major all-purpose naval base. It is made up of a large number of functional components which enable the base to perform voyage repairs and minor battle-damage repairs to a major portion of a fleet.

The definition above comes from the following book:
Carter, Worrall Reed. "Beans, Bullets, and Black Oil. From The Story of Fleet Logistics Afloat in the Pacific During World War II." (Washington, DC: Govt. Printing Office, 1953): 458.

At one time our Operational Archives Branch http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/nhcorg10.htm
at the Naval Historical Center, apparently used to have reports on LION units, so you may want to check with that branch.

You might see the units listed in documents as ABD-LION (number)
The acronym ABD can stand for Advance Base Dock or Advance Base Depot.

Some photographs of (or from) LION units 2 and 4 circa 1944 are available at the National Archives in College Park, MD http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/college-park/index.html

in Record Group 38, Records of the Chief of Naval Operations http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/038.html


specifically Record Group 38.4.16, Other ONI Records http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/038.html#38.4.16 <http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/038.html> .

Contact information for the National Archives is as follows:
Modern Military Branch
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
301-837-3510
1-866-272-6272
http://www.archives.gov/contact/

inquire@nara.gov

The National Archives in College Park also may have other information concerning LION units, such as after-action reports or unit rosters or some sort of war diaries.
We recommend you consult a reference professional at the National Archives for more assistance.

Lastly, you might be able to obtain some additional information about these LION units from the Seabee Museum and History Office at Port Hueneme, CA https://portal.navfac.navy.mil/portal/page?_pageid=181,3446173,181_5309880&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Director or Curator
US Navy Seabee Museum NFELC
1000 23rd Ave
Bldg 99, Code HO
Port Hueneme CA 93043
(805) 982-5165, 5167