USS Diver (ARS-5) underway, date and location unknown. | |
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Name | USS Diver |
Builder | Basalt Rock Company |
Laid down | 6 April 1942 |
Launched | 19 December 1942 |
Commissioned | 23 October 1943 |
Decommissioned | 27 July 1946 |
Stricken | date unknown |
Fate | Sold, 12 April 1949 |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | 1,441 tons |
Displacement | 1,630 tons |
Length | 213 ft 6 in (65.07 m) |
Beam | 39 ft (12 m) |
Draft | 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) |
Propulsion | diesel-electric, twin screws, 2,780 hp |
Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h) |
Complement | 120 |
Armament | two 40 mm AA gun mounts; four 0.5 in (12.7 mm). machine guns |
USS Diver (ARS-5) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels.
Diver (ARS-5) was launched 19 December 1942 by Basalt Rock Company in Napa, California; sponsored by Mrs. F. M. Young; and commissioned 23 October 1943.
Diver arrived at Falmouth, England, from Norfolk, Virginia, 15 February 1944. After 3 days of salvage training operations at Rosneath Bay, Scotland, she reported to Portland, England, 27 March, for preparations for the coming invasion of Normandy.
On 26 June she got underway for Baie de la Seine, France, where she was attached to the Salvage, Wreck Disposal, Mine Disposal, and Hydrographic Survey Unit. She rescued 30 survivors of the Norwegian freighter SS Norfolk , sunk by mine while on her way to Cherbourg on 20 July and 21 July, then reported for salvage operations at Utah beach and Omaha beach. She arrived at Le Havre 11 November to continue her salvage work. Sailing to aid a torpedoed British transport 28 December Diver struck an unmarked submerged obstacle and returned to Le Havre for emergency repairs. Permanent repairs were made at Dieppe, from 6 January to 21 January 1945, after which Diver returned to Le Havre to continue her salvage work.
Diver sailed for Bremerhaven, Germany, 15 June 1945, by way of Ostend, Belgium, and Den Helder, the Netherlands. From her arrival 22 June she served as guard, ready duty, salvage, and local escort vessel. On 23 August she moved to Brake, Germany, to stand by for any damage to shipping in the Weser River. She left Bremerhaven 4 October with 41 naval passengers and arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, 22 October for overhaul.
From 9 February to 16 February 1946, Diver was at New York to assist in relieving the harbor congestion caused by a tugboat strike. She served on towing duty between New London, Connecticut, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from 18 April to 13 May.
On 27 May she arrived at Orange, Texas, where she was decommissioned, 27 July 1946. Diver was sold 12 April 1949.
Diver received one battle star for World War II service:
Her crew was eligible for the following medals:
USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167) was a cutter of the United States Coast Guard, homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska. She was originally USS Shackle (ARS-9), a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the United States Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels and received three battle stars during World War II, before a long career with the Coast Guard. Acushnet patrolled the waters of the North Pacific and was one of the last World War II era ships on active duty in the US fleet upon her retirement in 2011.
USS Brant (AM-24) was a Lapwing-class minesweeper in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named by the U.S. Navy for the brant, a small goose.
USS Cable (ARS-19) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean theater of the war. Because of the bravery of her crew in dangerous combat areas, she returned home after the war's end with three battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation.
USS Escape (ARS-6) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the United States Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Grapple (ARS-7) is a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1977. In 1977, she was sold to Taiwan and was renamed ROCS Da Hu (ARS-552).
USS Preserver (ARS-8) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels. Preserver was laid down by Basalt Rock Company in Napa, California, 26 October 1942, launched 1 April 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Walter F. LaFranz, and commissioned 11 January 1944.
USS Shackle (ARS-9) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Extricate (ARS-16) was an Anchor-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Chain (ARS-20/T-AGOR-17) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Curb (ARS-21) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Current (ARS-22) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Deliver (ARS-23) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Grasp (ARS-24) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Clamp (ARS-33) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Gear (ARS-34) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Weight (ARS-35) was a Weight-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Swivel (ARS-36) was a Weight-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Hoist (ARS-40) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the United States Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Opportune (ARS-41) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the United States Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Recovery (ARS-43) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship of the United States Navy, which remained in commission for over 48 years.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.