Directory of TUGS OF THE SUBMARINE RESCUE VESSELS FLEET

Transcription

Directory of TUGS
OF THE SUBMARINE RESCUE VESSELS
FLEET - ARS
(source: Navsource, composed Hans van der Ster)
ASR-1 – Widgeon
Lapwing Class Minesweeper::
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Laid down, 8 October 1917 at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, PA
Launched 5 May 1918
Commissioned USS Widgeon, Minesweeper No.22, 27 July 1918
Designated AM-22, 17 February 1920
Decommissioned, 15 April 1922 for conversion to a Salvage Vessel at Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, SC
Recommissioned 5 March 1923 as AM-22 with salvage capability
Reclassified as a Submarine Rescue Ship, ASR-1, 22 June 1936
Decommissioned, 5 February 1947
Struck from the Navy Register 23 December 1947
Sold for scrap to the Basalt Rock Co. of Napa, CA. Laid down 18 October 1917 by the New Jersey Drydock
and Transportation Co., Elizabethport, NJ;
Specifications:
• Displacement 1.400 t
• Length 187' 10" x Beam 37' 6" x Draft 13' 2"
• Speed 14 kts
• Complement 91
• Armament two 3"/50 dual purpose mounts
• Propulsion two Babcock and Wilcox 200psi saturated steam boilers, one 1,400shp Sun Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Co. vertical triple expansion engine, one shaft.
Widgeon (ASR-1)
A fresh water duck.
Widgeon (Minesweeper No. 22) was laid down on 8 October 1917 at Chester, Pa., by the Sun Shipbuilding Co.;
launched on 5 May 1918; sponsored by Miss Mildred Moyer; and commissioned on 27 July 1918, Lt. Comdr. John
A. Monroe in command. Widgeon served with Minesweeping Group 2 of the Atlantic Fleet during the last months
of World War I. After the armistice, she was assigned to the North Sea Minesweeping Detachment and departed
Boston, Mass., on 28 June 1919, bound for Scotland. Arriving at Kirkwall on 10 July, Widgeon operated in the
North Sea between Scotland and Norway, sweeping up mines sown by the Allies the year before to deter the
German High Seas Fleet. These duties, often difficult and dangerous kept the minesweeper occupied through the
summer of 1919. Following the conclusion of the operation, Widgeon headed home via Brest, France; Punta
Delgada, Azores; and Hamilton, Bermuda-and arrived at New York on 19 November 1919.
** J.v.d.Ster – Marcol Production **
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Widgeoen operated off the east coast through 1921. During this period, she was designated AM-22 on 17 July
1920. Selected for conversion to a salvage vessel for duty on the Pacific coast, the minesweeper was
decommissioned at Charleston, S.C., on 15 April 1922. She underwent conversion at the Charleston Navy Yard
and was recommissioned there on 5 March 1923.
Despite her new equipment, the ship retained her minesweeper designation. In a departmental letter of 21
November 1923, the Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair specified that Widgeon 's equipment be utilized to
determine "their exact capabilities in salvage work." Furthermore, "Widgeon should be considered available for
salvage or rescue work and the Commander, Submarine Divisions, Pacific, is authorized to send ... Widgeon to
render such service when needed." Operating out of Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, Widgeon served as the
primary submarine rescue vessel for the Hawaiian area. During this time, she proved her versatility by recovering
practice mines or torpedoes and served as a training ship for fleet divers. In 1926, the ship was extensively altered
to increase her capabilities as a submarine rescue vessel. The ship was finally reclassified ASR-1 on 22 Januarv
1936, over a decade after she began operating as such.
Widgeon continued her routine operations out of Pearl Harbor into the late 1930's as the world crisis deepened in
Europe and the Far East. On 7 December 1941, the submarine rescue vessel lay alongside a berth at the
submarine base at Pearl Harbor, when Japanese aircraft swept over the Pacific Fleet's base. When the raid was
over later that morning, the Pacific Fleet's battleships ceased to exist as a potential retaliatory force to threaten
Japan's massive "southern operation" in the Far East.
Despite keeping up a steady defensive fire with rifles and machine guns during the attack, Widgeon 's crewmen
did not claim to have downed any of the attackers. Then, soon after the enemy planes disappeared, smoke still
boiled into the Pacific skies as Widgeon got underway from her berth at the submarine base and set her course
for Ford Island to begin salvage operations on the overturned Oklahoma (BB-37). When she reached "Battleship
Row," she found that burning oil spewing from the shattered tanks on Arizona (BB-39) was threatening the ships
nested immediately ahead, Tennessee (BB-43) and the torpedoed West Virginia (BB- 48). Accordingly, under
orders from the Commander, Battle Force, Widgeon assisted Tern (AM-31) and YG-17 in fighting the fires.
Widgeon subsequently took part in salvaging Nevada (BB-36), California (BB-44), and Oklahoma . Her work on
Nevada earned the ship a commendation from Commander, Battle Force, and her divers conducted many a foray
into the darkened and treacherous interiors of the sunken battleships. When this work was well in hand and her
service in that capacity was no longer required, Widgeon returned to her duties with the submarines of the Pacific
Fleet. She towed targets for gunnery exercises and served as a target during torpedo-firing drills. She also
recovered practice torpedoes at the conclusion of the day's training activities.
Widgeon operated in this capacity from April 1942 to 7 September 1943, when she got underway for the California
coast. Arriving at San Diego on 18 September, the warship operated off the west coast as a torpedo recovery and
submarine rescue ship into the spring of 1944, when she was relieved by Ortolan (ASR-5). In May, Widgeon
returned to Pearl Harbor and resumed her operations as the Hawaiian-based submarine rescue vessel. She
continued this duty through the end of the war in the Pacific and into November 1945, after which time she
completed another tour at San Diego. In the summer of 1946, Widgeon -as part of Task Unit 1.2.7, the salvage
unit of Joint Task Force 1-supported Operation "Crossroads," the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.
Subsequently returning to the west coast, Widgeon was decommissioned on 5 February 1947 and struck from the
Navy list on 23 December 1947. Soon thereafter, she was sold to the Basalt Rock Co., of Napa, Calif., and
scrapped.
Widgeon received one battle star for her World War II service.
ASR-2 – Falcon
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Laid down 14 November 1917 by the Gas Engine and Power Co. and C.L. Seabury Co., Morris Heights, NY
Launched 7 September 1918
Commissioned USS Falcon, Minesweeper No. 28, 12 November 1918
Designated AM-28, 14 August 1921
Reclassified as a Submarine Rescue Vessel, ASR-2, 12 September 1929
Decommissioned 18 June 1946
Sold 12 March 1947. Fate unknown.
Specifications:
• Displacement 1,400 t.
• Length 187' 10"; Beam 37' 6"; Draft 13' 2"
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Speed 14 kts
Complement 91
Armament 20mm or smaller
Propulsion two Babcock and Wilcox 200psi saturated steam boilers, one Harlan and Hollingsworth 1,400shp
vertical triple expansion engine, one shaft.
Falcon (ASR-2)
A longwinged hawk
The third Falcon was launched 7 September 1918 by Gas Engine and Power Co., and C. L. Seabury Co., Morris
Heights, N.Y., sponsored by Mrs. W. J. Parslow; and commissioned 12 November 1918, Lieutenant B. E. Rigg in
command. She was reclassified ASR-2 on 12 September 1929. [Transcriber's Note: Having previously been
classified AM-28 14 August 1921.
From December 1918 to May 1919, Falcon served on temporary duty in the 4th Naval District as a light-ship. After
towing targets and various craft along the east coast, an occupation with salvage duty which was to be her major
employment for many years, she sailed from New York 8 August 1919 for Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland. For
2 months she aided in clearing the North Sea of the vast number of mines laid there in World War I, returning to
Charleston, S.C., 28 November 1919.
Falcon made a second voyage to European waters between March and August 1920, visiting Rosyth, Scotland,
and Brest, France, and returning by way of the Azores with a captured German submarine in tow for the Canal
Zone. Back at Hampton Roads 18 October 1920, she returned to towing, salvage, and transport duty along the
east coast. After conducting salvage operations on S-5 (SS-110) through the summer of 1921, she was assigned
permanently to submarine salvage work based at New London. She continued to perform occasional towing duty,
and from time to time sailed to the Caribbean on both salvage and towing duty.
In 1925, Falcon joined the Control Force for operations in the Canal Zone, along the west coast, and in the
Hawaiian Islands. She returned to home waters in September, and- began her part in the salvage operations on
S-51 (SS-162), in which she joined that fall and the next spring. After the submarine was raised through
determined and ingenious efforts, it was Falcon who towed her to New York in July 1926, providing air pressure
for the pontoons supporting the submarine, as well as her compartments.
Acting as tender as well as salvage ship for submarines, Falcon accompanied them to fleet exercises in waters
from Maine to the Canal Zone, and conducted many operations to develop rescue techniques, as well as training
divers. She stood by during deep submergence runs and other tests of new submarines, and played an important
role in raising Squalus (SS-192) in the summer of 1939, and in the rescue operations on O-9 (SS-70) in June
1940.
Throughout World War II, aging but still able, Falcon sailed out of New London and Portsmouth, N H in salvage,
towing and experimental operations.
When at New London, she usually served as flagship for Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet. Her only
deployment from New England waters during the war came between July and October 1943, when she conducted
diving operations and laid moorings in the anchorage at Argentia, Newfoundland. One of her most important
activities during the war was training divers, search, salvage, and rescue workers to man newer submarine rescue
ships. Falcon was decommissioned at Boston 18 June 1946, and sold 12 March 1947.
ASR-3 – Chewink
• Laid down 8 July 1918 by the Todd Shipyard Corp., New York, NY
• Launched, 21 December 1918
• Commissioned USS Chewink, Minesweeper No. 39, 9 April 1919
• Classified AM-39, 17 July 1920
• Reclassified as a Submarine Rescue Ship, ASR-3, 12 September 1929
• Decommissioned 21 August 1933 at Pearl Harbor, HI
• Recommissioned, 12 November 1940 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA
• Decommissioned, 4 February 1947 at Brooklyn, NY
• Sunk as a target 31 July 1947 off New London, CT.
Specifications:
• Displacement 1,400 t
• Speed 14 kts
• Complement 91
• Armament one 3"/50 dual purpose mount
• Propulsion two 200psi Babcock and Wilcox saturated steam boilers, Harlan and Hollingsworth Corp. 1,400shp
triple expansion vertical engine, one shaft.
Chewink
The common towhee finch of eastern North America
The first Chewink (AM-39) was launched 21 December 1918 by Todd Shipyard Corp., New York City; sponsored
by Miss M. Sperrin; and commissioned 9 April 1919, Lieutenant (junior grade) J. Williams in command. She was
reclassified ASR-3 on 12 September 1929.
Chewink sailed from Boston 23 May 1919 for Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, arriving 5 July to aid in the vast task of
clearing the North Sea minefields. She returned via Lisbon, the Azores, and Bermuda to New York, arriving 19
November, and for the next 11 years operated along the east coast and to Cuba and Puerto Rico in a variety of
duties, which included salvage, target towing, recovering mines, experimental underwater radio tests, net laying
and tending, and tending submarines. In October 1930 she sailed from New London with Submarine Division 4 for
Pearl Harbor, to be stationed there as submarine tender, until 5 January 1931, and then at Coco Solo, Canal
Zone, until August 1933. Chewink was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor 21 August 1933, remaining there until
April 1937, when her berth was changed to Mare Island Navy Yard.
Chewink recommissioned 12 November 1940, sailed from San Diego 3 February 1941, and on 10 May reached
New London, her base through the remainder of her active service. During World War II, she aided America's
growing ability to make war beneath the sea as she operated training divers, in submarine search and rescue
exercises, as a station ship, and as a target ship for submarine torpedoes. Her operations took her to Halifax,
Nova Scotia, and Argentia, Newfoundland, and several times to Key West. Chewink was decommissioned at
Brooklyn 4 February 1947. She was used as a target and sunk off New London 31 July 1947.
ASR-4 – Mallard
• Laid down 25 May 1918 by the Staten Island Shipbuilding Co., Staten Island, NY
• Launched, 17 December 1918
• Commissioned USS Mallard, Minesweeper No. 44, 25 June 1919
• Decommissioned 10 December 1947 and stripped at the New York Navy Yard
• Sunk as a target 22 May 1947 by USS Piper (SS 409).
Specifications:
• Displacement 1,400 t
• Speed 14 kts
• Complement 91
• Armament one 3"/50 dual purpose mount
Mallard
The common wild duck, Anas platyrhynches, of either sex, of the Northern Hemisphere. The domestic
ducks are descended from it.
The first Mallard (AM-44) was laid down by Staten Island Shipbuilding Co., New York, N.J., 25 May 1918;
launched 17 December 1918; sponsored by Mrs. Harry R. Brayton, wife of the commanding officer at
commissioning; and commissioned 25 June 1919, Lt. (jg.) Harry R. Brayton in command.
Assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, Mallard conducted mine sweep duties in the 3d Naval District through the next 9
years. Transferred to submarine rescue operations following conversion at Boston Navy Yard June to December
1928, Mallard was redesignated ASR-4 on 12 September 1929. From January to March 1929 she joined S-4 (SS109) in experimental maneuvers off Key West, Fla.
The next year Mallard sailed for Coco Solo, her new home port, for patrol off Panama where she remained
throughout World War II attached to Submarine Squadron 3. During that time she performed target-towing and
diver-training services for ships of the fleet.
In May 1946 she sailed for the east coast arriving New York Navy Yard to be decommissioned 10 December and
stripped. On 22 May 1947 Mallard was used as a target ship and sunk by torpedo fire from Piper (SS-409).
ASR- 5 – Ortolan
• Laid down 9 July 1918 by the Staten Island Shipbuilding Co., Staten Island, NY
• Launched 30 January 1919
• Commissioned USS Ortolan, Minesweeper No. 45, 17 September 1919
• Decommissioned, 3 May 1922 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA
• Recommissioned, 11 July 1922
• Decommissioned 18 March 1947 at San Francisco, CA
• Struck from the Navy Register 10 June 1947
• Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal and sold 20 August 1947 into merchantile service to Bay
Cities Transportation Co. of San Francisco, CA. Fate unknown.
Specifications:
• Speed 14 kts
• Complement 91
• Armament two 3"/50 dual purpose mounts
Ortolan
A European bunting.
The first Ortolan (AM-45) was laid down 9 July 1918 by the Staten Island Shipbuilding Co., New York, N. Y.,
launched 30 January 1919, sponsored by Miss Theresa M. Finn and commissioned 17 September 1919' Lt.
William A. James in command.
Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, Ortolan got underway for the west coast 10 November 1919. Following stops at east
and Gulf coast ports, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, she arrived at San Diego 13 June 1920. Nine days later she sailed
north to Bremerton where she remained, with a caretaker crew, until 23 March 1921. Then returning to Southern
California, she served as a tug for a year and on 3 May 1922 decommissioned at Mare Island. Recommissioned
11 July, she assumed the duties of tender at the Submarine Base, San Pedro. From 9 June to 25 August 1923
she conducted, as flagship, Commander, Composite Submarine Squadrons Pacific, her first extended cruise, cold
weather operations off Alaska. During September she assisted in the salvage of the 7 destroyers wrecked at Pt.
Honda, Calif., earlier in the month, then resumed tender operations out of San Pedro. Operating from there until
1927, she ranged the west coast of the Americas from Panama to Oregon and once, January-April 1924 cruised
in the Caribbean on fleet maneuvers.
In July of 1927 she steamed west, accompanying Holland (AS-3) and 2 divisions of "S"-boats to Pearl Harbor. The
following month she assisted in the search for competitors lost during the "Dole Race", the first flight linking the
west coast and Hawaii. In September she resumed her west coast tender activities and for another two years
ranged the eastern Pacific as submarines conducted training exercises.
Redesignated a submarine rescue vessel (ASR-5), 12 September 1929, Ortolan's mission changed, but,
throughout the 1930s, her area of operations continued, with brief exceptions for fleet problems and, in 1936, a 4
month tour at Pearl Harbor, in the California area.
On 10 December 1941, Ortolan sailed west again and on the 21st arrived at Pearl Harbor to assist in the
staggering salvage job which was the aftermath of the Japanese attack two weeks earlier. For the next half year
she worked on, and finally floated, Oglala (CM-4). On 18 July 1942, she reported for a year's tour with Pearl
Harbor based submarines, recovering torpedoes and assisting in preparations for war patrols. She then trained
Navy divers and in October prepared for combat duty with the installation of new sound gear and new armament,
2 3" and 2 20mm. guns.
Heading out across the Pacific, 1 November, she arrived at Espiritu Santo on the 20th. For the next ten days she
salvaged needed war supplies from the sunken Army transport President Coolidge. Ortolan then steamed to
Tulagi to make temporary repairs on cruisers damaged during the Battle of Tassafaronga. The cruisers sailed 12
days later and Ortolan commenced a busy 2 months during which she assisted vessels PTs to destroyers and
transports, surveyed sunken Japan and recovered downed "Zeros'' for intelligence evaluation.
"Intelligence gathering" extended well into 1943 as Ortolan took on the salvaging of two Japanese submarines,
one a 2-man "midget", the other a 320' boat loaded with supplies. Both lay in the waters off Guadalcanal's
northern coast. Although frequently interrupted for other, more pressing, salvage or repair jobs, Ortolan raised the
"midget" and towed her to Kukum Bay in May and, in June delivered her to Noumea.
Overhaul at Auckland followed and in October she returned to the Solomons. There, and in the New Hebrides,
she continued salvage work into 1944. On 17 January, she departed for Noumea, thence heading east. After
abbreviated transport and submarine training duties enroute, she arrived at San Pedro 4 March 1944. At the end
of April she reported for duty with the Western Sea Frontier and for the ensuing 18 months operated as escort and
torpedo recovery vessel for submarines conducting exercises off California.
Two months after the formal Japanese surrender Ortolan again headed west. She trained Navy divers at Pearl
Harbor until April 1946, then got underway for the Far East. Arriving at Tsingtao, China, 18 May, she operated with
7th Fleet submarines and conducted diving operations until November. On the 13th she sailed homeward arriving
at San Francisco 24 December. Decommissioned 18 March 1947, Ortolan was struck from the Navy List 10 June,
and was sold by the Maritime Commission 20 August 1947 to Bay Cities Transportation Co.
Ortolan (ASR-5) earned one battle star during World War II.
ASR- 6 – Pigeon
Lapwing Class Minesweeper:
• Laid down, 15 June 1918 by the Baltimore Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co., Baltimore, Md.
• Launched, 29 January 1919
• Commissioned USS Pigeon (Minesweeper No. 47), 15 July 1919
• Designated AM-47, 17 July 1920
• Decommisisoned, 25 April 1922 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
• Recommissioned, 13 October 1923
• Reclassified a Submarine Rescue Ship, ASR-6, 12 September 1929
• Sunk 4 May 1942 by a Japanese dive bomber off Corregidor, Philippines.
Specifications:
• Displacement 950 t.(lt) 1,009 t.(fl)
• Speed 14 kts
• Complement 72
• Armament as built, one 11-pounder and two machine guns. WWII armament, two 3"/50 guns, two 20mm guns
• Propulsion one 1,400 shp Harlan and Hollingsworth, vertical triple-expansion steam engine, one shaft.
Pigeon
The first Pigeon was laid down by the Baltimore Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co., Baltimore, Md., launched 29
January 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Joseph B. Provance, and commissioned in the Norfolk Navy Yard 15 July 1919,
Lt. William C. Procknow in command. When hull classification symbols and numbers were assigned to ships 17
July 1920, Pigeon was designated AM-47.
Pigeon departed Norfolk to serve the Pacific Mine Force at San Diego, Calif.; transited the Panama Canal 7
December 1919; and reached San Diego Christmas Eve. Pearl Harbor became her new base of operations 18
June 1920 and she decommissioned there 25 April 1922. Converted to a gunboat, she recommissioned at Pearl
Harbor 13 October 1923, Lt. Comdr. Elwin F. Cutts in command.
Still classified a minesweeper, Pigeon departed Pearl Harbor 7 November 1923 and joined the Yangtze River
Patrol Force at Shanghai, China, 26 November 1923. For half a decade she served in the famous patrol protecting
American citizens and commerce during the revolution that swept China. She began serving Submarine Division
16 U.S. Asiatic Fleet in September 1928. After ranging from the Philippines to the China coast, she fitted out as a
"Submarine Salvage Vessel" at the Cavite Naval Station April-July 1929. She sailed from Manila Bay 13 July to
cruise with Asiatic Fleet Submarines along the China Coast until returning to Manila 11 September. The following
day she was reclassified a Submarine Rescue Vessel (ASR-6).
As a Submarine Rescue Vessel, Pigeon's primary mission was to salvage and aid submarines in distress. She
had a complement of divers and was equipped with deep-sea diving equipment. There was a McCann rescue
chamber for rescuing men from sunken submarines. Pigeon also had a helium mixing tank for aiding divers in
making deep dives. Her recompression chamber was a complete "divers hospital" to prevent the dreaded "bends"
in divers subjected to sudden ascents from deep depths.
Pigeon continued duty with the Submarine Force of the Asiatic Fleet in waters ranging from the Philippines to the
coast of China. She departed Shanghai for Manila 19 August 1940, arriving on the 24th, and remained in the
Philippines as the Japanese gained control of the coastal ports of China.
In November 1941 the 4th Marines evacuated Shanghai and ships of the Yangtze River Patrol were withdrawn
from China. Pigeon was one of the ships ordered to escort the American gunboats from Chinese waters. She
departed Cavite for Formosa Straits 28-29 November 1941.
Pigeon rendezvoused near midnight of 30 November-1 December 1941 with gunboats Luzon (PR-7), flagship
gunboat Oahu (PR-6) and minesweeper Finch (AM-9). A Japanese seaplane circled the formation the morning of
1 December 1941. For about 8 hours, beginning at noon, seven Japanese warships encircled the American
gunboats. One transport, loaded with troops (apparently bound for the Malayan expedition), held gunnery
exercises on the gunboat formation. The episode ended about 1900 when a Japanese transport hoisted an
International signal translated: "Enemy escaping on course 180d." On 4 December 1941 Pigeon sighted
Corregidor Light and the convoy entered Manila Bay
On receiving word of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lt. Comdr. Richard E. Hawes immediately prepared to get
Pigeon underway and stood by to evacuate the Cavite Navy Yard. While waiting for the enemy to appear, he
crammed the ship with stores and salvage and repair supplies and equipment.
"Spittin' Dick" Hawes had already become a legend among submariners. He had a reputation of superb loyalty to
subordinates and was known for his ingenuity with men and the materials at hand. A special act of Congress
elevated him to officer rank 18 February 1929 in recognition of his salvage feats on submarines S-51 and S-4. He
had entered the Navy as a Fireman in 1917 and had earned the Navy Cross for distinguished service in salvaging
Submarine S-51 during 1925 1926. He later served in several "S-boats," at the New London Submarine Base,
became a Master Diver, then joined the staff of Submarine Division 4. He commanded submarine salvage ship
Falcon from 1935 to 1938, served as Officer in Command of the Submarine Escape Training Tank at the
Submarine Base in Hawaii, then took command of Pigeon 12 February 1940.
Pigeon was moored in a five-ship nest at the Cavite Navy Yard 10 December 1941 when Japanese bombers
launched massive raids. But Commander Hawes had relieving tackles rigged, steam at throttle, and men ready for
action. His foresight saved Pigeon and submarine Seadragon, soon to become a tonnage champion of World War
II.
Pigeon's four machine guns (two .50 and two .30 caliber) were no match for Japan's high-altitude bombers, but
she could outsmart them. She cleared the dock lashed to Quail (AM-15) then cut loose and both ships
maneuvered clear of bombs which fell close astern.
Soon Cavite Navy Yard was engulfed in explosions and flames. In the nest which Pigeon had occupied lay
submarine Sealion (her pressure hull pierced by bomb hits and beyond salvage), and Seadragon (damaged and
without power to get underway). With them were minesweeper Bittern (AM-36) with a gasoline lighter as well as
another lighter moored astern.
While Pigeon maneuvered to save Seadragon, Machinist Rollin M. Reed and Watertender Wayne E. Taylor
jumped in a surf boat to haul the burning lighter clear, got the gasoline lighter out of reach of flames, then assisted
another small boat in hauling Bittern off from the dock and to safety.
Soon the flames and explosions reached the torpedo overhaul shop exploding torpedo warheads which hurled
fiery missiles over Pigeon. Nevertheless, Pigeon calmly placed her stern across the end piling and ran a line some
20 feet to Seadragon and hauled the submarine clear of the dock
Seadragon's hull was already scorched from flames that swept the wharf. Just as Pigeon pulled the submarine
backward to the channel, a big fuel tank exploded and spewed a horizontal wave of fire that blistered the hulls of
both ships. Once Seadragon reached the channel, her skillful crew worked her out into the Bay. Her leaks were
plugged and her pressure hull was patched by submarine tender Canopus (AS-9) when she departed for
Soerabaja Java, 16 December. Pigeon received the first Presidential Unit Citation awarded a ship of the United
States Navy for her heroism in saving Seadragon.
But Pigeon had "not yet begun to fight." By the end of the month her sailors had earned a second Presidential Unit
Citation for fighting ability not expected of men in a little support craft.
Lt. Comdr. Hawes reported: "The courage, spirit, and efficiency of the Pigeon crew is believed unsurpassed by
past, present, or any future crews of any vessel of any nation." While the Navy Yard was still in flames, her crew
was attempting to secure heavier armament for their ship. She armed herself with a 3-inch gun from fire-damaged
Bittern and another from Sealion (SS-195). Sheets of boiler plate were fashioned into gun and splinter shields for
six .50 caliber machine guns which circled the bridge. "The Pigeon is well armed," wrote Hawes, "and is believed
to be the best equipped vessel of her type and tonnage in existence."
Not content to fend for herself, Pigeon worked tirelessly to help her sister ships and the other defenders of the
Philippines. She replaced the 3-inch gun on minesweeper Tanager. She fed an average of 125 men daily, and
salvaged valuable equipment from submarine Sealion. She also salvaged and transported deck loads of
torpedoes to "Old Lady" Canopus to keep the Asiatic Fleet submarines armed. When Manila was declared an
"open city," she towed Bittern to Mariveles. She made underwater repairs to submarine Porpoise, supplied
submarines with both fresh and battery water, and, towed all manner of supply-laden barges and small craft
between Manila, Corregidor, Bataan, and Mariveles. She even charged air flasks for the torpedoes of PT Boats.
During a bombing attack on Corregidor, her gunners blasted away at three twin-engined aircraft winging over the
eastern end of the island. One exploded between Manja Island light and Corregidor, and the other two crashed
just beyond the minefield. Pigeon scored again the following day when an enemy observation plane made the
mistake of passing overhead, then turned back for a closer look. Shells from Pigeon ripped into the enemy aircraft
which sideslipped, lost altitude, and headed out to sea.
By the end of December, Manila Bay was no longer a suitable area for submarines. Only those just back from
patrol remained. These evacuated highly trained submariners to new Pacific bases in Java and Australia where
they formed the nucleus maintenance crews that kept the American submarine forces on patrol.
On 5 January 1942, Lt. Comdr. Hawes turned over command of Pigeon to Lt. Comdr. Frank Alfred Davis, USNR
and became first lieutenant of submarine tender Holland. Under Davis, another leader of heroic stock, Pigeon
continued her fearless struggle.
Since Japanese warships outside Manila Bay made it impossible for her to escape, Pigeon remained behind with
Canopus, a few old gunboats, and small craft to fight with the Army of Bataan.
She again fought off enemy aircraft, towed between Mariveles and Corregidor; conducted diving operations to
salvage scuttled equipment and destroyed munitions that might fall to the enemy; and established a lookout
station at Ctorda Point, Bataan. On the night of 5 January 1942, she slipped off Japanese occupied Sangley Point,
Cavite, and snatched a barge of submarine mines from under the nose of the enemy. Men armed to the teeth
stepped quickly and quietly from a whaleboat, made a towline fast, and returned to Pigeon. As an added act of
defiance the landing party ignited several barrels of aviation gasoline.
Pigeon kept up her energetic pace of support in the Philippines defense. In February 1942 she deprived the
enemy of two ammunition lighters and salvaged some 160,000 gallons of fuel oil from merchantman S.S. Don
Jose enabling gunboats to stay on patrol. She also repelled 6 enemy dive bombers, knocking down one and
crippling another which later crashed on Bataan. She set up a repair base at Saseaman Dock, using a submarine
repair barge to tend small craft of the inshore patrol and for Philippine "Q boats". She also fueled a submarine at
South Dock, Corregidor.
In March 1942, Pigeon salvaged and concealed gasoline drums ashore in Saseaman Cove, fueled a submarine
and gunboats, and towed several lighters between Corregidor and Bataan. She also salvaged and repaired S.S.
Floricita and towed her from the beach at Corregidor to Mariveles. In April she dueled with enemy artillery at Cab
Cabin and again fought off enemy aircraft.
Bataan fell on 9 April 1942 and, rather than surrender to the enemy, Canopus backed away from the dock and
sank at the hands of her own crew. That night Pigeon made rendezvous with fleet submarine Snapper under the
enemy guns in the south channel off Corregidor. Snapper had brought 46 tons of food and stores for beleaguered
Corregidor and Pigeon hurried to load the cargo before the start of night bombing raids.
After the fall of Bataan, Pigeon's crew spent the days on shore and returned to their ship for night operations that
included dumping Philippine currency in the channel south of Corregidor. She continued to serve until the
afternoon of 4 May 1942 when a bomb from a dive bomber exploded on her starboard quarter. She sank in eight
minutes but her crew was on shore.
The Japanese later captured these brave sailors but many survived the war.
Lt. Comdr. Frank Alfred Davis carried on the fighting tradition and valor of his command while interned at the
infamous prisoner-of-war camp at Cabanatuan, Philippine Islands. He built a powerful underground organization
to obtain food, medicines and communications of all kinds. He volunteered for command of a firewood detail, and
despite the constant surveillance of Japanese guards, succeeded in smuggling into camp tremendous amounts of
food and other necessities to his fellow prisoners. His great personal valor and grave concern for others at a great
risk to his own life contributed to the welfare and morale of all prisoners on Luzon and saved countless lives
before he died 14 December 1944. Lt Comdr. Davis received the Navy Cross for his intrepid fight on Canopus and
Pigeon and was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit for his courageous and dedicated service to fellow
prisoners.
Pigeon received one battle star and two Presidential Unit Citations for service during World War II.
ASR- 7 – Chanticleer
Chanticleer Class Submarine Rescue Ship:
• Laid down (date unknown) at Moore Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Oakland, CA.
• Launched, 29 May 1942
• Commissioned USS Chanticleer (ASR-7), 20 November 1942
• During World War II USS Chanticleer was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
• Decommissioned, date unknown
• Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1973
• Final Disposition, sold by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) for scrapping, 1 June 1974
• SS Chanticleer received the Navy Unit Commendation for service in Salvage, Fire Fighting, and Rescue Unit,
Service Force, 7th Fleet - Philippine Islands area, 3 March to 6 June 1945,and earned one battle star for
World War II service.
Specifications:
• Displacement 1,780 t.(lt) 2,045 t.(fl)
• Length 251' 4" Beam 42' Draft 16'
• Speed 14.5 kts.
• Complement 102
• Armament two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts eight 20mm AA gun mounts four depth charge tracks
•
Propulsion diesel-electric, single screw, 3,000hp
Chanticleer
In French literature, Chanticleer is the personal name given the cock.
The third Chanticleer (ASR-7) was launched 29 May 1942 by Moore Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Oakland, Calif.;
sponsored by Mrs. W. K. Kilpatrick; commissioned 20 November 1942, Lieutenant Commander R. E. Hawes in
command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet.
Calling en route at Pearl Harbor, island bases, and Australian ports, Chanticleer arrived at Fremantle, Australia, 8
May 1943. With her primary assignment the support of the submarines based at Fremantle, Chanticleer provided
tender services to the submarines as they came in to refit between war patrols, trained divers, cared for small
craft, repaired antitorpedo nets, and carried out salvage operations. In October 1944, Chanticleer moved north to
provide similar services at Port Darwin, Australia, returning to Fremantle in January 1945.
Chanticleer arrived in Subic Bay, Luzon, 19 March 1945 to take part in the enormous task of clearing Philippine
waters by salvaging United States and Japanese ships, and locating sunken vessels which hazarded navigation. A
voyage to Fremantle for salvage operations in September was followed by a resumption of her Philippine duty until
January 1946, when she cleared for the east coast of the United States.
Arriving at Key West, Fla., 18 February 1946, Chanticleer operated to Cuba, and along the east coast until June
1950, when she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet. Homeported at San Diego, she has alternated local
operations and exercises with tours of duty in the Far East at intervals of about a year. In the Far East, she has
sailed with the guardian 7th Fleet, and has carried out numerous salvage and diving assignments. This duty
continued through 1963.
ASR- 8 – Coucal
• Laid down, 30 September 1941 at Moore Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Oakland, CA.
• Launched, 28 May 1942
• Commissioned USS Coucal (ASR-8), 22 January 1943, LCDR. D. H. Byerly, USNR, in command
• Decommissioned, (date unknown)
• Struck from the Naval Register, 15 September 1977
• Laid up at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) Pearl Harbor, HI., maintenance category X
• Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 19 January 1991
• During the Vietnam War Coucal earned four campaign stars
Specifications:
• Speed 14.5kts.
• Complement 102
• Armament two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts eight 20mm AA gun mounts four depth charge tracks
•
Coucal
A bird of Africa and southern Asia.
Coucal (ASR-8) was launched 29 May 1942 by Moore Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Oakland, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs.
D. A. Scott; and commissioned 22 January 1943, Lieutenant Commander D. H. Byerly, USNR, in command.
Coucal arrived at Brisbane, Australia, 23 June 1943 to serve the submarines of the 7th Fleet. After 4 October, she
gave escort, fueling, and tender services from Milne Bay, New Guinea, and in March 1944, carried cargo to Manus
and the bombarded Koruniat Island while sailing south to Brisbane for repairs. She returned to Manus 21 April for
diving operations, and to set up a rest camp for submariners. On 25 June she sailed for overhaul at Brisbane, and
on 12 August arrived at Darwin to serve submarines once more.
Between 29 October 1944 and 29 December, Coucal joined in convoy exercises with submarines out of Fre-mantle,
returning to duty at Darwin. Between 10 February 1945 and 3 June, she continued her tender service at Exmouth
Gulf, then loaded cargo and passengers at Fremantle for the submarine base at Subic Bay, where she arrived 4
July. Aside from the period between 23 July and 18 August when she escorted British submarines to Borneo,
Coucal served at Subic Bay until clearing for Okinawa on 14 September. She was ordered on to Sasebo, where she
served on occupation duty until returning to San Francisco 24 November.
Assigned to Operation "Crossroads," the atomic weapons tests in the Marshalls, Coucal put out from San Francisco
25 February 1946 for Pearl Harbor. From13 April to 30 September she planted moorings at Bikini, and carried
out a variety of diving assignments in the tests, then returned to San Francisco for overhaul. From her home port
at Pearl Harbor, she sailed to conduct diving and salvage operations on sunken targets at Bikini in the summer of
1947, then operated in the Hawaiian Islands until 12 April 1948, when she sailed westward for the Suez Canal, and
Izmir, Turkey. Here she trained men of the Turkish Navy in submarine rescue, salvage, and deep sea diving techniques,
and continuing west to round the world, returned to Pearl Harbor 8 January 1949.
Serving Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, Coucal operated in the Hawaiian Islands training deep sea divers, and
carrying out rescue and salvage missions, and serving in the Far East in 1951, 1952-53, 1954-55, 1956-57, 1958,
and 1960. Her base in the western Pacific was Yokosuka, Japan, from which she cruised to the Korean coast, Hong
Kong, the Philippines, and Okinawa on salvage and rescue duty.
ASR- 9 – Florikan
• Laid down, 30 September 1941, at Moore Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Oakland, CA.
• Launched, 14 January 1942
• Commissioned USS Florikan (ASR-9), 5 April 1943, LT. N. K. Banks, USNR, in command
• During World War II Florikan was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of operations
• During the Korean War II Florikan was deployed to the Korean War Zone during the following periods:
o 19 September to 9 October 1951
o 17 October 1951 to 19 January 1952
o 18 May to 10 August 1953
o 5 to 26 September 1953
• Decommissioned, 2 August 1991
• Transferred to the Maritime Administration , 28 July 2001, for disposal
• Laid up in the National Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
• Withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet, 28 November 2006, to Naval Weapons Station Concord, CA. for SINKEX
preparation
• Final Disposition, fate unknown.
Specifications:
• Speed 14.5kts
• Complement 102
• Armament two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts eight 20mm AA gun mounts
• Propulsion diesel-electric, single screw, 3,000hp
Florikan
A bustard of India.
Florikan (ASR-9) was launched 14 June 1942 by Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. L.
Sahm; and commissioned 5 April 1943, Lieutenant N. K. Banks, USNR, in command.
From 3 to 20 July 1943, Florikan aided in the training of submarines at Pearl Harbor, acting as target, screening,
escort, and torpedo recovery vessel. She served on similar duty at Midway between 24 July and 2 September,
then sailed for Kiska, Alaska, arriving 7 September. For a month, she carried out diving operations on
Japanese submarine I-7, which had been grounded by her crew south of Kiska Harbor. Their attempts to scuttle the
submarine had been incomplete, the after half remaining intact in a hundred feet of water. Seven divers entered
the hulk, recovering important documents and personal papers of value in intelligence work.
Florikan returned to duty at Midway from 9 October 1943 to 12 November, then served at Pearl Harbor from 16
November to 11 June 1944. With Majuro activated as a forward base for submarines, Florikan trained submarines
there from 18 June to 31 January 1945, then returned to duty at Pearl Harbor through the close of the war.
Assigned to home port at San Diego, Florikan first arrived there 12 September 1946, and through the next 15
years, trained submarine rescue personnel there, took part in fleet exercises and training operations, and brought
her specialized services to the Far East in a tour of duty with the 7th Fleet each year save 1952, 1954, 1956, and
1958. On her 1960 deployment, she escorted a Vietnamese ship across the Pacific when outward bound.
ASR- 10 – Greenlet
• Laid down, 15 October 1941, at Moore Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Oakland, CA.
• Launched, 12 July 1942
• Commissioned USS Greenlet (ASR-10, 29 May 1943, CDR. F. W. Laing in command
• Decommissioned, 12 June 1970, at Sub Base Pearl Harbor
• Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1973
• Sold, 1 February 1973, to Turkey under the Military Assistance Program and renamed TNS Akin
• Current Disposition, active Turkish navy
• Greenlet earned three campaign stars for Vietnam War service
Specifications:
• Speed 14.5 kts.
• Complement 102
• Armament two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts, eight 20mm guns, four depth charge tracks
•
Greenlet
Any of several grayish, plainly colored, sweet singing birds of the vireo family, found primarily in the
eastern United States.
Greenlet (ASR-10) was laid down by Moore Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co., Oakland, Calif., 15 October 1941;
launched 12 July 1942; sponsored by Mrs. B. P. Flood ; and commissioned 29 May 1943, Comdr. F. W. Laing in
command.
After shakedown, Greenlet conducted patrol and escort runs out of San Diego before sailing for Pearl Harbor 24
July. Constructed as a submarine rescue ship, she served at Pearl Harbor and at Midway for more than a
year, making escort runs and conducting refresher training for patrol-bound submarines. As the progress of the
war advanced steadily across the Pacific, she sailed to Guam 21 December 1944 to carry invaluable submarine
training closer to the patrol areas.
While at Midway and Guam, Greenlet helped train some 215 submarines, among them such fighting boats as
Tang, Tautog, Barb, Snook, Drum, and Rasher. Indirectly, she contributed to the sinking of 794 enemy ships,
including a battleship and 6 aircraft carriers. Eleven of the submarines trained by Greenlet were lost during the
war, but her charges sank more than 2,797,000 tons of Japanese military and merchant shipping.
As the bloody war in the Pacific drew to a close, Greenlet departed Guam for Japan 16 August 1945. She reached
Sagami Wan, Honshu, 28 August; entered Tokyo Bay the following day; and was present during the signing of
Japanese surrender 2 September. After placing buoys over wrecks in the harbor and channel at Tokyo, she
stripped and demilitarized Japanese miniature submarines based in Yokosuka harbor. On 1 November she escorted
three Japanese fleet submarines to Sasebo and converted them for American crews. Departing Sasebo 11
December, she escorted former Japanese submarines 1-1.4, 1-400, and 1-401 to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived via
Guam and Eniwetok 6 January 1946.
After returning to San Francisco early in 1946, Green-let spent the following 5 years operating primarily out of San
Diego where she trained divers and serviced submarines. From September 1946 to May 1947 and from September
1948 to March 1949 she deployed to the Western Pacific. Operating from the coast of China to the Philippines, she
trained and supported fleet submarines stationed in the Far East.
As a result of Communist aggression in South Korea, Greenlet departed San Diego for the Far East 6 July 1950
During the next 6 months she operated out of Yokosuka while providing valuable services to the fighting
submarine fleet. Sailing for Pearl Harbor 6 January 1951, she served there throughout the remainder of the
Korean conflict and continued to provide assistance in the training of submarine crews.
Since the Korean Armistice in 1953, Greenlet has remained at Pearl Harbor, training divers and submariners,
participating in readiness operations, and assisting in servicing and salvaging operations. On 29 May 1958 she
unsuccessfully attempted to keep Stickleback (SS-415) afloat rammed during exercises off Ohau, Hawaii.
Between 1953 and 1967 Greenlet made eight deployments to the Western Pacific. Operating from Japan and
Okinawa to the Philippines and Australia, she rendered training and repair services to submarines, trained divers,
and participated in mine recovery and submarine rescue and salvage exercises. During rescue training duty 6
January 1964, she sent her submarine rescue chamber to a depth of 942 feet off the coast of Japan. From the
conflict in Korea to the conflict in Vietnam-she helped keep the men and boats of the submarine service ready to
meet the vast responsibilities in the tension filled Far East.
Into 1967 the vital task of "keeping the peace" presents a greater challenge than ever before. To meet this
challenge and to preserve the peace, she remains on duty with the U.S. Pacific Submarine Fleet, filling a most
useful and vital role for the security of the free world and for the forces of freedom in Southeast Asia.
ASR- 11 – Macaw
Penguin Class Submarine Rescue Ship:
• Laid down, 15 October 1941, at Moore Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Oakland, CA
• Launched, 12 July 1942 and commissioned USS Macaw (ASR-11), the same day
• Final Disposition, ran aground, 16 January 1944, in Midway Channel, on the night of 12 and 13 February 1944
breached and sunk
• Struck from the Naval Register, 15 March 1944.
• Macaw received one battle star for World War II service.
Specifications:
• Length 251' 4"; Beam 42': Draft 16'
• Speed 14.5kts
• Complement 102
• Armament two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts, eight 20mm guns, four depth charge tracks
• Propulsion, diesel-electric, single screw, 3,000hp.
Macaw
A large, bright-colored, harsh-voiced parrot of Central and South America.
Macaw was laid down 15 October 1941 by the Moore Dry Dock Co., Oakland, Calif.; launched 12 July 1942;
sponsored by Miss Valnessa Easton of Berkeley, Calif.; and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. P. W.
Burton in command.
Departing California 28 August 1943, after shakedown and training exercises, Macaw steamed in convoy to
Espiritu Santo, arriving 2 October. Thence proceeding to Funafuti, via Wallis Island, she charted previously
unknown reefs. She anchored off Funafuti on the 16th and remained until 13 November when she was ordered
back to Pearl Harbor. Spending only a short time in Hawaii, Macaw departed for Midway Island where she
grounded, 16 January 1944, in an attempt to assist the submarine Flier, then aground on a coral reef. Salvage
attempts were unsuccessful and on the night of 12 and 13 February 1944 Macaw breached and slid into deep
water. Five of her crew, including the commanding officer, were lost. Macaw was struck from the Navy list 25
March 1944.
Macaw was awarded one battle star for World War II service.
ASR- 12 – Penguin
• Laid down, 9 February 1943 as Fleet Tug, Chetco (AT-99) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.,
Charleston, S.C.
• Redesignated and renamed Submarine Rescue Ship Penguin (ASR-12, 23 September 1943
• Commissioned, 29 May 1944, LCDR. G. W. Albin, Jr., in command
• During World War II USS Penguin was assigned to SubRon 1, at New London, CT.
• Decommissioned, 4 September 1947, at New London, CT.
• Recommissioned, at New London, CT., 3 April 1952
• Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
• Final Disposition, fate unknown
Specifications:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Displacement 1,740 t.
Length 205' Beam 39' 3" Draft 15' 6"
Speed 16 kts.
Complement 99
Armament one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount four single 20mm AA gun mounts two depth charge
tracks
Propulsion diesel-electric, four Alco diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three
General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines, single screw, 3,600shp
Penguin
A bird of the Antarctic. The first retained her former name.
The third Penguin (ASR–12) was laid down as Chetco (AT99) by the Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.,
Charleston, S.C., 9 February 1943; launched 20 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. S. Dickinson; renamed and
reclassified Penguin (ASR–12), 23 September 1943; and commissioned 29 May 1944, Lt. Comdr. G. W. Albin, Jr., in
command.
Penguin, a submarine rescue and salvage vessel reported for duty with SubRon 1, at New London, Conn., 9 June
1944. Based there after shakedown training, she served as a target and torpedo recovery ship for Allied submarines
training in the area; performed towing assignments; participated in the planting and sweeping of experimental mine
fields; and conducted salvage operations. Included in the latter were operations on a sunken U-boat near Block Island
between April and June 1945.
Shifting to Portsmouth, N.H., for the period 5 July–7 September, Penguin served as a target vessel and a rescue and
salvage ship for submarines undergoing sea trials, then returned to New London, and, for the remainder of the year
alternated between those two submarine bases. Permanently attached to New London with the new year, 1946, she
remained there until November when she participated in cold weather operations off Newfoundland. On her return to
New London she continued her duties as rescue and salvage ship, target and torpedo recovery vessel, and escort and
towing vessel. In June 1947 she joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, decommissioning, at New London, 4 September.
Penguin, berthed at New London for four and a half years, recommissioned 3 April 1952. On 28 April, she reported for
duty with the Atlantic Fleet’s Submarine Forces, and on 23 July, arrived at Key West, her new homeport. For the next
nine years, with only occasional interruptions for submarine exercises or salvage operations in the Caribbean, and, in
August 1954, off Newfoundland, she carried out her mission in the Key West area for SubRon 12. During that period,
however, she established a new record for ships of her class by “rescuing”, during training operations, personnel from
a submarine 349’ below the surface, 24 February 1955.
In 1961, Penguin entered another first on her record. On 20 March she departed for Rota, Spain, becoming the first
ASR to be deployed to the 6th Fleet. Since that time she has continued salvage operations, primarily on downed
aircraft, and weapons evaluation tests; provided target and torpedo recovery services; and performed towing services
for the Atlantic Fleet and, in 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1969, for the 6th Fleet. While with the latter she has also served as
flagship for that fleet’s submarine force. Fortunately, however, into 1970, she had not been called on to conduct
rescue operations for an actual submarine disaster.
ASR- 13 – Kittiwake
• Laid down, 5 January 1945, at Savannah Machinery and Foundry, Co., Savannah, GA.
• Commissioned USS Kittiwake (ASR-13), 18 July 1946, LT. L. H. Collier in command
• Decommissioned, 30 September 1994
• Title transferred to MARAD, 31 March 2000, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River,
Lee Hall, VA.
• Final Disposition, to be reefed in the Cayman Islands as a dive site some time in 2009
Specifications:
• Speed 14.5 kts.
• Complement 102
• Armament two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts eight single 20mm AA gun mounts four depth charge
tracks
• Propulsion diesel-electric, single screw, 3,000hp
Kittitwake
Any of several gulls of genus Rissa which are found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North
America.
Kittiwake (ASR-13) was launched 10 July 1945, by Savannah Machine & Foundry Co., Savannah, Ga.; sponsored by
Mrs. Howard S. Rue, Jr.; and commissioned 18 July 1946, Lt. L. H. Collier in command.
After shakedown, Kittiwake departed Charleston, S.C., 3 October for Balboa, Canal Zone, arriving 8 October.
Assigned to support and rescue duty with Submarine Squadron 6, the submarine rescue ship accompanied
submarines during sea trials and maneuvers to monitor diving operations; to practice underwater rescue
procedures; and to recover practice torpedoes. While based at Balboa, her operations carried her to the Virgin
Islands, to Puerto Rico, and along the Atlantic coast to the Davis Strait.
Departing Balboa 31 May 1949, Kittiwake arrived Norfolk 6 June to continue duty with SubRon 6. From 17 January
to 1 February 1950 she provided divers and equipment during salvage operations to free Missouri (BB-63), grounded
in tidal banks off Thimble Shoals, Va. During the 1950's she cruised the Atlantic from New England to the
Caribbean while supporting ships of the Silent Service with a trained and highly skilled crew. And while on station
off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Fla., 20 July 1960, she stood ready to assist George Washington (SSB(N)-598) as
the mighty nuclear-powered submarine successfully launched the first two Polaris ballistic missiles ever fired from a
submarine beneath the sea.
Kittiwake continued operating out of Norfolk until 1 August 1961 whne she departed for the Mediterranean. Arriving
Rota, Spain, 15 August, she cruised the Mediterranean from Spain to Greece while deployed with the 6th Fleet. After
supporting submarine maneuvers out of Pireaus, Greece, from 20 September to 9 October, she departed the
Mediterranean 8 November and arrived Norfolk the 18th. She then conducted operations out of Norfolk for the next
18 months. While on duty off Key West 2 February 1963, she sighted a Cuban boat, Jose Maria Perez; took on
board 12 refugees (including 3 children) fleeing Communist oppression in Cuba; and carried them to safety at Key
West.
Departing Charleston, S.C., 16 April, Kittiwake arrived St. Nazaire, France, 3 May with two LCU's in tow. She
proceeded to the Mediterranean 10 May and reached Rota the 14th. For more than 2 months she participated in fleet
operations before departing Rota 31 July for the United States. Returning to Norfolk 10 August 1963, she resumed
training and support operations with submarines, along the Atlantic coast. Through 1964 and 1965, Kittiwake
continued her role in maintaining the readiness of individual submarines which were to carry out their missions of
defense and deterrant effectively. She escorted them as they left the East Coast shipyards for sea trials, standing
ready to come to their rescue should difficulties arise. Constant exercise in use of weapons by submarines was
furnished by Kittiwake, such as running as a target and recovering exercise torpedoes and mines. The operations
ranged from the Virginia Capes to the Atlantic missile range off Florida. On 6 April 1965, she departed Norfolk with
submarines for exercises off the coast of Spain, thence to the Mediterranean Sea.
Kittiwake departed Toulon 31 May 1965, to operate out of Rota, Spain, in support of FBM's of Submarine Squadron 16:
Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, James Madison, and Nathan Hale. Following torpedo recovery and training off
the coast of Spain, she sailed for Holy Loch 30 June 1965, to give support to Submarine Squadron 14. She
recovered torpedoes for James Monroe and John Adams, provided underway training for men of tender Hunley,
then sailed 20 July for Norfolk, arriving 30 July 1965. During the autumn months, Kittiwake guarded new Polaris
submarines, Lewis & Clarke and Simon Bolivar, during their builders sea trials prior to commissioning.
Kittiwake operated on the East Coast and in the Caribbean until sailing for the Mediterranean 8 July 1966. She
reached the Bay of Cadiz on the 20th and transited the straits 2 days later. She operated in the Mediterranean
until emerging at Rota, Spain, 1 September. She headed for Holly Loch, Scotland, on the 6th and arrived on the
llth. Four days later she was ordered to the North Sea to assist in locating and salvaging German submarine Hai
(S-171). She reached the scene of the tragedy 17 September and remained on hand assisting salvage operations
until the 20th. She continued to operate off Western Europe until returning to Norfolk 13 November. Kittiwake
operated on the East Coast into 1967.
ASR- 14 – Petrel
• Laid down, 26 February 1945, at Savannah Machinery and Foundry, Co., Savannah, GA.
• Launched, 26 September 1945
• Commissioned USS Petrel (ASR-14), 24 September 1946, LT. Dennis Hima in command
• Struck from the Naval Register, 9 October 1991
• Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
• Transferred to MARAD custody, 1 May 1999, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River,
Lee Hall, VA.
• Final Disposition, contract for scrapping awarded to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., towed from
the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., 5 December
2003
Specifications:
• Displacement 486 t.(lt) 2,030 t.(fl)
• Length 251' 4" Beam 44' Draft 17' (max)
• Speed 16 kts.
• Complement 102
• Armament one single 3"/50 gun mount, four 20mm guns, two depth charge tracks
•
Petrel
A small long-winged sea bird which flies far from land.
The fifth Petrel, a submarine rescue ship laid down 26 February 1945, was built by Savannah Machine Foundry Co.,
Savannah, Ga.; launched 26 September 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Ellie Jeffreys; and commissioned at Savannah 24
September 1946, Lt. Dennis Hima in command.
After fitting out at Charleston and shakedown at Guantanamo and Panama Bays, Petrel returned to Charleston 18
December 1946. She sailed for New London 6 January 1947 to join SubRon 2, and operated out of that base for the
next 3 years training and qualifying deep-sea divers and salvage crews, and escorting ships such as Piper and
Cochino in tests.
Departing New London 23 January 1950, she steamed off Old Point Comfort, Va., where Missouri (BB–63) had run
aground. Divers from Petrel surveyed and excavated around the bottom of the battleship, and on 1 February Petrel
aided in the “big pull” that drew Missouri into deep water. After this operation, Petrel returned to New London 6
February but was reassigned to Key West 5 May.
Petrel continued training operations, with SubRon 4, at Key West throughout the 1950s, with occasional variations.
She towed ex-German sub U–2513 off Dry Tortuga Flats in October 1950 to be sunk in firing exercises by destroyer
Owens (DD–827). Exercises in 1952 included re-floating U–2513. In 1956, Petrel had a key role in freeing Nantahala,
aground in Key West Channel.
On 14 February 1958, Petrel received a distress call at Key West from Guavina (SSO–362), stranded in heavy seas
off San Salvadore, Bahama Islands. Steaming to the area and off-loading some of Guavina’s oil cargo, Petrel towed
the lightened sub to Key West. Petrel continued to operate along the Atlantic coast of the southern United States until
sailing in the Spring of 1961 for the Mediterranean for exercises with SubDiv 41, 6th Fleet in June and operated off
Portugal in salvage operations after a DC–8 passenger airplane crash. Petrel returned to Charleston 28 August for
coastal operations until she again joined the 6th Fleet from January to May 1964. She departed Charleston 12 July for
Hamilton, Bermuda, where she aided the Air Force in recovering wreckage and personnel from a 2-plane, mid-air
collision. Highlights of subsequent coastal service included accompanying Von Steuben in sea trials in September,
work with Sam Rayburn in April 1965, and duty at Guantanamo 28–30 September and during hurricane “Inez”.
Petrel departed New London 6 January 1966 for Holy Loch, Scotland, with YTB–780 in tow. On 17 January, an Air
Force B–52, carrying 4 unarmed nuclear weapons, collided with a KB–135 off Palomares, Spain. Petrel was sent to
the area to aid in salvage operations and had the delicate task of maintaining position over the bomb. The weapon
was brought to the surface 7 April, by Alvin, placed on Petrel, and transferred to Cascade. Petrel then returned to
Charleston.
Deployed to the Mediterranean again in 1968, Petrel searched for the lost Israeli submarine Dakar 26 January, and
missing French submarine Minerve on the 30th. On 12 February, she helped salvage destroyer Bache (DD–470) at
Rhodes, Greece. After return to Charleston in May, she joined in the search for missing submarine Scorpion the 27th,
and retured to Charleston from the Azores 12 July. She continues operations with SubDiv 41 into 1970.
ASR- 15 – Sunbird
• Laid down, 2 April 1945, at Savannah Machinery and Foundry, Co., Savannah, GA.
• Launched, 3 April 1946
• Accepted by the Navy and towed to Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, SC. for lay up, 15 January 1947
• Commissioned USS Sunbird (ASR-15), 23 June 1950, at New London, CT., LCDR. A. R. Clark, Jr., in
command
• Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
•
•
•
•
Struck from the Naval Register, 2 November 1993
Transferred to MARAD custody, 1 May 1999, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River,
Fort Eustis, VA.
Contract for scrapping awarded to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., 18 July 2005
Removed from the National Defense Reserve Fleet James River Group, 17 August 2005, by towing to Bay
Bridge Enterprises, scrapping completed 12 November 2005.
Specifications:
• Speed 14.5 kts.
• Complement 102
• Armament two single 3"/50 DP gun mounts eight 20mm AA gun mounts four depth charge tracks
•
Sunbird
Any of numerous small, brilliantly colored singing birds native to Africa and the East Indies.
Sunbird (ASR-15) was laid down on 2 April 1945 by the Savannah Machine and Foundry Co., Savannah, Ga.;
launched on 3 April 1946; sponsored by Mrs. John H. Lassiter; and commissioned on 23 June 1950, Lt. Comdr. A.
R. Clark, Jr., in command.
Sunbird was accepted by the Navy, inactivated, and towed to the Charleston Naval Shipyard on 15 January 1947.
She was commissioned at New London, Conn., on 23 June 1950, and held sea trials there before moving to the
Norfolk Naval Shipyard for modernization from August to October. While holding refresher training off Guantanamo
Bay on 29 November, she rescued two survivors of a plane crash.
Sunbird trained off New London from December 1950 to May 1951 at which time she alternated two-week training
periods between there and Norfolk. Off Norfolk on 14 May, she came to the rescue of Valcour (AVP-55) which had been
in a collision with a merchantman, badly holed and set on fire. She then returned to New London until
November, at which time she made a round trip recreational cruise to Bermuda, B.W.I.
Following an overhaul at Boston, from January to March 1952, Sunbird operated along the east coast from
Greenland to the Caribbean. In June 1954 she towed a disabled submarine from Cape Hatteras to Norfolk. In
March 1956, Sunbird assisted Skylark (ASR-20) in removing Willis A. Lee (DL-4) from rocks in Narragansett Bay
where she had been driven by a blizzard. In November of that year, she salvaged a torpedo retriever boat from a
ledge off Block Island. These local operations continued until November 1959.
Sunbird had some of her rescue equipment removed in late November 1959 to enable the installation of two huge wire
parbuckling nets and large racks. This was LTV (Launch Test Vehicle) recovery equipment which transformed her
into the first dummy Polaris missile recovery ship. In February 1960, Sunbird was called to aid two tugs that were
towing the decommissioned carrier Chenango (CVHE-28). The carrier had grounded on the north shore of Long
Island and the recovery ship was successful in refloating her. Later in the month, divers from Sunbird aided in
refloating Apollo (AS-24) which had grounded at the mouth of the Thames River.
In March, Sunbird recovered 15 missiles that had been fired from ballistic submarines. By 1 July 1960, the ship
had greatly contributed to the Polaris Program in recovering 46 of the seven and one-half ton missiles. In August
and September, she operated off Cape Kennedy during Polaris test firings. In January 1961, the rescue ship was
ordered to Texas Tower No. 4 to search for survivors of the tower which had collapsed. Her divers made 174 dives
in searching the wreckage, with many to depths of 180 feet. The ship then engaged in local operations until mid1962.
In July 1962, Sunbird towed YFNB-31 from Philadelphia to Holy Loch, Scotland. From 1 August to 24 October she
served as flagship of Task Force (TF) 69 while operating with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean. She returned to
New London and was in an upkeep status until the end of November. Local operations followed until April 1963 when
she was dispatched to the Thresher (SSN-593) search area for a week, with negative results. She returned to
normal east coast fleet operations until 5 January 1965 when she got underway for a four-month deployment with
the 6th Fleet which ended on 1 May. In October, she participated in Operation “Springboard 65” in the Caribbean
and returned to New London on 12 November 1965.
Sunbird stood out of New London on 11 April 1966 en route to Rota, Spain. Two days out of that port her orders
were changed to proceed to Naples, Italy, and join the 6th Fleet. While attached to the 6th Fleet, in addition to
routine duties, she was called upon to perform special operations. The ship was detached on 20 May and proceeded
to Spain and thence, on 27 June, to Holy Loch where she provided services for Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 16 until
22 July when she sailed for New London, arriving there on 1 August 1966.
The year 1967 was an uneventful year for Sunbird and, from 11 September 1967 to 11 January 1968, she was
being overhauled. On 27 May 1968, the ship was operating in the Narragansett Bay operating area when
she was ordered to proceed south and aid in the search for the missing nuclear submarine Scorpion (SSN-589).
Sunbird arrived at the scene and began operating with Par go (SSN-650) in a search area along the 50fathom curve. Scorpion was not found, but the two ships did find three uncharted hulls, including a German
World War II submarine. The ASR was detached on 6 June to return to New London. Other than normal
operations and providing services to SubRon 2, the year 1969 was highlighted by the rescue of five fishermen,
on 27 May, from a fishing boat.
Sunbird was deployed to the 6th Fleet from 6 April to 30 July 1970 and from 3 January to 4 May 1972. In
1971, other than local operations, the ship was overhauled at Philadelphia from 11 February to 18 May. She
deployed to the Caribbean for two tours in 1974 which were a welcome break in her routine. Sunbird still
operated from her homeport of New London with the Atlantic Fleet into February 1975
ASR- 16 – Tringa
Chanticteer Class Submarine Rescue Ship:
• Laid down, 12 July 1945, at Savannah Machinery and Foundry, Co., Savannah, GA.
• Launched, 25 June 1946
• Commissioned USS Tringa (ASR-16), 28 January 1947, LCDR. Paul C. Cottrell USN in command
• Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 30 September 1977
• Laid up in the Reserve Fleet, maintenance category X
• Final Disposition, to be disposed of by target or test, presumed sunk, date unknown
Specifications:
• Length 251' 4" Beam 42' Draft 14' 11" (lim.)
• Speed 16 kts.
• Complement 102
• Armament two single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts two single 40mm AA gun mounts
•
Propulsion diesel-electric, single shaft, 3,000shp.
Tringa
A bird of the sandpiper family.
Tringa (ASR-16) was laid down on 12 July 1945 at Savannah, Ga., by the Savannah Machine & Foundry Co.;
launched on 25 June 1946; sponsored by Mrs. Nola Dora Vassar, the mother of Curtis L. Vassar, Jr., missing in
action; and commissioned on 28 January 1947, Lt. Comdr. Paul C. Cottrell in command. Upon commissioning,
Tringa was assigned to Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 8 and operated out of the submarine base at New London,
Conn. During her first six years of active service, she remained close to the eastern seaboard. Fortunately, her
services as a submarine rescue vessel were not required. On the other hand, Tringa remained busy practicing
simulated submarine rescues and serving as target ship and recovery ship for submarines in torpedo-firing drills. In
addition, she participated in a number of rescue experiments for the Bureau of Ships, testing diving bells, submarine
buoys, ground tackle, mooring gear, and related equipment.
Her most significant contribution during those six years came in January 1950 when Missouri (BB-63) ran aground
in the vicinity of Thimble Shoals Light and Old Point Comfort, Hampton Roads, Va. Tringa and her sister rescue
vessels joined tugs in refloating the battleship on 1 February.
In August of 1953, Tringa was called upon to cross the Atlantic Ocean to aid Harder (SS-568), which had broken
down off the coast of Ireland. The ship returned to New London with the submarine and then resumed operations
along the east coast of the United States. During the early months of 1955, Tringa escorted Nautilus (SSN-571),
the world's first atomic-powered ship, during her sea trials.
That fall, she joined Albacore (AGSS-569) for experiments at Portsmouth, N.H. The submarine rescue vessel
conducted deep submergence tests on a new submarine rescue chamber, RC-21. In the midst of that operation, RC-21
parted its tow and sank in 230 feet of water. Tringa spent the next 25 days struggling against foul weather,
treacherous currents, and fouled wreckage, but successfully salvaged RC-21 in the end. For their part in the
operation, three officers and 10 divers assigned to Tringa received commendations.
Early in 1957, she began serving as school ship for the submarine Prospective Commanding Officers' School. That
duty took her to the warm waters of the British West Indies in April and again in July. After her return to normal
duty at New London, Tringa was called upon to assist the newly-constructed Peruvian submarine Iquiqui, which on
27 August had run aground on Long Sand Shoal in Long Island Sound. The rescuer arriver on the scene, passed a
tow wire to the stranded boat, and pulled her off at the next high tide.
Late in the summer, a voyage to Europe broke Tringa's routine. On 3 September, she stood out of New London in
company with Fulton (AS-11) and a submarine group to participate in a NATO fleet exercise. En route to Scotland,
Tringa made a brief side trip to Newfoundland to deliver a critically-ill Fulton crewman to the naval hospital at Argentia.
She reached Rothesay on 13 September but soon moved on to Portland, England. During the two-day trip,
hurricane "Carrie" struck and enlivened Tringa's passage through the Irish Sea. On 28 September, the ship departed
England and headed for France. At Le Havre, she provided tender services for the submarines returning from the
exercises until 11 October when she headed home toward the United States.
Tringa reentered Newport on 23 October and, after three weeks of upkeep, sailed for Bermuda and another tour of
duty with the submarine Prospective Commanding Officers' School. In January 1958, she served as target ship for
the submarine school at New London and recovered practice torpedoes fired at her. She underwent her biennial
overhaul at Boston that spring and, after refresher training in June, made a two-week goodwill cruise to Canadian
ports in July.
Tringa returned to New London on 22 July and, through the first month and one-half of 1959, trained divers, served
as target and torpedo recovery ship for New London-based submarines, and conducted drills. On 25 February, she
got underway for Norfolk, Va., where she served as Kittiwake's (ASR-13) stand-in during that ship's overhaul.
She operated as a temporary unit of SubRon 6 until 1 April at which time she departed Norfolk and moved north. After
a brief rendezvous with Torsk (SS-423) during the latter's post-overhaul dives and a three-day stopover at
Philadelphia, Tringa returned with the submarine to New London on the 9th.
After demonstrating her rescue capabilities during an operational readiness inspection, she resumed training
divers, conducting underway training, and providing services to submarines. She also escorted submarines during
their post-construction trials. In this regard, Tringa assisted Barbel (SS-580) in May and Seadragon (SSN-584) in
October. In December, the ship escorted the fleet ballistic missile (FBM) submarine George Washington (SSBN598) on her trials. In January 1960, she conducted diving operations in Narragansett Bay with a group of four Norfolkbased minesweepers in a search for debris from an exploded aircraft. Following the annual "Springboard" exercise in
mid-February, Tringa visited Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic before resuming duty out of
New London late in March. Toward the end of the following month, the ship sailed to Ft. Lauder-dale, Fla., where she
spent a month as recovery ship for the Naval Ordnance Test Facility's missile program. In May, she returned north
and, after a visit to Kingston, N.Y., and a brief rendezvous with Dogfish (SS-350) for that submarine's sea trials
and deep dives, Tringa returned to New London to prepare for overhaul.
Following post-overhaul refresher training, Tringa resumed her normal duty out of New London. In December, she
began assisting in the fleet ballistic missile submarine ordnance evaluation program by recovering test missiles fired in
practice. The following spring, she returned to Norfolk to serve as "ready duty ASR" for most of the Atlantic coast
during a period when the other Atlantic Fleet submarine rescue vessels were either in overhaul or deployed
overseas. By July 1961, however, she was able to return to New London and resume her usual routine. In the fall,
she steamed south to Florida but remained in southern waters only briefly —assisting the Bureau of Weapons in
tests—before the requirements of the FBM program called her back to New London.
Over the next two years, the ship alternated two deployments to the Mediterranean with 2d Fleet operations along the
eastern seaboard. After returning from submarine operations near Bermuda, Tringa operated from New London until
early in April 1962. At that time, she put to sea for a three-month deployment during which she provided support
services to 6th Fleet submarines. After visiting a number of Mediterranean ports, she left the "middle sea" in July 1962
and visited Lisbon, Portugal, and then headed for Scotland. At Holy Loch, she picked up an APL and a YRDM for
tandem tow to the United States and departed the British Isles on 12 August. Tringa delivered her charges to
Norfolk on 3 September and continued on to New London where she arrived on the 5th. After four weeks of leave
and upkeep, she resumed duty escorting and towing targets for units of Submarine Flotilla (Sub-Flot) 2.
Tringa underwent another overhaul from March to July 1963 and, after refresher training, resumed duty with
Atlantic Fleet submarines. In August, she visited the site of Thresher's (SSN-593) sinking to support units
operating with the deep submergence vehicle Trieste. In mid-September, she escorted Thomas Jefferson (SSBN—
618) during trials. Later that month, she was called upon to assist Grouse (MSCO-15) aground on the
Massachusetts coast at Cape Ann. Her divers attached cables to Grouse, but three attempts to pull the stranded
ship off the rocks failed. Grouse was destroyed by fire, and Tringa returned to New London on 30 September. Normal
operations and escort duty for two newly constructed FBM submarines—Nathan Hale (SSBN-623) and Lafayette
(SSBN-616)—occupied the ship for the remainder of the year.
Tringa deployed to the Mediterranean for the second time on 3 April 1964 and returned to the United States on 1
September. After a three-week upkeep period, she resumed local operations by escorting Haddo (SSN-604) and
Tecumseh (SSBN-628) during their sea trials. That employment occupied her to the end of 1964 and through 1965.
She cleared New London on 31 January 1966 to participate in Operation "Springboard." Three days out of port, the
ship was ordered to the Mediterranean to join in the search for the nuclear weapon missing after the mid-air collision
of a B-52 bomber with a C-135 cargo plane. Upon her arrival off Palomares, Spain, Tringa was fitted out with
underwater television equipment with which she conducted visual inspections of sonar contacts while her divers
assisted in the recovery. The submarine rescue ship completed her part of the operation on 25 March and headed
back to New London, where she arrived on 9 April. Local operations out of New London occupied her time until the
end of September when she entered the James S. Munro Shipyard at Chelsea, Mass., for overhaul.
Tringa completed overhaul on 10 January 1967 and then returned to New London. She remained there until 30
January when she sailed for the West Indies. During February and the first week in March, the ship underwent
inspection and survey at San Juan, conducted refresher training near Guantanamo Bay, and assisted in test-firings
of SUBROC missiles at the Grand Turk missile range. On 15 March, Tringa reentered New London and began
preparations for a deployment to European waters. The ship cleared New London on 3 April and reported for duty at
Rota, Spain, later in the month. She operated along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts for two months, escorting
submarines, towing targets, and recovering practice torpedoes. On 14 June, Tringa headed for the submarine base at
Holy Loch, Scotland. During the following month, she provided services to the submarines based there and visited
Dublin and Londonderry. On 26 July, she returned to New London from her European deployment and took up duties
with SubFlot 2 once again.
The submarine rescue vessel served in coastal waters of the United States for the remainder of 1967 and throughout
1968. During that period, she departed northeastern coastal waters only once, in mid-November 1968, when she made
a short cruise to Bermuda with units of SubRon 8. On 6 January 1969—in company with Sea Robin (SS-407),
Becuna (AGSS-319), Half-beak (SS-352), and Thornback (SS-418)—she departed New London and headed for duty
with the 6th Fleet. She reached Rota, Spain, on 20 January and joined United States naval forces assigned to the
Mediterranean area. The deployment with the 6th Fleet lasted until 15 April when she left Rota and headed back
across the Atlantic. Tringa entered New London on the 25th and began post-deployment leave and upkeep. A little
over two months later, the ship resumed operations from New London and remained so occupied until the end of
November when she entered the Boston Naval Shipyard.
Tringa completed overhaul early in March 1970. During refresher training, she received orders reassigning her to
Submarine Division 121 based at Key West, Fla. She reported to her new home port on 29 April; and, for the rest of the
year, she operated in the Gulf of Mexico and along the southeastern coast of the United States. Early in June, the ship
accompanied Darter (SS-576) during her sea trials. Later that month, she picked up a Cuban refugee family adrift
on the ocean some 35 miles from Key West and brought them into that port. Through the fall of 1970, Tringa
continued normal operations from Key West.
Over the next five years, Tringa alternated tours of duty in the Mediterranean with service along the east coast of the
United States. Within that time period, she made two deployments with the 6th Fleet: the first during the spring of
1971 and the second in the summer of 1972. Upon her return to the United States on each occasion, she resumed
her duties at Key West conducting torpedo exercises with Atlantic Fleet submarines.
In June of 1973, Tringa rushed to the rescue when disaster struck a civilian deep-submergence vehicle test project. On
the 17th, she received orders to go to the aid of Dr. Edmund Link, whose submersible, the "Sea-Link," was reported "in
distress, bottomed in approximately 360 feet of water with four men on board." Tringa made a four-point moor above
the stricken craft and for two days provided a platform for divers engaged in the rescue operation. Finally, on 18
June, a civilian salvage vessel, A. B. Wood, arrived on the scene and joined in the salvage/rescue operation.
Utilizing a television camera and a crane, A. B. Wood succeeded in hauling "Sea-Link" to the surface that night.
Though Tringa divers tried to revive the two men in the after chamber of the submersible by warming it with HeO;.
and hot water, the two men were pronounced dead at 0800 on 20 June. The two men in the forward chamber survived.
The following month, Tringa was reassigned to New London, Conn., and spent August and September engaged in the
familiar role of standby rescue and target recovery ship for New London-based submarines. Following an overhaul which
lasted from November 1973 until mid-February 1974, the ship returned to duty at New London. The next three years
brought Tringa more routine duty supporting Atlantic Fleet submarines, testing diving equipment, training divers,
and escorting newly built submarines on their trial cruises. The ship departed the western Atlantic only once during that
period, in July 1975, to participate in a series of oceanographic surveys conducted from the submarine base at Holy
Loch, Scotland. She returned to New London early the following November and operated along the eastern seaboard
until 30 September 1977 when she was decommissioned at the Submarine Base, New London, Conn. Her name was
struck from the Navy list concurrently with decommissioning.
As of the beginning of 1978, she awaited final disposal.
ASR- 17 – Verdin
Cancelled 1945
ASR- 18 – Windover
Cancelled 1945
ASR- 19 – Bluebird
• Laid down as Fleet Ocean Tug, Yurok (AT-164) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston,
S.C.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reclassified, Submarine Rescue Ship, ASR-19 7 November 1945
Renamed Bluebird and Launched, 3 December 1945
Commissioned USS Bluebird (ASR-19), 28 May 1946, LCDR. P. R. Hodgson in command
Decommissioned, 15 August 1950 and transferred to the Turkish Navy, renamed TNS Kurtaran (A584)
Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
Final Disposition, fate unknown
Specifications:
• Length 205' Beam 39' 3" Draft 15' 6"
• Speed 16 kts.
• Complement 99
• Armament one single 3"/50 gun mount four single 20mm AA gun mounts two depth charge tracks
•
Propulsion diesel-electric, four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines driving four General
Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines, single screw,
3,600shp
Bluebird
Any of several small North American songbirds related to the ronin.
The keel of Bluebird--a projected Admirable-class minesweeper--apparently was never laid down. After the explosion
of two atomic bombs over Japan made it apparent that the war would soon end, the contract for her construction was
cancelled on 11 August 1945. (Raymond A. Mann)
The second Bluebird (ASR-19) was laid down on 23 June 1945 at Charleston, S.C., by the Charleston Shiphuilding &
Drydock Co. as Yurok (ATF-164); redesignated ASR-19 on 7 November 1945; renamed Bluebird on 3 December
1945; launched on 15 February 1946; sponsored by Mrs. Paul Lambert Borden; and commissioned at the Charleston
Naval Shipyard on 28 May 1946, Lt. Comdr. P. R. Hodgson in command.
Bluebird reported to the Commander, Training Group, Atlantic Fleet, in mid-July and completed shakedown training in
Chesapeake Bay. After post-shakedown repairs at Charleston, the submarine rescue vessel reported for duty with the
Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet on 28 August. On the following day, however, she departed Charleston under orders
to join Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 5, Pacific Fleet. She transited the Panama Canal on 5 September and, on the
7th, resumed her voyage to Pearl Harbor in company with Tawakoni (ATF-114), Cahuilla (ATF-152) and two tows.
The ship arrived in Pearl Harbor on 12 October and relieved Widgeon (ASR-1) as rescue vessel for SubRon 5.
Bluebird remained at Pearl Harbor for the next six months inspecting rescue and salvage equipment on board SubRon
5 submarines and assisting them in training missions.
On 29 April 1947, she departed Pearl Harbor for the Far East. The ship arrived in Yokosuka, Japan, on 10 May but
departed there again the following day. On 14 May, she arrived in Tsingtao, China, and relieved Greenlet (ASR-10).
For the next four months, Bluebird conducted rescue and salvage training with submarines at Tsingtao. On 12
October 1947, she departed that port to return to Hawaii. The submarine rescue vessel reentered Pearl Harbor on 3
November 1941 and began overhaul at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard soon thereafter. The ship completed repairs
in April 1948 and resumed duty with Pearl Harbor-based submarines. On 16 May 1949, she stood out of Pearl Harbor
in company with Queenfish (SS-393) en route to the western Pacific. The two ships conducted exercises along the
way before arriving in Yokosuka, Japan, on 20 June 1949. The submarine rescue vessel operated in the Orient
exercising with submarines and destroyers until the following November. She visited such ports as Hong Kong, Guam
in the Marianas, and Subic Bay in the Philippines. On 25 July 1949, she assisted SS John C. Fremont which ship had
gone aground off Mayango Island. The next month between the 9th and the 10th, Bluebird towed the disabled USNS
Cache (T-AO-67) into Yokosuka.
On 29 November, she departed Hong Kong in company with Sea Fox (SS-402) to return to Hawaii. The two ships
conducted exercises along the way and made a stop at Midway Island before reentering Pearl Harbor on 13
December. After overhaul, she resumed active duty in March l950 with Submarine Division (SubDiv) 12. She operated
with submarines and trained divers until 20 May, at which time she left Oahu for the east coast of the United States.
Steaming via the Panama Canal and San Juan, Puerto Rico, the submarine rescue vessel arrived in New London,
Conn., on 16 June 1950. Assigned to duty with SubRon 8, she conducted training for the Turkish crew that would take
her over later that summer. Bluebird was decommissioned on 15 August 1950 and simultaneously transferred to the
Turkish Navy. She was commissioned in that navy as Kurtaran. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 26
September 1950. (Raymond A. Mann)
ASR- 20 – Skylark
• Laid down in 1945 as the Navajo Class Fleet Tug, Yustaga (ATF-165) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
• Redesignated Submarine Rescue Ship, 11 October 1945
• Assigned hull number ASR-20, 13 November 1945
• Renamed Skylark, 5 December 1945
• Launched, 19 March 1946
• Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet prior to commissioning at Charleston, S.C.
• Commissioned USS Skylark (ASR-20), March 1951, at New London, CT.
• Decommissioned, struck from the Naval Register, sold to Brazil, and commissioned into the Brazilian Navy as
Gastao Moutinho (K-10), 30 June 1993
• Final Disposition, fate unknown
Specifications:
• Length 205' Beam 39' 3" Draft 15' 6" (lim)
• Speed 16 kts.
• Complement 106
• Armament one single 3"/50 gun mount, four 20mm guns, two depth charge tracks
• Propulsion diesel-electric, four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines driving four General Electric
generators three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines single screw, 3,600shp
Yustaga
An American Indian tribe which occupied the area of northern Florida surrounding the upper reaches
of the Suwannee during the 16th century.
Yustaga (ATF-165) was laid down in July 1945 at Charleston, S.C., by the Charleston Shipbuilding & Dry-dock Co.;
redesignated a submarine rescue vessel on 11 October 1945; assigned the hull designation ASR-20 on 13
November 1945; renamed Skylark on B December 1945; launched on 19 March 1946; sponsored by Mrs. H. C.
Weatherly; and was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, berthed first at Charleston and later at New London, Conn.,
until 1 March 1951 at which time she was finally commissioned, Lt. Comdr. Romolo Cousins in command.
Following restricted availability at the Portsmouth (N.H.) Naval Shipyard, Skylark conducted her shakedown cruise
and training out of Norfolk, Va., during July. The ship then returned to New London and operated out of that base,
practicing submarine rescues and serving as a target recovery ship for submarines conducting torpedo-firing drills. In
April 1952, the ship temporarily moved south to relieve Petrel (ASR-14) as rescue vessel at Key West, Fla., while the
latter ship underwent an overhaul. In June, she returned north to New London to resume her former duties.
During January and February 1953, Skylark was overhauled at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard; and, after
refresher training at Newport, R.I., during March and April, she spent May at Norfolk filling in for Kittiwake (ASR-13)
while the latter ship went into the shipyard for overhaul. In June, she returned to New London and carried out her
training schedule until October when she again headed back to Norfolk to substitute for Kittiwake, while the latter
participated in Operation "Springboard." Upon the conclusion of that brief assignment, she resumed her New Londonbased routine. In February and March of 1954, Skylark engaged in her own share of Operation "Springboard"
exercises, providing services to Atlantic Fleet submarines during the annual training evolution. She returned to
New London late in March and resumed her usual duties. In September, the ship entered the Boston Naval
Shipyard for a two-month overhaul.
Until the beginning of 1962, Skylark continued the pattern of duties described above. She operated out of New
London the majority of the time but, periodically, did temporary duty elsewhere, notably at Norfolk and Key West,
taking over briefly the duties of Kittiwake or Petrel when either ship was incapacitated due to repairs. She also
operated regularly in the West Indies during the annual "Springboard" exercises. The one notable exception to that
pattern occurred in January and February of 1955 when she assisted Nautilus (SSN-571), the Navy's first
nuclear-powered submarine, in completing her builders' trials.
At the beginning of 1962, the submarine rescue vessel began a new phase of her career when regular deployments
to the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean became a normal aspect of her activities and continued to be for the remainder
of her naval service. She embarked upon the first such cruise on 8 January 1962. During that assignment, she
served as flagship of Task Force (TF) 69 and participated in the search for an Air Force jet fighter which
crashed at sea near Malaga, Spain. On 7 May 1962, she returned to New London and resumed her duties with
the Atlantic Fleet. In April of 1963, she was one of the first ships to answer the distress call sent by Thresher
(SSN-593) before she sank during diving tests. Skylark also participated in the unsuccessful search for the
submarine which was conducted for several days after the loss. In July 1963, she was deployed to the Mediterranean
once more and again served as flagship of TF 69. That cruise lasted until late October, and Skylark reentered New
London on 2 November. Nineteen months of duty put of her home port, along the Atlantic coast of the United States,
followed her return home.
On 7 July 1965, the submarine rescue vessel stood out of New London once more, bound for the
Mediterreanean and duty in support of 6th Fleet submarines. During the latter portion of that cruise, Skylark
served for several weeks at the ballistic missile submarine base located in Holy Loch, Scotland, before
returning home to New London on 29 October. During the remaining eight years of her Navy career, the
ship alternated duty along the Atlantic coast of the United States with deployments to the Mediterranean
and to the submarine base at Holy Loch. In the spring of 1968, she participated in the unsuccessful rescue
attempt and search for Scorpion (SSN-589), the second American nuclear-powered submarine to be lost at
sea. Her only other major departure from her routine came in June of 1972 when she participated in
NATO Exercise "Pink Lace" before beginning a scheduled deployment to Holy Loch and the Mediterranean
in July. She returned to New London on 18 November 1972, completing the last deployment of her career. On
30 June 1973, Skylark was decommissioned, and her name was struck from the Navy list. On that same day,
she was sold to the Brazilian Navy and commissioned as Gastao Moutinho (K. 10). As of 1979, she was still
an active unit of the Brazilian Fleet.
ASR- 21 – Pigeon
Pigeon Class Submarine Rescue Ship:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Laid down, 17 July 1968, at Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Co., Mobile, AL.
Launched, 13 August 1969
Commissioned USS Pigeon (ASR-21), 28 April 1973
Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 31 August 1992
Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
Title transfer to MARAD, 18 December 1998
Reacquired, 23 March 2002, for use as a non-operational training platform at Naval Station San Diego
Specifications:
• Length 251 Beam 93' Draft 26' (max)
• Speed 15 kts.
• Complement 139
• Armament two 3"/50 guns
• Aircraft helicopter pad only
•
Propulsion four diesel engines, two propeller shafts
Pigeon
A bird of stout body; short legs; and smooth compact plumage.
The third Pigeon (ASR–21) was laid down 17 July 1968 by the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co., Mobile, Ala.;
launched 13 August 1969; sponsored by Mrs. Allen M. Shinn, wife of Vice Admiral Shinn, Commander Naval Air
Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Leader of a new class of submarine rescue ships designed to operate with the Navy’s new deep submergence rescue
vehicles, Pigeon will be the first seagoing catamaran warship built for the Navy since Robert Fulton’s twin-hulled
steam warship Fulton was built at the close of the War of 1812. Her twin hull gives great stability for deep water
operations and provides ample deck working space. She will be able to carry two deep submergence vehicles on her
main deck. These craft will be capable of docking to a disabled submarine on the sea bottom, removing survivors and
transporting them to the surface. Pigeon will also carry the McCann diving bell or rescue chamber which was used to
rescue the survivors of submarine Squalus (SS–192) in 1939. Pigeon’s mooring system will enable her to maintain a
precise position over a disabled submarine during rescue operations.
Pigeon’s rescue control center will use a 3-dimensional sonar system for continuous tracking of the rescue vehicle.
During rescue operations it will serve as a floating command post with specialized communications equipment for
contacting the disabled submarine and any other craft, planes or ships working with her. The submarine rescue
capability of this ship will far exceed that of any previous submarine rescue system.
Pigeon is to be commissioned late in 1970.
ASR- 22 – Ortolan
Pigeon Class Submarine Rescue Ship:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Laid down, 28 August 1968, at Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Co., Mobile, AL.
Launched, 10 September 1969
Commissioned USS Ortolan (ASR-22), 14 July 1973
Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 30 March 1995
Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
Title transfer to MARAD, 1 May 1999
Final Disposition, fate unknown
Specifications:
• Length 251 Beam 93' Draft 26' (max)
• Speed 15 kts
• Complement 139
• Armament two 3"/50 guns
• Aircraft helicopter pad only
• Propulsion four diesel engines, two propeller shafts
Ortolan
A European bunting.
The third Ortolan (ASR–22), a twin hulled submarine rescue vessel, was laid down 28 August 1968 by the Alabama Dry Dock
and Shipbuilding Co., Mobile, Ala; launched 10 September 1969; sponsored by Mrs. Nels C. Johnson; and is to commission early
in 1971.

Directory of TUGS OF THE SUBMARINE RESCUE VESSELS FLEET

Transcription

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