2 × Fairbanks-Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440bhp (1,074kW) each at 720 rpm, twin screws
4,900nmi (9,100km) at 12kn (22km/h; 14mph) (928 tons displacement)
Complement
65 officers and enlisted
Armament
None
USS Salvager (ARS(D)-3), a Gypsy-class salvage lifting vessel of the United States Navy, was originally conceived as LSM-551, was reclassified ARS(D)-3 on 24 April 1945; named Salvager on 1 May 1945; laid down on 27 August 1945 by the Brown Shipbuilding Corporation, Houston, Texas; launched on 7 December 1945; and commissioned on 22 March 1946.
Designed for salvage and rescue work, Salvager completed shakedown off Cuba and put into Charleston, SC, on 29 November. She remained there until mid-May 1947, then got underway for Norfolk, VA. By the end of the month, she had commenced the varied activities which, although conducted primarily along the eastern and southerncoasts of the United States and among the islands of the Caribbean, would range from Newfoundland to the coasts of Central America.
In May, the salvage lifting ship inspected buoys in Chesapeake Bay. In June, she moved up the east coast to Narragansett Bay; operated with Windlass(ARS(D)-4) to lift a sunken tug from 130 feet of water and move it closer to the beach; then sailed for Bayonne, NJ, for upkeep and replenishment of stores and salvage matériel.
Continuing operations with Windlass, she sailed south on 6 August; spent two weeks salvaging two Mexicanbarges off Veracruz; and returned to Norfolk. At the end of September, the two ARS(D)'s moved up to Hereford Inlet, NJ, to raise YP-387; and, in mid-October, proceeded south to the Georgia coast to locate and demolish another sunken tug.
Before the end of the year, Salvager received an A-frame and winch on her bow which facilitated recovery of submerged objects and enabled her to lift 78 tons over the bow.
With the new year, 1948, Salvager continued her work of removing dangers to navigation; and, in August, she began salvage tests on the German submarineU-1105 off Piney Point, MD. She tested techniques of salvage and towing on the U-boat into November, then stripped the test boat of all experimental equipment; sank her temporarily off Point No Point Light; and planted buoys to mark the spot. Then, with the addition of two sets of beach gear, she resumed normal salvage work, again operating primarily with Windlass.
Following duty off the southern New England and mid-Atlantic coasts into the spring of 1949, she moved north to Newfoundland in May. In June, she returned to the Chesapeake Bay to raise U-1105 and tow her to Piney Point, MD, where, in September, the U-boat was sunk in demolition tests.
1950-1959
USS Missouri was accidentally grounded early on the morning of 17 January 1950.
During the fall, Salvager added minesweeping operations to her duties. Overhaul rounded out the year; and, in January 1950, she resumed operations by assistonly a portion of her mission; mine recovery, diver training, and local salvage operations including recovery of airplanes for both the US Navy and the US Air Force were also continued.
1953 brought, for a salvage vessel, relative inactivity. Deployed only twice, to the waters off Florida and to the Caribbean, she remained in the Norfolk area for most of the year. In 1954, however, she resumed a more hectic schedule. In February, she conducted underwater demolition tests in the U.S. Virgin Islands. During the spring, she operated off the mid-Atlantic seaboard and in the Bermuda area. In July, she destroyed and cleared the wreckage of YFN-6 from Delaware Bay; and, in August, she moved north to Nantucket, MA to conduct a survey of current and tide conditions and their effects upon the bottom. Three months later, she moved into the British West Indies to clear obstructions near Eleuthera Island; and, in December, she returned to Norfolk.
Through the remainder of the 1950s, Salvager continued her varied activities. Major operations included the raising of downed aircraft and sunken district and landing craft; unbeaching of LST's; refloating a destroyer, Basilone(DD-824); destruction of the long-sunken hulk of the battleship Texas; mooring and logistic support for experimental and scientific work; excavation of trenches and laying of cables; location and recovery of a misfired space capsule; and special operations requested by the Bureau of Ships.
1960-1972
Salvager began the 1960s in Chesapeake Bay where she completed the demolition of the wreck of the Texas, begun in 1958. Special projects for the Bureau of Ships and deep sea mooring operations followed; and, in June 1960, she resumed salvage operations on sunken vessels and aircraft. In July, she added the recovery of the wreckage of a blimp to her record, then assumed salvage standby duty which rounded out the year.
The new year, 1961, started with training operations. But, with the end of winter, she resumed a full schedule of salvage, recovery, and special operations which continued for the next four and a half years. Major salvage operations saw her off the New Jersey coast to assist in refloating the grounded destroyers, Baldwin(DD-624) in 1961 and Monssen(DD-798) in 1962; off Morehead City, NC, to clear the wreckage of the oiler, USNSPotomac(T-AO-150), and off Newfoundland to recover heavy, fleet-type moorings and mines in 1963; and in Louisiana waters, to assist in clearance operations following Hurricane Betsy in 1965.
In addition to special operations for the Bureau of Ships during the same period, Salvager also supported Naval Oceanographic Office projects. In November 1963, she towed NOMAD (Naval Oceanographic Meteorological Automatic Device) 150 miles out to sea and moored it in 1,600 fathoms. Following the initial mooring, she returned several times to bring NOMAD in for checking and to change its position.
Following operations during September and October 1965, in Louisiana after "Betsy," Salvager prepared for inactivation. Decommissioned on 23 November, she remained in reserve for less than two years. During 1966, she was converted to a non-self-propelled vessel. On 16 October 1967, she was redesignated YMLC-3 (Salvage Craft, Medium); and, in December, she was placed in service and assigned to Advanced Bases, Pacific Area. Then taken to the Philippines, she operated out of Subic Bay until she was ordered back to the east coast of the United States for inactivation in July 1971. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 August 1972.
USS Grapple (ARS-53) is a Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship in the United States Navy. Her home port is Norfolk, Virginia. On 13 July 2006 Grapple was decommissioned from US Navy service and converted to civilian operation by Military Sealift Command. She was redesignated as USNS Grapple.
USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52) is a Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship, the second United States Navy ship of that name.
USS Gypsy was the lead ship of her class of salvage lifting vessels serving in the United States Navy. Originally designated LSM-549, she was launched by Brown Shipbuilding Corporation, Houston, Texas, on 7 December 1945, and commissioned on 18 March 1946 at Houston.
USS Windlass, a Gypsy-class salvage lifting vessel of the United States Navy, was originally conceived as LSM-552 and laid down on 27 August 1945 at Houston, Texas, by Brown Shipbuilding Corporation. Launched on 7 December 1945; and commissioned on 9 April 1946 in Houston at the Tennessee Coal and Iron Docks.
USS Mender was a Gypsy-class salvage lifting vessel of the United States Navy. Originally designated LSM‑550, she was reclassified on 24 April 1945, and was laid down on 25 August 1945 by Brown Shipbuilding Corporation, Houston, Texas. Launched on 7 December 1945; and commissioned on 8 March 1946.
USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50), formerly USS Safeguard (ARS-50), is the lead ship of her class and the second United States Navy ship of that name.
USS Brant (AM-24) was a Lapwing-class minesweeper in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named by the U.S. Navy for the brant, a small goose.
USS Sunbird (ASR-15) was a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship in the United States Navy.
USS Tringa (ASR-16) was a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship of the United States Navy. She was laid down on 12 July 1945 at Savannah, Georgia, 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.
USS Escape (ARS-6) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Preserver (ARS-8) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Restorer (ARS-17) was an Anchor-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Current (ARS-22) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Weight (ARS-35) was a Weight-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Hoist (ARS-40) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the United States Navy during World War II. Its task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Opportune (ARS-41) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.
USS Recovery (ARS-43) was a Bolster-class rescue and salvage ship of the United States Navy, which remained in commission for over 48 years.
USS Yazoo (YN-121/AN-92) was a Cohoes-class net laying ship which was assigned to protect United States Navy ships and harbors during World War II with her anti-submarine nets. Her World War II career was cut short due to the war coming to an end, but, post-war, she was reactivated and served the Navy in a variety of ways until she was decommissioned in 1962.
Acushnet – a steel-hulled revenue cutter – was launched on 16 May 1908 at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.; sponsored by Miss Alayce Duff; and commissioned at Baltimore on 6 November 1908. She saw service as a United States Revenue Cutter Service cutter, a U.S. Navy fleet tug, and as a U.S. Coast Guard cutter. She was taken out of service 8 January 1946.
The third USS Kiowa (AT-72), later ATF-72, was a fleet tug, later fleet ocean tug, that served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1972.
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