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On Sat, 6 Nov 1999
Craig Alexander Rothhammer Email address wrote:
The USS GRAPLE is (ARS-7), a Diver class rescue/salvage ship. I served
on her sister ships, USS GRASP (ARS-24) & USS BOLSTER (ARS-38).
The salvage navy was heavily engaged in the Korean War, close in, and
often under fire. They provided salvage support to the Army, Navy,
Air Force & Marines, Search & Rescue, UDT & special ops operations,
towing, interdiction/patroling, Humanitarian and many other tasks.
I have listed below the records of the eight Diver Class ARS's that I
have certain knowledge of their participation in the Korean War. Many
of them were also WWII and Vietnam veterans.
In the Salvage Navy, we understood ARS not to mean Auxiliary Rescue &
Salvage, but rather "Always Ready Ships". If there was a dirty job to
do, we were the one's to call upon. We paid for this respect in sweat
and blood.
See: Ship History
USS CURRENT (ARS-22)
displacement. 1,441 lenght. 213'6" beam. 39' draft. 14'8" speed. 15 k.
complement. 120 armament. 2 x 40mm.class. Diver
Recommissioned 10 October 1951, Current sailed from Long Beach 7
December and arrived at Pearl Harbor a week later. Following a 1952 tour
of duty in the Far East during the Korean War, she carried out an
extensive salvage operation on the merchant ship SS Quartette off
Midway, saving approximately 2,000 tons of grain between 23 December
1952 and 6 March 1953. During her 1953 tour of duty off Korea, Current
refloated the stranded LST-578 at Cheju and in a lengthy and difficult
peration salvaged the stern half of SS Cornhusker Mariner which had gone
aground off Pusan.
Current received two battle stars for World War II service and three for
Korean War service.
Respectfull Submitted,
Craig Rothhammer craigr@cnmnetwork.com
