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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 GRAPPLE (ARS-7)
Displacement 1,897, Length 213'6", Beam 39', Draw 14'1", Speed 14.8 k,
Complement 120, Armament 4 40mm, Class Diver
With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, Grapple recommissioned 20
December 1951 at San Diego, Lt. Roy Coniam in command. After training
exercises, she sailed to Pearl Harbor and from there to Japan, reaching
Sasebo 8 May 1952. Five days later she sailed for Korea and joined
British units of the United Nations Fleet off Daido Ko 17 May. Later she
sailed to Ullong Do and was temporarily converted into a floating
laboratory as navy doctors frantically tried to stem a typhoid epidemic
sweeping the peninsula.
On 8 August Grapple began "flycatcher" duty off the Korean coast,
patrolling at night to thwart enemy sampans laying mines in the
shallows. While at anchor near Wonsan 12 August, Grapple came under
heavy fire from shore batteries, and before she could clear the area was
hit just below the water line. Her damage control party removed the
unexploded projectile and patched up the 6" by 15" hole. Three days
later still on patrol, Grapple received more serious injuries, this time
at the hands of a friend. Because of a mistake in identification
signals, Chief opened fire on Grapple at a range of about 900 yards.
Several shells fell short or exploded above the ship, but one 3''
projectile hit just above the pilot house, killing 2 men, injuring 11
others, critically, and doing extensive damage to pilot house and gun
deck. After repairs at Sasebo, Grapple returned to Korea, making three
more "flycatcher" patrols to protect U.S. ships operating off shore
before returning to Pearl Harbor 9 December 1952. She then sailed for
overhaul at Seattle.
Grapple received one battle star for World War II service and one battle
star for Korean service.
Respectfull Submitted,
Craig Rothhammer craigr@cnmnetwork.com
