- USS Grapple (ARS-7)
USS Grapple (ARS-7) was an "Diver"-class
rescue and salvage ship commissioned by theU.S. Navy for service inWorld War II . She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels."Grapple" (ARS-7) was launched by Basalt Rock Co.,
Napa, California ,31 December 1942 ; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas D. Rose; and commissioned16 December 1943 atVallejo, California , Lt. Robert Fisher in command.World War II operations
One of the first ships designed to operate as a combat-salvage vessel, "Grapple" conducted shakedown off the
California coast until15 February 1944 when she sailed forPearl Harbor with barge "YW-69" in tow. With three barges in tow, she departed Pearl21 March 1944 , proceeded viaMajuro andTarawa toEspiritu Santo ,New Hebrides ,Florida Island , andGuadalcanal .Screening exercises in the South Pacific
There "Grapple" performed miscellaneous screening exercises and readied for her part in the upcoming invasion of
Guam , another step in America's sweep to victory across the Pacific. On15 June she came under enemy attack for the first time as three Japanesedive bombers came out of the sun in a surprise attack. Alertantiaircraft crews shot down one of them and seriously damaged another.Invasion of Guam operations
"Grapple" cleared
Kwajalein , staging area for theGuam assault, on15 July , then 6 days later was standing off Guam in support of the first wave of assault troops. Her vital salvage work at Guam included pulling strandedlanding craft off the beaches and repairing damaged ships, usually within range of enemy fire. Demolition crews from "Grapple", also performed the important work of clearing theApra Harbor entrance of a Japanesefreighter sunk by American bombers. After the consolidation of Guam, "Grapple" returned toEspiritu Santo viaEniwetok for repairs and preparation for next major assault.Salvaging a destroyer and landing craft
Rendezvousing with a
convoy atFlorida Island , "Grapple" sailed4 September for the initial assault phase onPeleliu Island,Palaus , which began15 September . Under constant fire from enemy shore batteries, she laid small-craft mooring buoys inside Peleliu's protectivereef before being dispatched to aid USS|Wadleigh|DD-689|2 (DD-689), badly damaged in a mine field. While working on the disableddestroyer , a project which lasted over 2 weeks, "Grapple" also assisted a number of beached landing craft and effected temporary repairs on others.Under attack while working the Philippines
On
24 December Grapple enteredLeyte Gulf , late the scene of one of the war's bloodiest and most decisive naval battles, for further salvage work. Four days later she sailed intoMindanao Gulf to salvage "SS William Sharon", an abandonedLiberty ship still smoldering fromkamikaze attacks. The salvage ship, with "Sharon" in tow, and her two destroyer escorts were attacked by Japanese fighter planes in the pre-dawn hours of30 December , but the planes were driven off.Earning the Navy Unit Citation
From
Leyte "Grapple" headed north as the invasion of thePhilippines unfolded deep into enemy held territory atLingayen Gulf , again in the initial assault phase. Brilliant salvage work at Lingayen Gulf from6 January to26 February 1945 earned "Grapple" and her crew theNavy Unit Citation .Fighting fires on the carrier Randolph
She remained on fire-fighting, rescue, and salvage station at
Ulithi andSaipan through7 May , distinguishing herself in fire-fighting efforts on the carrier USS|Randolph|CV-15|2 (CV-15), hit bykamikazes on11 March . After towing aderrick and a lighter toLeyte , "Grapple" sailed forPearl Harbor . On6 June she was diverted to assist "SS William Hawkins", adrift nearJohnston Island ; taking the merchantman in tow, she reachedHawaii 11 June , stopping only long enough to disengage her tow before continuing toPortland, Oregon , where she docked22 June .End-of-war activity and decommissioning
Japan surrendered before "Grapple" reached Hawaii again on
19 October . There she performed various duties until returning to the coast. She reachedSan Diego, California ,15 May , decommissioned there30 August 1946 and went in reserve.Reactivated during the Korean crisis
With the outbreak of hostilities in
Korea , "Grapple" re-commissioned26 December 1951 at San Diego, Lt. Roy Coniam in command. After training exercises, she sailed toPearl Harbor and from there to Japan, reaching Sasebo8 May 1952 . Five days later she sailed forKorea and joined British units of theUnited Nations Fleet offDaido Ko 17 May . Later she sailed toUllong Do and was temporarily converted into a floating laboratory as Navy doctors frantically tried to stem atyphoid epidemic sweeping thepeninsula .Hit by shore batteries
On
8 August "Grapple" began "flycatcher" duty off theKorea n coast, patrolling at night to thwart enemysampans laying mines in the shallows. While at anchor nearWonsan 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.Struck by friendly fire
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, USS|Chief|AM-315|2 (AM-315) 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, 3 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 atSeattle, Washington .Arctic supply cruises
"Subsequently," Grapple has based at Pearl Harbor, performing a variety of salvage duties in the mid-Pacific and other areas. In 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1957, late summer
Arctic supply cruises took her throughAleutian waters and into the hazardous ice floes of theArctic Circle to repair and supply units of the fleet stationed there. In nine Western Pacific cruises to date, "Grapple" has crossed the Pacific toKorea ,Japan , Formosa, thePhilippines ,South Vietnam , andHong Kong . On these,Grapple extensively trained ROK andNationalist Chinese divers in newest salvage techniques.Blasting a reef at Johnston Island
Extraordinary duties for "Grapple" included blasting the
coral reef to widen the harbor entrance atJohnston Island in April 1954 prior to nuclear testing. In addition while prepared to act during a flare-up in theQuemoy -Matsu area in August and September 1958, she assistedHilo ,Hawaii , in mopping up after a devastatingtidal wave May 1960. During July and August 1964 she participated in the successful salvage operation of freeing USS|Frank Knox|DDR-742|2 (DDR-742), grounded onPratas Reef in theSouth China Sea .Vietnam operations
Departing Pearl Harbor
16 November 1966 , "Grapple" reached waters offSouth Vietnam 10 December for salvage and rescue operations. Late in the month she prepared to salvage a grounded tug from a reef north ofHue , South Vietnam. "Grapple" was still on station in the Pacific, providing valuable salvage and rescue work for planes and ships as well as participating in a variety of miscellaneous duties and exercises.Final decommissioning
Grapple was decommissioned (date unknown) and struck from theNaval Register . She was then sold toTaiwan under theSecurity Assistance Program ,1 December 1977 , and renamed "ROCS Da Hu" (ARS-552).Military awards and honors
"Grapple" received three
battle stars forWorld War II service:
* Marianas operation
* Western Caroline Islands operation
* Luzon operationShe received onecampaign star during theKorean War :
* Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952She received five campaign stars during theVietnam War :
* Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
* Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
* Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
* Vietnam Winter-Sprint 1970
* Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VIIHer crew was eligible for the following medals and ribbons:
*Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive,15 September 1944 and30 December 1944 )
*Navy Unit Commendation
*Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
*American Campaign Medal
*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3)
*World War II Victory Medal
*National Defense Service Medal (2)
*Korean Service Medal (1)
*Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Taiwan Straits)
*Vietnam Service Medal (5)
*Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (2)
*Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
*United Nations Service Medal
*Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
*Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*World War II External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/37/3707.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - ARS-7 Grapple]
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