USS Chain (ARS-20)

USS "Chain" (ARS-20/T-AGOR-17) 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.

"Chain" (ARS 20) was launched 3 June 1943 by Basalt Rock Co., Napa, California; sponsored by Mrs. P. F. Roach; and commissioned 31 March 1944, Lieutenant Commander F. J. George, USNR, in command.

World War II service

"Chain" sailed from San Diego, California on 14 May 1944, bound for the Panama Canal, and Trinidad, which she reached 2 June. She towed barge "YF-324" to Recife, Brazil, where on 2 July she joined the U.S. 4th Fleet for operations as tug and salvage ship from Recife and Bahia, Brazil, until 18 June 1945, when she cleared Recife for Norfolk, Virginia. Her essential support played an important, if humble, part in enabling the 4th Fleet to carry out its mission of protecting the South Atlantic Ocean.

Convoying Italian submarines

After overhaul and training at Norfolk, on 22 September "Chain" cleared for Key West, Florida, where she made rendezvous with three Italian submarines. Sailing east, her little convoy was enlarged by four additional Italian submarines at Bermuda, and she arrived at Taranto, Italy, with her charges 3 November. "Chain" returned by way of Palermo, Sicily, where she took barge "YF-445" in tow, to Charleston, South Carolina, arriving 31 December.

Grounded in Block Island Sound

"Chain" operated along the U.S. East Coast, towing barges and decommissioned ships until she grounded in Block Island Sound 29 March 1946. Quickly floated by Coast Guard Cutter "Dix", "Chain" 's bottom was heavily damaged, and from 3 April until 25 June, she was repaired at New London, Connecticut.

Post-war decommissioning

She left New London astern 25 June, steaming to Orange, Texas, where she was decommissioned and placed in reserve 9 November 1946.

Reassignment as research vessel

She was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) in 1958, and reclassified Oceanographic Research Ship USNS "Chain" (T-AGOR-17). She was operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Final decommissioning

"Chain" was struck from the Naval Register on 30 December 1977 and scrapped in June 1979.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships

External links

* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/37/3720.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - ARS-20 / T-AGOR-17 Chain]