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US Navy Divers & Their Related Commands ARS, ASR, ATF, ATA, etc


Salvage Sailor
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Salvage Sailor

Aloha Everyone,

 

Feel free to add on your own examples of US Navy diving patches including the relative commands, stations and vessels that USN divers have served with.

 

I'll start off with some of my own from the 1970's when I was a junk boat sailor.

 

USN DIVING Group 001.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

Most of these were removed from uniforms, jackets or coveralls when they were ditched or recycled

 

USN DIVER 001A.jpg

 

U.S. NAVY DIVER  WE DIVE THE WORLD OVER

 

USN DIVER 002.jpg

 

Original United States Navy Divers Association 1970

 

Navy Divers Association 1970 001.jpg

 

Navy Divers Association 1970 002.jpg

 

Harbor Clearance Unit One "It's Hard to Be Humble"

Flyaway Mixed Gas Team

 

HCU 1 Mixed Gas 001.jpg

 

HCU 1 Mixed Gas 002.jpg

 

One you don't see often, the Reserve Harbor Clearance Unit Hawaii circa 1970's

 

HCU 1 Reserve Hawaii 001.jpg

 

HCU 1 Reserve Hawaii 002.jpg

 

....and the then "new" MK 12 developed by the NEDU

Navy Experimental Diving Unit based in Panama City, Florida

 

USN DIVER NEDU MK 12 001.jpg

 

USN DIVER NEDU MK 12 003.jpg

 

This one got snagged on something

Submarine Base Pearl Harbor Hawaii Diving Locker

 

Diving Locker Submarine Base Pearl Harbor 001.jpg

 

Diving Locker Submarine Base Pearl Harbor 002.jpg

 

....and this came off of set of USN OD coveralls I still have in my seabag.

 

U.S. NAVAL SHIP REPAIR FACILITY YOKOSUKA JAPAN - NAN DEMO DEKIMASU "We Can Do Anything"

 

Original Japanese made - You see many of these copied (poorly) and sold on ebay

 

US NAVAL SRF YOKOSUKA 001.jpg

 

US NAVAL SRF YOKOSUKA 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

Not military, but we would use these stickers on stuff too, Circa 1972

 

IMG_1959.JPG

 

IMG_1962.JPG

 

IMG_1965.JPG

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Here is another oversized patch for the back of a jacket which I believe is Japanese made.

post-1389-0-06914600-1417371616.jpg

post-1389-0-78779600-1417371630.jpg

 

These were I believe made in the Philippines post SVN War.

post-1389-0-83913900-1417371726.jpg

post-1389-0-92015500-1417372086.jpg

 

Last one also I believe made in the Philippines.

post-1389-0-59857600-1417372152.jpg

post-1389-0-51286300-1417372207.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

EODGRUPAC

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Pacific

 

EODGRUPAC 001.jpg

 

EODGRUPAC

 

EODGRUPAC 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

1967 - The first DDS & SDS-450 Deep Diving System was placed in Fleet Service by Harbor Clearance Unit One

 

SDS 450 USN Salvage Diving System 001.jpg

 

SDS 450 USN Salvage Diving System 002.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

These were I believe made in the Philippines post SVN War.

 

You must have noticed that both these two (2) patches and the other Japanese example you posted are misspelled

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You must have noticed that both these two (2) patches and the other Japanese example you posted are misspelled

 

Nope I didn't notice this so I would imagine no self respecting Naval EOD sailor is going to wear misspelled insignia. Here is another patch in my collection.

post-1389-0-70730000-1417727379.jpg

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  • 4 weeks later...
Salvage Sailor

Aloha Everyone,

 

USN Divers could be members of a number of shore establishments including SRF's, Submarine commands, Station & Shipyard diving lockers, EOD, HCU-1 & HCU-2 (later MDSU-1/2), Service Force (SERVPAC, SERVLANT, SERVRONS), Weapons and Scientific development labs, etc. They were also assigned to diving lockers on AD, AR & AS type ships.

 

But from WWII to the 1990's their primary seaborne billets were on ARS's (Rescue Salvage), ASR's (Submarine Rescue), ATF’s (Fleet Tugs) and other seagoing tug type vessels - ATA, ATR & ATS.

 

Rather than post any or all patches (like the ones shown below) for these ships, I’ll begin by posting those with diving themes depicted upon them.

 

 

Service Force 001.jpg

 

IMG_2390.JPG

 

IMG_2464.JPG

 

IMG_2453.JPG

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Salvage Sailor

The Diver Class Rescue Salvage Vessels 1942-1945

 

For 50 years the workhorse of the USN Salvage forces was the Diver Class ARS built by Basalt Rock company in Napa, California. In 1942, these vessels were specifically designed for towing, diving, rescue and salvage work around the globe. Longer and with a shallower draft than an ATF, Diver class ships were made for pulling with their large bladed twin screws (whereas an ATF was single screw). In addition to Beach Gear, 8 Ells anchors, a full repair shop and automatic towing machine, an ARS also had a full dive locker aboard including a recompression chamber

 

This is the three-war veteran USS ESCAPE (ARS-6), second in the class commissioned in 1943. During the 1960's she was a primary recovery vessel for NASA and support for oceanographic missions. She remained in USN service until 1978 when she was re-flagged as the USCGC ESCAPE (WMEC-6). ESCAPE served as a Coast Guard cutter until 1995.

 

ARS 6 USS ESCAPE 001.jpg

 

USS ESCAPE (ARS-6) 1943-1978 Three war rescue salvage vessel

 

ARS 6 USS ESCAPE 002.jpg

 

ARS 6 WMEC 6 USS USCGC ESCAPE 001.jpg

 

U.S. Coast Guard USCGC ESCAPE (WMEC-6) 1978-1995

 

ARS 6 WMEC 6 USS USCGC ESCAPE 002.jpg

 

More USS ESCAPE items from my collection

 

Escape Plaque.jpg

 

USS ESCAPE (ARS-6) 1968 Zippo.jpg

 

Escape ARS-6 Belt buckle 002.jpg

 

Escape ARS-6 Plaque 002.jpg

 

Escape ARS-6.jpg

 

USCGC Escape WMEC-6 Zippo 002.jpg

 

USS ESCAPE (ARS-6) 1945 003.jpg

 

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Salvage Sailor

USS PRESERVER (ARS-8) was commissioned in January 1944 and served until 1992. She had a typical Diver class history, Saipan, Tinian, struck by a bomb at Leyte Gulf and on to Tokyo. Service at Bikini for the Atom tests, on to Korea, then Arctic, Space and fleet service throughout the Cold War. She also was the support ship for the Bathyscaph which found the remains of USS THRESHER (SSN-593).

 

This is a silk patch made in the early 1950’s which was received from a Korean War crewman.

 

ARS 8 USS PRESERVER 001.jpg

 

ARS 8 USS PRESERVER 002.jpg

 

More PRESERVER items including the old and new plaque crest and a blue filled Japanese belt buckle

 

Preserver plaque.jpg

 

USS PRESERVER (ARS-8) Belt Buckle 002.jpg

 

USS PRESERVER (ARS-8) Photo 002.jpg

 

USS PRESERVER (ARS-8) Tab 002.jpg

 

USS PRESERVER ARS-8 Plaque 002.jpg

 

USS PRESERVER (ARS-8) Belt Buckle 003.jpg

 

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Salvage Sailor

USS CURRENT (ARS-22) Diver class in service 1944-1972

 

WWII, Atomic Tests, Korea, Arctic, Cold War, Vietnam - two battle stars for World War II service, three battle stars for Korean War service, and six campaign stars for Vietnam War service

 

Two original cut edge patches

 

ARS 22 USS CURRENT 001.jpg

 

ARS 22 USS CURRENT 002.jpg

 

Originals 1960's Vietnam Era

 

ARS 22 USS CURRENT 003.jpg

 

ARS 22 USS CURRENT 004.jpg

 

ARS 22 USS CURRENT 005.jpg

 

ARS 22 USS CURRENT 006.jpg

 

Nice bows on photo in her Vietnam configuration, shipboard made plaque and wardroom ashtrays

 

USS CURRENT (ARS-22) 002.jpg

 

USS Current ARS-22 002.jpg

 

USS Current ARS-22 Ashtrays 01 lg.jpg

 

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Salvage Sailor

USS DELIVER (ARS-23) Her motto – Continuous Service - as she was not decommissioned between the 1947 Atomic tests and the Korean war. In service 1944 to 1979 (I was at her decommissioning in Pearl Harbor)

 

This is a large line drawing I got from her PAO. In the photo you can clearly see her SERVRON FIVE shield at midships. Her ‘Continuous Service’ crest was on the port side.

 

001a.jpg

 

002a.jpg

 

USS DELIVER ARS 23 late 50 early 60 002.jpg

 

More items

 

USS DELIVER (ARS-23) Prince Lighter 01.JPG

 

USS DELIVER (ARS-23) Prince Lighter 03.jpg

 

USS DELIVER 1945 or 1946 Bill Bach 002.jpg

 

USS DELIVER plaque 002.jpg

 

USS Deliver Plaque B.jpg

 

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  • 8 months later...
Salvage Sailor

Nice one Wharf,

 

They were made to be personalized by the crewmen. Here's one unnamed.

 

ASR 7 USS CHANTICLEER 001.jpg

 

ASR 7 USS CHANTICLEER 002.jpg

 

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Nice one Wharf,

 

The were made to be personalized by the crewmen. Here's one unnamed.

Nice patch, slightly different. Mahalo !

 

 

Wharf

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  • 2 months later...
Salvage Sailor

Diver Class USS GRASP (ARS-24) my first ship

 

Built by Basalt Rock as were most Divers, she was commissioned in August 1944 and sent immediately to Lingayen Gulf and the Philippine Sea where she splashed one zero. She continued service throughout the Korean war and was heavily involved in Arctic ops, Atomic testing and the Vietnam conflict. The Vulcan lighter has the GRASP shield on one side and a SERVRON 5 etching on the other. The Zippo lighter is mine dated 1976.

 

I'm not going to show the patch reverse on this one and the one on my work jacket are the only ones I've ever seen or had of this type and it's not (yet) being knocked-off by the "usual suspects".

 

ARS 24 USS GRASP 001.jpg

 

Other items, Grasp in 1967 Vietnam configuration, my 1978 decommissioning bronze plaque and a painted plaque crest (She was transferred to South Korea in 1978)

 

Grasp underway 21 March 1967 off of Oahu.jpg

 

USS GRASP ARS-24 Plaque 3.jpg

 

Grasp ARS-24 Plaque 1a.jpg

 

...and this is the GRASP patch sewed onto my USN work jacket. I was quite reluctant to show this patch for many years but recently, I saw another one which sold on ebay and now the copies are reaching the marketplace. Still, I'm not going to cut it off and show the reverse side.....

 

ARS 24 USS GRASP 002.jpg

 

ARS 24 USS GRASP 003.jpg

 

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Salvage Sailor

Her sister ship, USS SAFEGUARD (ARS-25) in service 1944 to 1979 (sold to Turkey)

 

5" silk Japanese patch, Penguin, Coronet/Rocky lighters, and a 4" cut edge patch

 

ARS 25 USS SAFEGUARD 001.jpg

 

ARS 25 USS SAFEGUARD 002.jpg

 

More SAFEGUARD items from my collection

 

ARS-25 USS SAFEGUARD Mailbag 002.jpg

 

Ships 2 Alpha docks.jpg

 

uss_safeguard_ars-25 subic w HCU 1.jpg

 

...and her decommissioning and transfer to Turkey in 1979

 

ARS 25 USS SAFEGUARD 005.jpg

 

close ups of her patches

 

ARS 25 USS SAFEGUARD 003.jpg

 

ARS 25 USS SAFEGUARD 004.jpg

 

ARS 25 USS SAFEGUARD 006.jpg

 

ARS 25 USS SAFEGUARD 007.jpg

 

.....and a circa 1972 Westpac/Vietnam cruise belt buckle

 

USS SAFEGUARD (ARS-25) Belt Buckle 001.jpg

 

USS SAFEGUARD (ARS-25) Belt Buckle 002.jpg

 

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Salvage Sailor

 

USS BOLSTER (ARS-38) In commission for 50 years, 1944 to 1994, "First to Show, Last to Go"

Bolster Class, my second ship - also built by Basalt Rock Co. of Napa, CA. A wider hull version of the Diver class

 

ARS 38 USS BOLSTER 001.jpg

 

ARS 38 USS BOLSTER 004.jpg

 

 

More items

 

USS BOLSTER (ARS-38) Patch 01.JPG

 

USS BOLSTER ARS-38 Plaque 04a.jpg

 

ARS 38 USS BOLSTER 002.jpg

 

ARS 38 USS BOLSTER 003.jpg

 

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Salvage Sailor

USS CONSERVER (ARS-39), my other sister ship, the "Connie Maru" in service 1945-1994

 

ARS 39 USS CONSERVER 001.jpg

 

Another bitchen 7" high Japanese made Connie Maru patch USS CONSERVER (ARS-39)

 

ARS 39 USS CONSERVER 002.jpg

 

ARS 39 USS CONSERVER 003.jpg

 

Everyone please feel free to add your own Diving patches, etc to the topic

Aloha

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