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

[Salvage Sailor]

USS HOIST (ARS-40) Bolster class in service 1945 to 1994.  Atlantic Fleet Salvage Forces

 

 

 

Other HOIST items

 

 

 

Underway with the Sixth Fleet (note the target sled on her fantail) ready to be streamed

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS OPPORTUNE (ARS-41) Bolster class in commission 1945 to 1993, also served with the Atlantic Fleet

 

This is also a good example of well handled patches and well kept (stored) patches.  They are identical but the colors have faded from bright blues to faded blue/green

 

 

 

Other OPPORTUNE items

 

 

 

Close up of the newer plaque/patch pattern

"We do what others advertise"

 

 

Close up of the older patch pattern

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Back to SERVRON FIVE and the Pacific Fleet Salvors

USS RECLAIMER (ARS-42) in service 1945 to 1994

 

 

She had at least 4 different patches during her long life with the 7th Fleet and SERVRON/SERVPAC

 

 

 

Including Philippine and Japanese made silk patches, 1950's

 

 

 

...and her Vietnam era patch

 

 

 

plus these from the 1990's

 

 

 

Plaques and other Reclaimer items

 

 

 

 

 

 

[irish]

Great thread, not sure how I missed it before. Need to dig out some pieces to post.

[Salvage Sailor]

Something to note on this one posted below.......it's an almost perfect reproduction currently made in South Korea. Fortunately for now, it's clearly advertised as such.  It's a 'dead ringer' for my original but slightly smaller so do be careful

 

KOREAN REPRODUCTION - USS RECLAIMER ARS-42

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS RECOVERY (ARS-43)

 

The last of the Basalt built Diver class ARS's was the RECOVERY (ARS-43)

In service 1946 to 1994 She had three different size patches depicting her octopus crest

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

The Four (4) ARS-D Salvage Vessels - Converted LSM's

 

USS WINDLASS (ARSD-4) was a specially modified and converted ex-LSM-552 Four of them were built in 1945 to work in tandem teams on Salvage projects. In 1946 WINDLASS and her partner, USS SALVAGER (ARSD-3) were assigned to Commander Service Force US Atlantic Fleet for salvage and diving duty.

 

 

 

She conducted diving and salvage operation in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, up and down the eastern seaboard including the USS MISSOURI pull and the MONSSEN salvage.

 

Nice design 6" high, The bulldog in the Mark V

 

 

 

Other Windlass items

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[firefighter]

She had at least 4 different patches during her long life with the 7th Fleet and SERVRON/SERVPAC

 

Great looking patch

[firefighter]

plus this one from the 1990's and I saw but have not handled a fifth one years ago on ebay

 

The round one looks Philippine made

[Salvage Sailor]

The Chanticleer Class of purpose built Submarine Rescue Vessels (ASR)

 

Prior to 1942, USN Submarine Rescue vessels were all converted Lapwing class minesweepers. These utilitarian ships were converted to many tasks to fit the new responsibilities associated with the growing aviation arm and submarine service. They were converted to seaplane recovery vessels, seagoing tugs, salvage vessels and of more import - submarine rescue. The famous USS FALCON was a converted Lapwing minesweeper which led the way in perfecting the art of rescuing and salvaging submarines during the 1930's

 

With the onset of WWII, the first dedicated Submarine Rescue vessels were constructed and USS CHANTICLEER was the class leader. For the next 5 decades, these ships were the lifeline for submariners serving around the globe with their diving bell, pontoons, salvage divers and recompression chamber standing by for deployment on a moments notice. Whereas ARS types were assigned to Service Squadrons, ASR types were assigned to SUBRON's to work in tandem with Submarine Tenders (AS)

 

 

USS CHANTICLEER was in service from 1942 to 1973

 

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS COUCAL (ASR-8) in service 1943 to 1977

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS FLORIKAN (ASR 9) assigned to Submarine Development Group 1 (now submarine development squadron 5)

Breaking new ground, she worked with the DSRV program (MYSTIC etc) to perfect a new mini-submersible method of rescuing submariners.

 

 

 

USS FLORIKAN ASR 9 patches acquired from a 1st class diver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS GREENLET (ASR-10) in service 1943 to 1970

 

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS KITTIWAKE (ASR 13) One of the longest serving ASR's she was in service from 1946 to 1994

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rose colored book is the orientation manual for new crewmembers. The other is the decommissioning packet from 1994 complete with PAO rubber stamps

 

 

 

Her submarine force patches

 

 

and her original ship patch, black fish cap patches, plus the Sylvester patch and a sticker

 

 

 

Other KITTIWAKE items including her 'Jerry' plaque. Before their mascot was 'Sylvester', it was 'Jerry'. I'm still hunting for the patch which goes with the plaque,  I've got it stashed around here with some other Salvage items.

 

 

 

[Patchcollector]

Nice patches and related items.I've always been interested in the Rescue patches.I have some in my collection,will have to get them out and see if I have any not posted here.

So far my favorite here are the Windlass pieces.

[Salvage Sailor]

Thanks, I'm skipping several hulls to just show diving related items rather than all of the ARS, ASR, etc ships.

 

Please do post what you have (dive lockers, teams, HCU/MDSU, DSRV, SEALAB, development, research, scientific or just plain cool)

 

Photo: 24" wide large brass quarterdeck US Naval Deep Sea Diver emblem (very heavy)

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS PETREL (ASR-14)  Chanticleer class submarine rescue ship in service 1946 to 1991. 

Her Vietnam era patch & Welcome Aboard

 

 

 

USS PETREL (ASR-14) 1950's - 1960's

 

 

This is another PETREL patch that is out there (not mine). Anyone have one to post?

 

 

Commanding Officers Khaki belt and Gold tone ships' Buckle (Hilborn-Hamburger) from a grouping I have

 

 

 

 

Photo of her underway in 1988 with her diving bell hooked to the boom on the fantail ready for deployment during the rescue of the USS BONEFISH which was afire.  Photo shot from the HOIST (ARS 40)  Caption: 04/27/1988 The frigate USS MCCLOY (FF 1038), the submarine rescue ship USS PETREL (ASR 14) and the salvage ship USS HOIST (ARS 40) approach the disabled attack submarine USS BONEFISH (SS 582) off the coast of Florida. An on board fire disabled the BONEFISH and claimed the lives of three crew members

 

 

(USS PETREL ASR 14) in service 1946 to 1991 - 1950's Japanese made patches

 

[Salvage Sailor]

....and just to tease us (not mine, in a private collection)

 

USS PETREL (ASR-14) WWII Crewmans work jacket

 

 

U.S. NAVY DIVER

 

 

[hink441]

Awesome stuff‼️ That is quite the impressive collection!!

 

Chris

[Salvage Sailor]

USS SUNBIRD (ASR 15) - Built in WWII but not commissioned until June 23rd, 1950, just two days before North Korea invaded the South. She was truly a cold warrior, in service 1950 to 1993. The background photo is SUNBIRD rendering assistance to a damaged patrol boat with a Coast Guard cutter (an ex-USN ATF fleet tug) standing by. The upper photo is SUNBIRD at sub base New London.

 

The round patch is her older 1950's patch. The other jacket size patches came in at least 3 sizes although the design is identical

 

 

 

Acquired from a crewman

 

 

 

Jacket Patches - 6 1/2", 7" & 6" high

 

 

 

SUNBIRD was also a primary recovery vessel during the Challenger salvage operation.

 

 

 

Change of Command programs with ships' history and photo rosters 1970 and 1975

 

 

Deactivation Ceremony and Decommissioning patch 1993

 

 

Space Shuttle Challenger Recovery - Remember the Seven

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Every SUBRON has (had) an ASR on call

 

As with all of the Chanticleer class Submarine Rescue vessels, SUNBIRD was assigned to a Submarine Squadron.  In this instance, SUBRON 2, SUBDIV 21 at the Naval Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS TRINGA (ASR 16) in service 1947 to 1977

 

 

 

 

She was also a New London based ASR assigned to SUBRON 8, often deployed with them to the Sixth Fleet in the Med

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Rediscovered another stash.....

 

This is the original RC Diving Bell shaped patch for the Submarine Rescue class leader USS CHANTICLEER (ASR-7)

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

and the original for her sister ship USS GREENLET (ASR-10), also a 6" Japanese cut edge

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Plus my missing 'Jerry' patch, USS KITTIWAKE (ASR-13) fashioned after her original plaque.

Later in the 1960's 'Jerry' was replaced by 'Sylvester' 

RC-8 is Rescue Chamber 8, Diving Bell

 

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.