USS Diver

USS Diver (ARS-5) underway, date and location unknown.
History
United States
Name	USS Diver
Builder	Basalt Rock Company
Laid down	6 April 1942
Launched	19 December 1942
Commissioned	23 October 1943
Decommissioned	27 July 1946
Stricken	date unknown
Fate	Sold, 12 April 1949
General characteristics
Tonnage	1,441 tons
Displacement	1,630 tons
Length	213 ft 6 in (65.07 m)
Beam	39 ft (12 m)
Draft	14 ft 4 in (4.37 m)
Propulsion	diesel-electric, twin screws, 2,780 hp
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement	120
Armament	two 40 mm AA gun mounts; four 0.5 in (12.7 mm). machine guns

USS Diver (ARS-5) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels.

Diver (ARS-5) was launched 19 December 1942 by Basalt Rock Company in Napa, California; sponsored by Mrs. F. M. Young; and commissioned 23 October 1943.

Diver arrived at Falmouth, England, from Norfolk, Virginia, 15 February 1944. After 3 days of salvage training operations at Rosneath Bay, Scotland, she reported to Portland, England, 27 March, for preparations for the coming invasion of Normandy.

On 26 June she got underway for Baie de la Seine, France, where she was attached to the Salvage, Wreck Disposal, Mine Disposal, and Hydrographic Survey Unit. She rescued 30 survivors of the Norwegian freighter SS Norfolk, sunk by mine while on her way to Cherbourg on 20 July and 21 July, then reported for salvage operations at Utah beach and Omaha beach. She arrived at Le Havre 11 November to continue her salvage work. Sailing to aid a torpedoed British transport 28 December Diver struck an unmarked submerged obstacle and returned to Le Havre for emergency repairs. Permanent repairs were made at Dieppe, from 6 January to 21 January 1945, after which Diver returned to Le Havre to continue her salvage work.

Diver sailed for Bremerhaven, Germany, 15 June 1945, by way of Ostend, Belgium, and Den Helder, the Netherlands. From her arrival 22 June she served as guard, ready duty, salvage, and local escort vessel. On 23 August she moved to Brake, Germany, to stand by for any damage to shipping in the Weser River. She left Bremerhaven 4 October with 41 naval passengers and arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, 22 October for overhaul.

From 9 February to 16 February 1946, Diver was at New York to assist in relieving the harbor congestion caused by a tugboat strike. She served on towing duty between New London, Connecticut, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from 18 April to 13 May.

On 27 May she arrived at Orange, Texas, where she was decommissioned, 27 July 1946. Diver was sold 12 April 1949.

Diver received one battle star for World War II service:

• Invasion of Normandy

Her crew was eligible for the following medals:

• American Campaign Medal
• Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal
• World War II Victory Medal

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

• Photo gallery of Diver at NavSource Naval History
• [1] Basalt Rock Company Shipbuilding History