USS Grasp (ARS-24)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
|
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| Builder: | Basalt Rock Company |
| Laid down: | date unknown |
| Launched: | 31 July 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 22 August 1944 |
| Decommissioned: | 12 December 1946 |
| In service: | 10 October 1950 |
| Out of service: | date unknown |
| Struck: | 31 March 1978 |
| Fate: | sold to South Korea, 31 March 1978 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 1,441 tons |
| Displacement: | 1,630 tons |
| Length: | 213 ft 6 in (65.07 m) |
| Beam: | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Draught: | 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m) |
| Propulsion: | diesel-electric, twin screws, 2,780 hp |
| Speed: | 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| Complement: | 120 |
| Armament: | four 40 mm guns, four .50 cal machine guns |
USS Grasp (ARS-24) 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.
Grasp (ARS-24) was launched 31 July 1943 by the Basalt Rock Company in Napa, California; sponsored by Mrs. J. B. McDonough; and commissioned 22 August 1944, Lt. Comdr. Jacob F. Lawson, in command.
After fitting out at San Francisco, California, and shakedown along the California coast out of San Diego, California, Grasp sailed for the Pacific Ocean, reaching Hawaii 27 October 1944. From Pearl Harbor she headed for combat, reaching Manus, Admiralty Islands, 24 December to prepare for her role in the upcoming Lingayen Gulf operations. Joining the battle group, under the overall command of Admiral T. C. Kincaid, Grasp sailed for the Philippines 1 January 1945.
En route, the ships were attacked by heavy concentrations of Japanese aircraft, including the suicidal kamikazes. Overcoming all attacks, in which Grasp shot down one plane and assisted against others, the fleet forced its way deep into enemy waters and landed General Douglas MacArthur's troops at Lingayen Gulf 9 January. Grasp was there to assist battle damaged ships, and clear the harbor of sunken craft. In addition to aiding USS War Hawk (AP-168) and Otis Skinner, damaged by the Japanese, Grasp pulled two landing craft off the beaches and salvaged a Japanese Army submarine Yu 3 hazardous to shipping.
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Wikipedia