USS Snatch (ARS-27)
As RV Argo
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Builder: | Basalt Rock Company |
| Laid down: | 28 January 1943 |
| Launched: | 8 April 1944 |
| Commissioned: |
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| Decommissioned: | 23 December 1946 |
| In service: |
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| Out of service: | March 1970 |
| Struck: | 1 May 1970 |
| Fate: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 1,441 tons |
| Displacement: | 1,630 long tons or 1,660 metric 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 (2.07 MW) |
| Speed: | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement: | 120 |
| Armament: | four 40 mm guns, four .50 cal machine guns |
USS Snatch (ARS-27), well known as Scripps R/V Argo after conversion to scientific research, was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II and in service from 11 December 1944 through 23 December 1946. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels. The ship is better known from her scientific research role as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) research vessel R/V Argo. It is that name, apparently not formally recognized by Navy that maintained title to the vessel, found in the scientific literature and public releases about her wide ranging research voyages.
Snatch was laid down on 28 September 1943 by the Basalt Rock Company in Napa, California; launched on 8 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. S. B. Johnson; and commissioned on 11 December 1944.
Snatch conducted her shakedown cruise off San Diego, California, and returned to San Francisco, California from where she steamed on 20 February 1945 for Manus, Admiralty Islands. Under tow were the vessels (Covered Lighter (Self-propelled))YF-622, YF-919, and YF-926. On 4 March, she ran into heavy seas which caused 919 and 926 to collide. YF-926 was taking water and down by the bow. The seas were still rough three days later so the salvage ship changed course for Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii. YF-926 sank on the 8th, the day before reaching port. Two days later, Snatch sailed to Pearl Harbor towing the remaining lighters.
Snatch steamed to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, on 17 March. From 5 to 9 April, she participated in salvage operations of SS Esso Washington which was grounded near the entrance of Eniwetok Passage. On the 14th, the ship steamed for Guam with a dredge and two barges in tow. En route, the ship was diverted to Tinian, Mariana Islands, arriving on 23 April. On 15 May, she sailed for Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, calling at Ulithi to take YF-606 and YF-1001 in tow.
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Wikipedia