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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

 Courtesy Ed Armijo via NAFTS Courtesy Marcus Ray via NAFTS

ARS-7 Grapple


USS Grapple (ARS-7) was sold to Taiwan, renamed ROCS Da Hu (ARS-552)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 15 September 1944 and 30 December 1944) - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (1) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Taiwan Straits)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (5) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (2) - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Diver Class Rescue and Salvage Ship:
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Basalt Rock Co. Inc., Napa, CA.
  • Launched, 31 December 1942
  • Commissioned USS Grapple (ARS-7), 16 December 1943, at Vallejo, CA., LT. Robert Fisher in command
  • During WWII Grapple was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, 21 July 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landing, 6 January to 26 February 1945
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of Palau Islands - Peleliu, 15 September 1944     		.

  • Decommissioned, 30 August 1946, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 20 December 1951, at San Diego, Lt. Roy Coniam in command
  • During the Korean War Grapple participated in the following campaign:
    Korean War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    17 May to 7 June1952
    18 to 25 July 1952
    8 to 17 August 1952
    5 to 23 September 1952
    29 September to 5 October 1952
    14 October to 3 November 1952

  • During the Vietnam War Grapple participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    11 to 14 June 1968
    23 to 30 June 1968     		Vietnam Winter-Sprint 1970
    10 to 22 November 969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 to 10 July1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    10 November to 19 December 1970
    10 to 11 March 1971
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    1 July 1969
    24 August to 12 October 1969     		.

  • Decommissioned (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register and sold to Taiwan under the Security Assistance Program, 1 December 1977, renamed ROCS Da Hu (ARS-552)
  • Current Disposition, active
  • Grapple received three battle stars for World War II service, one battle star for Korean War service and five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,530 t.(lt).1,900 t.(fl)
    Length 213' 5"
    Beam 39'
    Draft 14' 8"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 120
    Armament
    three twin 40mm AA gun mounts, reduced to one single 40mm AA gun mount, during 1963-64 overhaul
    four .50 cal machine guns, removed during1963-64 overhaul
    Propulsion four 6-cylinder Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 diesel engines, four main propulsion generators, twin screws, 2,780hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Grapple (ARS-7)
    Grapple 27k Grapple (ARS-7) moored pierside, date and place unknown. Bob Hall
    via NAFTS
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Grapple 33k Grapple (ARS-7) underway, date and place unknown. NAFTS Collection
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Grapple 25k Grapple (ARS-7) underway with a tow, date and place unknown. Ed Armijo
    ROCS Da Hu (ARS-552)
    Grapple 103k Ex-Grapple (ARS-7) in the Republic of China service as Da Hu (ARS-552) moored pierside in Keelung, Taiwan Harbor, 13 June 2006. Perry Huang
    Grapple 384k Da Hu (ARS-552) moored pierside in Keelung, Taiwan Harbor, 13 June 2006. Perry Huang
    Grapple 353k Da Hu (ARS-552) moored pierside in Keelung, Taiwan Harbor, 13 June 2006. Perry Huang
    Grapple 384k Da Hu (ARS-552) moored pierside in Keelung, Taiwan Harbor, 13 June 2006. Perry Huang
    View the Grapple (ARS-7)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Grapple ARS-7
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 26 January 2007