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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

ARS-20 / T-AGOR-17 Chain

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Diver Class Rescue and Salvage Ship:
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Basalt Rock Co., Napa, CA.
  • Launched, 3 April 1943
  • Commissioned USS Chain (ARS-20), 31 March 1944
  • Decommissioned, 9 November 1946, at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange
  • Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) in 1958, and reclassified Oceanographic Research Ship USNS Chain (T-AGOR-17)
  • Operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 30 December 1977
  • Final Disposition, scrapped, June 1979
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,630 t.
    Length 213' 6"
    Beam 39'
    Draft 14' 4"
    Speed 15 kts.
    Complement 120
    Armament four 40mm guns, four .50 cal machine guns
    Propulsion diesel-electric, twin screws, 2,780hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Rescue and Salvage Ship (ARS-20)
    Chain 82k Chain (ARS-20) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, issue dated November 1946    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Oceanographic Research Ship (AGOR-17)
    Chain 97k Chain (T-AGOR-17) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    View the Chain (ARS-20)
    DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Rescue and Salvage Ship (ARS) Photo Index Back To The Oceanographic Research Ship (AGOR) Photo Index
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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.