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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Current (ARS-22)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Alpha - Golf NJAG

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (3)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (6) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
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, 2 April 1943, at Basalt Rock Co. Inc., Napa, CA

Launched, 25 September 1943

Commissioned USS Current (ARS-22), 14 June 1944, LCDR. J. B. Duff, Jr., USNR, in command

During World War II USS Current was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 30 June 1945	3rd Fleet operations against Japan 10 to 31 July 1945

During the Korean War USS Current participated in the following campaigns:

**Korean War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Second Korean Winter 22 February to 20 March 1952 26 March to 1 April 1952 13 to14 and 25 to 30 April 1952	Korean, Summer-Fall 1953 6 June to 17 July 1953 24 to 27 July 1953
Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952Winter 1 to 17 May 1952 28 June to 19 July 1952 6 to 23 August 1852 31 August to 5 September 19

During the Vietnam War USS Current participated in the following campaigns:

**Vietnam War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnam Defense 1 to 8 October 1965	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 12 December 1969 to 6 January 1970 15 March to 28 April 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 23 October to 1 November 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 12 May to 13 June 1971 17 June 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 2 November to 12 December 1968	Consolidation I 11 August to 12 September 1971

Decommissioned, 9 February 1948 at San Diego, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group

Recommissioned, 10 October 1951

Decommissioned, 28 April 1972

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1973

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 27 June 1975, by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, for $78,000 to Valor Navigation Co., New York, N.Y.

USS Current received two battle stars for World War II service, three battle stars for Korean War service and six campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Specifications:
Displacement 1,530 t.(lt) 1,940 t.(lim)
Length 213' 6"
Beam 39'
Draft 14' 4" (lim)
Speed 12 kts.
Complement

Officers 7

Enlisted 113
Largest Boom Capacity 10 Tons
Fuel Capacities

Diesel Oil - 2,300 Bbls.

Gasoline - 2,400 Bbls.
Armament

one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts, reduced to one single 40mm gun mount, during 1963-64 overhaul

four .50 cal machine guns, removed during 1963-64 overhaul
Propulsion

two 6-cylinder Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 diesel-electric engines

Single Farral Birmingham Main Reduction Gear

Ships' Service Generators, two 200Kw 120V D.C., one 60Kw 120V D.C.

twin screws, 3,000shp

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
94k	Current (ARS-22) underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from DANFS.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
66k	*USS Current* (ARS-22)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
107k	*USS Current* (ARS-22)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	NAFTS Collection National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
36k	*USS Current* (ARS-22)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	CWO3 Kenneth J Seaman USN Ret
152k	*USS Current* (ARS-22)** during salvage operations of a Japanese WWII era midget submarine at Keehi Lagoon just outside Pearl Harbor, 6 July 1960. This submarine has been designated by the Navy as "Midget D". It was launched from its mother submarine HIJNS I-18 at 0215 on the morning of 7 December 1941.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
196k	*USS Current* (ARS-22) is forward of USS Munsee (ATF-107) at Navy Yard Mare Island, 28 March 1946. Munsee is inboard of USS Achomawi (ATF 148) and just forward of Current are USS Lipan (ATF-85), USS Deliver (ARS-23) and USS Preserver (ARS-8)*. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1247-46*	Darryl Baker
177k	Aft plan view of *USS Current* (ARS-22) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 28 March 1946. Current was in overhaul at Mare Island from 1 to 31 March 1946. Forward of her are from left to right USS Lipan (ATF-85)*, USS Deliver (ARS 23), and USS Preserver* (ARS 8)*. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1241-46*	Darryl Baker
114k	Amidships plan view of *USS Current* (ARS-22) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 28 March 1946. The sterns of USS Deliver (ARS 23), and USS Preserver (ARS 8) are seen forward of Current*. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1242-46*	Darryl Baker
1496k	*USS Current* (ARS-22) and USS Abnaki (ATF-96)** underway off the Hawaiian Islands, 22 November 1953. US Navy photo.	Joseph Colombara USS Abnaki
246k	*USS Current* (ARS-22)** at anchor, date and location unknown dressed overall in flags. Photo courtesy of Risheehan (real name unknown).	Robert Hurst