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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

ARS-22 Current

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 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, June 1945     		3rd Fleet operations against Japan

  • During the Korean War 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 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.
  • 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) 1,900 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 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, twin screws, 2,780hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Current 94k Current (ARS-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Current 66k Current (ARS-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Current 107k Current (ARS-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 NAFTS Collection
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Current 36k Current (ARS-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 CWO3 Kenneth J Seaman USN Ret
    Current 152k Current (ARS-22) salvaging a Japanese midget submarine in Keehi Lagoon, HI. National Archives photo. Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Munsee 196k Current (ARS-22) is forward of Munsee (ATF-107) at Navy Yard Mare Island, 28 March 1946. Munsee is inboard of Achomawi (ATF 148) and just forward of Current are Lipan (ATF-85), Deliver (ARS-23) and Preserver (ARS-8).
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1247-46    		 Darryl Baker
    Current 177k Aft plan view of 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 Lipan (AT 85), Deliver (ARS 23), and Preserver (ARS 8).
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1241-46    		 Darryl Baker
    Current 114k Amidships plan view of Current (ARS-22) at Navy Yard Mare Island, Vallejo, CA., 28 March 1946. The sterns of Deliver (ARS 23), and Preserver (ARS 8) are seen forward of Current.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 1242-46    		 Darryl Baker
    View the Current (ARS-22)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Current Web Site
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To the Salvage Ship (ARS) 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.
    Last Updated 1 February 2008