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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

ARS-41 Opportune


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Hotel - India
 NIHI
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (5)
Second Row - Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2) - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Bolster Class Rescue and Salvage Ship:
  • Laid down, 13 September 1944, at Basalt Rock Co., Napa, CA.
  • Launched, 31 March 1945
  • Commissioned USS Opportune (ARS-41), 5 October 1945
  • During the Vietnam War Opportune participated in the:
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 30 April 1993
  • Title transfer to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 1 February, 1999
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Final Disposition, contract for scrapping awarded to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., towed from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., 5 December 2003
  • Opportune earned one campaign star for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,497t.(lt) 2,048 t.(fl)
    Length 213' 6"
    Beam 44'
    Draft 14' 8"
    Speed 15 kts.
    Complement 120
    Armament two 40mm guns
    Propulsion diesel-electric, twin screws, 2,780hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Opportune 40k Opportune (ARS-41) ready to lay beach gear, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Courtesy Craig Rothhammer
    via NAFTS
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Opportune 77k Opportune (ARS-41) underway, August 1966, location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1971.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Thor 68k Opportune (ARS-41) and Thor (ARC-4) working together, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine February 1954.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    Opportune 366k Starboard bow view of Opportune (ARS-41) underway, 1 November 1983, location unknown.
    DVIC photo # DN-SC-88-09162, by PH2 P. Wiggins, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Opportune 32k Opportune (ARS-41) underway off NAB Little Creek, VA, November 1990 Courtesy Don Knock
    via NAFTS
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Opportune 42k Opportune (ARS-41) underway, date and location unknown. Tom Langford
    Additional Ships Patches / Decals / Crests
    Opportune
    Ship's Crest
    Contributed by Craig Rothhammer via NAFTS    		 Opportune
    Ship's Patch
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski    		 Opportune
    2" Vinyl Ship's Patch decal
    Contributed by Jack Treutle
    View the Opportune (ARS-41) "Welcome Aboard" brochure submitted by Jack Treutle
    View the Opportune (ARS-41)
    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
    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
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 11 January 2008