PRESERVER (ARS-8) USS

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aukepalmhof
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PRESERVER (ARS-8) USS

Post by aukepalmhof » Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:02 pm

For the Space Exploration: 30th Anniversary of NASA. The Marshal Islands issued in 1988 four stamps, of which one depict a vessel, comparing stamp with photo’s it must be one of the Diver class rescue and salvage ships. I can only find one ship of this class used as a tracking and recovery ship, she is the USS PRESERVER (ARS-8). Most probably this ship is depict. I can’t find conformation that she was used by the recovery of the three PRIME SV-5 at the Marshall Islands.
Key to the program was getting a prototype vehicle into space and determining if its shape could survive the heat of reentry, maneuver to a landing point off the ballistic path it was launched upon, and keep its crew alive. Three PRIME SV-5Ds were launched, all successfully from Vandenberg APB atop a Convair Atlas, to near orbital speed, downward range to Kwajalein: #1 on Dec. 21, 1966; #2 on Mar. 5, 1967; and #3 on Apr. 18, 1967.
From the moment of launch, control of each mission passed to Kwajalein. Technicians at Kwajalein controlled and tracked operation o29/08/06the SV-5D in space using its own onboard rockets, and adjusted the flight path to achieve a pin-point landing off the beaches of Kwajalein. While all three launches were successful, only vehicle #3 was recovered. Tracking and recovery ships of the US space command and helicopters permanently based at Kwajalein effected recovery and returned the vehicle to laboratories on Kwajalein for initial inspection. After thorough study of the vehicle and analysis of data, the Air Force pronounced the program a complete success and placed the SV- 5D on public display at the Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson APB, Ohio. A fourth vehicle that had been readied was never launched. A follow-up mission was declared redundant; manned testing was commenced.

http://www.astrospacestampsociety.com/S ... ile10.html

Built as a rescue and salvage ship by Basalt Rock Company at Napa, California for the USA Navy.
26 October 1942 laid down.
01 April 1943 launched as the USS PRESERVER (ARS-8). Christened by Mrs. Walter F. LaFranz as one of the Diver class.
Displacement 1,630 standard, 1,970 ton full load. Dim.65.07 x 12.5 x 4.37m. (draught).
Powered diesel electric by four Caterpillar Tractor Co diesel engines delivering power to two electro motors each 2,780 hp., twin screws, speed 15 knots.
Armament: Two 40mm Mark 68 AA guns, four 0.50 cal. machine guns.
Crew 87/120 men.
11 January 1944 commissioned.

USS PRESERVER (ARS-8) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels.
PRESERVER (ARS–8), a salvage ship, was laid down by Basalt Rock Company in Napa, California, 26 October 1942; launched 1 April 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Walter F. LaFranz; and commissioned 11 January 1944, Lt. Comdr. A. T. Ostrander in command.
World War II service
After shakedown out of San Francisco, California, PRESERVER steamed for Pearl Harbor 26 February in company with PC–1139. The next day she was ordered to come about and to report to Port Director, San Pedro, California, for orders. She was once again underway for Pearl Harbor 5 March, with YOG–18 in tow. Arriving Pearl Harbor 16 March, she reported for duty with Service Squadron 2.
Saipan operations
Hawaiian operations and yard availability took PRESERVER through April. Steaming for Majuro Atoll 10 May, she arrived two weeks later and commenced salvage operations between Majuro, Eniwetok, and Kwajalein with Service Squadron 10. She was a unit of Capt. S. E. Peck's Service and Salvage Group during the capture of Saipan (15–21 June 1944), providing salvage services off the west coast of that island. When Japanese snipers set off an ammunition dump near the beach at 2100 June 20, PRESERVER sent a fire-fighting party ashore to render assistance.
PRESERVER worked at clearing Tanapag Harbor, Saipan 9–23 July. She then worked in the Tinian area. By 12 August she was at Eniwetok, and the next day she steamed for Pearl Harbor, arriving 22 August for upkeep and availability. Repairs kept her at Pearl Harbor until 11 September, when she steamed for Eniwetok, arriving the 28th.
Damaged by bomb
She was at Seeadler Harbor, Manus, 6 October, and departed five days later for Leyte Gulf. A bomb penetrated her hull 20 October, flooding her motor room and causing loss of power throughout the ship. Battle damage repairs necessitated calls at Hollandia, New Guinea; Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides; and finally at Pearl Harbor from 5 February 1945 through the following July.
After final repairs PRESERVER stood out of Pearl Harbor 8 August, bound for Kwajalein Atoll, the Marshalls. She made further calls at Guam and Okinawa, and the second week of October she operated at Wakayama, Honshū, Japan.
After the close of hostilities, PRESERVER participated in salvage operations during the weapons tests at Bikini Atoll, and then decommissioned at San Diego, California, 23 April 1947.
Reactivated during Korean War. She recommissioned at San Diego 1 December 1950, and in January 1951 transferred from the Pacific Fleet to Commander, Service Force, Atlantic. She arrived Norfolk, her new home port, 20 February.
Arctic operations
Since assuming duties out of Norfolk, PRESERVER has performed salvage, rescue, and towing assignments along the Atlantic coast. From 1952 through 1962, she deployed annually for Arctic operations which took her to Greenland, Labrador, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia as duty salvage ship. She also assisted in the MSTS resupply missions to Greenland.
Supporting search for the THRESHER
In 1962 PRESERVER conducted towing operations to Mayport, Florida, and to Bermuda. She was then assigned to serve in the recovery fleet during the second manned orbital flight. From April through August 1963, she conducted TRIESTE support operations as the bathyscaph searched the ocean floor for USS THRESHER (SSN-593), lost 10 April. The bathyscaph finally discovered debris that was definitely identified, and the search was concluded 5 September.
Final operation
Further Atlantic Ocean operations were followed by a Mediterranean deployment February–June 1964. In March 1968 PRESERVER pumped out of the bow of Liberian tanker SS OCEAN EAGLE a cargo of oil that threatened major pollution of San Juan, Puerto Rico, harbour. She also extinguished a fire aboard British merchant vessel SS PIZARRO 11 April 1968 in San Juan Harbor. She then deployed to the Mediterranean 20 May 1968, returning to Little Creek, Virginia, 2 September. Into 1970 she continued to serve the Fleet as a salvage ship of Service Squadron 8 out of Little Creek, Virginia.
In January 1986 she was tasked with leading the salvage and recovery efforts of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. During the transit to Port Canaveral the ship recovered the nose piece of the external fuel tank. The PRESERVER was on station through April 1986. On 7 March 1986, divers from the USS PRESERVER using sonar located what they believed to be the crew compartment (confirming it during a dive the next day) and commenced recovery operations of the fallen astronauts. John Devlin made the confirmation dive to verify that the wreckage was in fact the crew compartment."Evidence hints that astronauts were alive during fall". NBC News. On 9 March, NASA announced the finding to the press. The ship received a Navy Unit Commendation for the operation. She was decommissioned on 30 September 1986, and recommisioned the following year.
After Hurricane Hugo, the PRESERVER was sent to Puerto Rico to aid in recovery of a sunken ship. The ship drove through Hugo en route to Guantanomo bay, Cuba where it picked up two barges loaded with telephone poles to take to Puerto Rico. It performed the first tandem tow in 40 years of US Naval history. The PRESERVER arrived safely at Puerto Rico and stayed there for nearly two months recovering a sunken vessel from the harbour.
Final decommissioning
PRESERVER decommissioned, 7 August 1992 and was transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, Virginia, 1 February 1993. On 16 March 1994, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register. Final Disposition: PRESERVER was moved to Bay Bridge Enterprises yard at Chesapeake, Virginia, 30 November 2005, for dismantling. Note: Bay Bridge was paid a combined $442,640 to dismantle PRESERVER and USS Marshfield (T-AK-282).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_PRESERVER_(ARS-8)
Marshall Islands 1988 25c sg 201, scott?
Attachments
Preserver_(ARS-8)_in_1986_jpeg.jpeg
1988 preserver.jpg
1988 preserver 1.jpg

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