Extricate (ARS-16) was launched 12 September 1942 by Snow Shipyards, Inc., Rockland, Maine, sponsored by Mrs. Lewis Corman; and commissioned 27 July 1943.
After taking on salvage gear at New York, Extricate sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, 29 August 1943 in convoy for the Mediterranean. She called at Casablanca, Gibraltar, and Bizerte, before arriving at Naples, Italy, 16 October to serve as harbor fire fighting ship. Her first long struggle against fire was a successful three-day battle to save SS Iredell carrying highly flammable aviation gas. Extricate also fought a dock fire, and performed salvage work before leaving Naples 30 November for Palermo and Bari.
Commended for clearing Bari harboredit
Assigned to clear the harbor of Bari, glutted with 17 ships sunk when two ammunition ships had been exploded by German bombing, Extricate won commendation from the British forces to whom she was then attached for the manner in which she carried out her duties. She raised two ships, beached a third, got an undamaged ship and three barges off the beach after they had been grounded in a storm, and carried out a miscellany of other salvage missions.
Invasion of Southern Franceedit
Extricate was overhauled at Bizerte and Oran before returning to Naples 11 May 1944 for salvage and towing duty along the west coast of Italy. From 7 August to 3 September she lay at Calvi, Corsica, preparing ships for their role in the invasion and capture of southern France, and from 6 September to 8 November, served at Marseilles, clearing the harbor, fighting fires there and at Toulon, and putting to sea to rescue mined merchantmen. From 17 November to 17 December she was at the Azores for harbor and mooring work, and on 30 December she returned to Charleston, South Carolina, for overhaul.
Transfer to the Pacific Fleetedit
Extricate sailed from Charleston, South Carolina, 11 February 1945 for Pearl Harbor, where she had salvage duty from 10 March to 13 April, rescuing storm-damaged small craft. She continued these operations at Eniwetok from 24 April to 3 June, at Ulithi from 11 to 22 June and at Naval Base Okinawa at Okinawa from 29 June. Here she salvaged sunken and beached landing craft and provided repair services for large ships.
Destroyed by a typhoonedit
During the typhoon of 16 September, while aiding another ship, Extricate lost power, and fouled both anchors. She continued her salvage operations, although further imperiled by damage from an underwater obstruction. But another typhoon on 9 October beached Extricate, and she flooded so badly from the pounding that she had to be abandoned.
Decommissioningedit
She was decommissioned 5 December 1945 and destroyed with explosives 4 March 1946.
NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - ARS-16 Extricate
January 01, 1970
extricate, anchor, class, rescue, salvage, ship, commissioned, navy, during, world, task, come, stricken, vessels, history, united, states, name, buildersnow, shipyards, rockland, maine, laid, downdate, unknown, launched12, september, 1942, commissioned27, jul. USS Extricate ARS 16 was an Anchor class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U S Navy during World War II Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels History United States NameUSS Extricate BuilderSnow Shipyards Inc Rockland Maine Laid downdate unknown Launched12 September 1942 Commissioned27 July 1943 Decommissioned5 December 1945 Strickendate unknown Honors andawards2 battle stars FateAbandoned 9 October 1945 Destroyed 4 March 1946 General characteristics Class and typeAnchor class rescue and salvage ship Displacement1 089 long tons 1 106 t light 1 615 long tons 1 641 t full Length183 ft 3 in 55 85 m Beam37 ft 11 m Draft14 ft 8 in 4 47 m Propulsiondiesel electric twin screws 2 780 hp 2 073 kW Speed15 knots 28 km h Complement65 Armament1 single 3 50 caliber gun 2 single 20 mm guns Extricate ARS 16 was launched 12 September 1942 by Snow Shipyards Inc Rockland Maine sponsored by Mrs Lewis Corman and commissioned 27 July 1943 Contents 1 World War II North Atlantic service 1 1 Commended for clearing Bari harbor 1 2 Invasion of Southern France 1 3 Transfer to the Pacific Fleet 1 4 Destroyed by a typhoon 2 Decommissioning 3 Military awards and honors 4 References 5 External linksWorld War II North Atlantic service editAfter taking on salvage gear at New York Extricate sailed from Norfolk Virginia 29 August 1943 in convoy for the Mediterranean She called at Casablanca Gibraltar and Bizerte before arriving at Naples Italy 16 October to serve as harbor fire fighting ship Her first long struggle against fire was a successful three day battle to save SS Iredell carrying highly flammable aviation gas Extricate also fought a dock fire and performed salvage work before leaving Naples 30 November for Palermo and Bari Commended for clearing Bari harbor edit Assigned to clear the harbor of Bari glutted with 17 ships sunk when two ammunition ships had been exploded by German bombing Extricate won commendation from the British forces to whom she was then attached for the manner in which she carried out her duties She raised two ships beached a third got an undamaged ship and three barges off the beach after they had been grounded in a storm and carried out a miscellany of other salvage missions Invasion of Southern France edit Extricate was overhauled at Bizerte and Oran before returning to Naples 11 May 1944 for salvage and towing duty along the west coast of Italy From 7 August to 3 September she lay at Calvi Corsica preparing ships for their role in the invasion and capture of southern France and from 6 September to 8 November served at Marseilles clearing the harbor fighting fires there and at Toulon and putting to sea to rescue mined merchantmen From 17 November to 17 December she was at the Azores for harbor and mooring work and on 30 December she returned to Charleston South Carolina for overhaul Transfer to the Pacific Fleet edit Extricate sailed from Charleston South Carolina 11 February 1945 for Pearl Harbor where she had salvage duty from 10 March to 13 April rescuing storm damaged small craft She continued these operations at Eniwetok from 24 April to 3 June at Ulithi from 11 to 22 June and at Naval Base Okinawa at Okinawa from 29 June Here she salvaged sunken and beached landing craft and provided repair services for large ships Destroyed by a typhoon edit During the typhoon of 16 September while aiding another ship Extricate lost power and fouled both anchors She continued her salvage operations although further imperiled by damage from an underwater obstruction But another typhoon on 9 October beached Extricate and she flooded so badly from the pounding that she had to be abandoned Decommissioning editShe was decommissioned 5 December 1945 and destroyed with explosives 4 March 1946 Military awards and honors editExtricate received two battle stars for World War II service References edit nbsp This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here External links editNavSource Online Service Ship Photo Archive ARS 16 Extricate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Extricate amp oldid 1149644376, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
