USS Escape
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:USS Escape (ARS-6) on Lake Timsah 1974.jpg |Ship caption=Escape on Lake Timsah, 1974 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=United States |Ship flag={{USN flag|1945}} |Ship name= |Ship namesake= |Ship owner= |Ship operator= |Ship registry= |Ship route= |Ship ordered= |Ship awarded= |Ship builder= Basalt Rock Company |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down=24 August 1942 |Ship launched=22 November 1942 |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=20 November 1943 |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned=20 July 1946 |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship in service=*USCGC Escape (WMEC-6),
|Ship out of service=29 June 1995 |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck=29 June 1995 |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport= |Ship identification= |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship honors= |Ship captured= |Ship fate=Sold for scrap August 2009 |Ship notes= |Ship badge= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship type= |Ship tonnage=1,441 tons |Ship displacement=1,630 tons |Ship length={{convert|213|ft|6|in|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|39|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught= |Ship draft={{convert|14|ft|4|in|abbr=on}} |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=diesel-electric, twin screws, 2,780 hp |Ship sail plan= |Ship speed={{convert|15|kn|km/h}} |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship test depth= |Ship boats= |Ship capacity= |Ship troops= |Ship complement=120 |Ship crew= |Ship time to activate= |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=two 40 mm AA gun mounts; four M2 Browning. machine guns |Ship armour= |Ship armor= |Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
USS Escape (ARS-6) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the United States Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels.
Escape (ARS-6) was launched 22 November 1942 by Basalt Rock Company in Napa, California; sponsored by Mrs. J. E. Brenner; and commissioned 20 November 1943.
World War II service
Escape sailed from San Diego, California, 31 December 1943 for Norfolk, Virginia, where from 4 February she was based for general salvage and towing duties. Between 10 July and 9 September, she performed similar duties out of Bermuda, and on 12 September, put to sea from Norfolk to rescue hurricane-disabled SS George Ade. She reached the stricken ship on the 15th, and brought her safely to port through another violent storm, in which she herself was damaged.
From 31 December 1944 to 4 June 1945, Escape again operated out of Bermuda, during this time aiding three large ships damaged by heavy seas. On 11 August, she departed Norfolk for the Pacific Ocean, but with the end of hostilities, her orders were changed, and after towing scows from Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, to Tampa, Florida, she sailed to Davisville, Rhode Island, for mooring buoys. These she laid at Jacksonville, Florida, in October.
End of war in Europe
Escape sailed from Key West, Florida, 8 November 1945 to escort and later tow the {{ship|Italian submarine|Goffredo Mameli||2}} to Taranto. She returned to Norfolk 22 January 1946, and on 20 July 1946 was decommissioned and placed in reserve at Orange, Texas.
Recommissioning during Korean War
Recommissioned 12 July 1951, Escape was homeported at Norfolk for salvage and towing services to the Fleet along the east coast, and from 1954, spent alternate years in the Caribbean, based on San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On 26 January 1960 Escape got underway for Operation Sky Hook. While on station she was diverted to Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, to assist {{USS|Jonas Ingram|DD-938|2}} (DD-938) which had gone aground.
Project Mercury
On 30 January 1960 Escape got underway to assist in Project Mercury, a United States space-flight program. She continued to give essential support to the fleet through the remainder of 1960.
On 1 September 1978, she was decommissioned and laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
Transfer to Coast Guard
File:USCGC Escape (WMEC-6).jpg
Escape was transferred to United States Coast Guard and commissioned USCGC Escape (WMEC-6), 1 September 1978. She served the Coast Guard until 29 June 1995 when she was returned to the Navy.
Final decommissioning
Escape was decommissioned and returned to Naval custody, 29 June 1995. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register, 29 June 1995 and her title was transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD). She was then laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Fort Eustis, Virginia. Final disposition: Sold for scrap to Bay Bridge Enterprises in August 2009.
Military awards and honors
Escape’s crew was eligible for the following medals:
- American Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 1-Dominican Republic)
References
{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/e4/escape.htm}}
External links
- {{navsource|09/37/3706|Escape}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111010123441/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergencysmall/basalt.htm] Basalt Rock Company Shipbuilding History
{{Diver class rescue ships}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Escape (ARS-6)}}
Category:Diver-class rescue and salvage ships
Category:Ships built in Napa, California
Category:World War II auxiliary ships of the United States
Category:Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the United States Coast Guard