USS Curb (ARS-21)

USS Curb (ARS-21) was a Diver-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
Builder: Basalt Rock Company
Laid down: date unknown
Launched: 24 April 1943
Commissioned: 12 May 1944
Decommissioned: 20 December 1946
In service: 10 May 1947
Out of service: date unknown
Stricken: 30 April 1981
Fate: Sunk as an artificial reef off Key West, Florida, 1983
General characteristics
Tonnage: 1,441 tons
Displacement: 1,630 tons
Length: 213 ft 6 in (65.07 m)
Beam: 39 ft (12 m)
Draught: 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m)
Propulsion: diesel-electric, twin screws, 2,780 hp
Speed: 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement: 120
Armament: four 40 mm guns, four 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns

Curb (ARS-21) was launched 24 April 1943 by Basalt Rock Company in Napa, California; sponsored by Mrs. H. Peterson; and commissioned 12 May 1944, Lieutenant C. Peterson, USNR, in command.

World War II service

Curb sailed from San Diego, California, 22 June 1944, delivered a battle raft to Eglin Field, Florida, and arrived at Norfolk, Virginia 26 July for war duty in the Atlantic Ocean. On 26 August she sailed for Argentia, Newfoundland, arriving 25 August for towing and salvage duties until she returned to Boston, Massachusetts, 16 November. She had similar duty at Bermuda from 27 November 1944 to 12 January 1945, serving the great number of ships training or assembling for convoys there.

Transfer to the Pacific Fleet

After a brief overhaul at Norfolk, Curb sailed on towing duty to San Francisco, California, arriving 3 April. On 16 April 1945 she departed San Francisco to operate in Alaskan waters until putting into Seattle, Washington, 14 March 1946. On 9 August she arrived at San Pedro, California, for towing duty, voyaging twice to Bremerton, Washington, until 28 October when she cleared for Orange, Texas, arriving 23 November.

Post-war decommissioning

Curb was decommissioned 20 December 1946 and loaned to a private salvage firm 10 May 1947 and was returned for lay up in the Reserve Fleet (date unknown). On 30 April 1981, she was struck from the Naval Register. Final Disposition: scrapped, 23 February 1982, her hulk sunk as an artificial reef off Key West, Florida, 23 November 1983.[1][2]

The wreck lies at: 24°26.212′N 81°46.127′W[3]

References
  1. Barnette, Michael C. (2003). Shipwrecks of the sunshine state: Florida's submerged history. Association of Underwater Explorers. ISBN 0-9743036-0-7.
  2. Barnette, Michael C. "USS Curb (ARS-21)". Association of Underwater Explorers. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  3. Allen, Tony (1 February 2015). "Shipwrecks of Florida". Electric Blue Fishing. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

  • Photo gallery of Curb at NavSource Naval History
  • Basalt Rock Company Shipbuilding History
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