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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Conserver (ARS-39), 1945-1994

USS Conserver, a 1441-ton Diver class salvage ship built at Napa, California, was commissioned in June 1945. She arrived in Japanese waters in September 1945 and operated there in support of occupation activities until March 1946. She then went to the Central Pacific, where she was involved in the Operation "Crossroads" atomic weapons tests well into 1947. During the remainder of her long career, Conserver alternated service areas between the U.S. Pacific coast area, the Central Pacific and the Far East. In 1950-53, she was intermittently employed in Korean war operations. The salvage ship was also present during the 1958 Quemoy crisis.

Over the decades of the 1960s, 70s and most of the 80s, Conserver continued her work of salvage, towing and other important fleet support. She deployed to the Western Pacific nearly every year. In 1965, Conserver helped salvage the stranded destroyer Frank Knox. She operated in Vietnamese waters regularly from 1966 into 1972 and was engaged in search and recovery operations after the Soviet Union shot down a Korean airliner in 1983.

Laid up in September 1986, Conserver returned to active service a year later. Her subsequent operations were generally in the Hawaiian area, with occasional deployments to the U.S. West Coast and the South and Central Pacific. After almost a half-century of hard work, USS Conserver was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in April 1994.

This page features views of USS Conserver (ARS-39).

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-366398 USS Conserver (ARS-39) Comes alongside USS Card (CVE-11) to exchange movies, in the Pacific Ocean, 27 August 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 80-G-498120 USS New York (BB-34) Is towed from Pearl Harbor to be sunk as a target, 6 July 1948. USS Conserver (ARS-39), at left, is the main towing ship, assisted by two harbor tugs on New York's port side Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 80-G-422161 Opening of Wonsan, October 1950 USS Merganser (AMS-26) tied up to USS Conserver (ARS-39) in Wonsan Harbor, Korea. Photographed by AFAN W.C. Newbill. The original photo is dated 23 October 1950. Note navigation bouy on Conserver's after deck and ships in background, including another AMS and a high-speed minesweeper (DMS). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 595 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: 80-G-1001125 USS Conserver (ARS-39) Photographed in October 1956. Location appears to be off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: NH 96914 USS Conserver (ARS-39) Photograph dated 21 August 1958. Probably taken at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 600 pixels
Photo #: NH 96915 USS Conserver (ARS-39) Photograph dated 21 August 1958. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 595 pixels
Photo #: NH 96916 USS Conserver (ARS-39) Underway off Honolulu, Hawaii, 26 April 1967. Photographed by PH3 D.R. Hyder. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 610 pixels
Photo #: NH 96918 USS Conserver (ARS-39) Off Oahu, Hawaii, 26 April 1967. Photographed by PH3 D.R. Hyder. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 610 pixels
Photo #: NH 96917 USS Conserver (ARS-39) Off Kauai, Hawaii, in October 1971. She had served as support platform for the recovery and replacement of a defective hydrophone on the Barking Sands underwater range. Photographed by PH1 Kendal Thornsley. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 610 pixels
Photo #: NH 74179 USS Frank Knox (DDR-742) Aground on Pratas Reef, South China Sea, with several ships attempting to pull her off. She went aground on 18 July 1965. This view was probably taken at about the time she was finally refloated on 24 August 1965. Ships pulling are (from left to right): Grapple (ARS-7), Conserver (ARS-39), Sious (ATF-75), Greenlet (ASR-10) and Cocopa (ATF-101). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 535 pixels

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Page made 31 August 1999
New image added 27 December 2003