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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Safeguard (ARS-25)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Alpha - Romeo
NJAR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons






Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Presidential Unit Citation
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Citation - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Fourth Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea)
Fifth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (10) - Humanitarian Service Medal (1- Enewetak Cleanup, 1-Boat People) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (3)
Sixth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

USS Safeguard (ARS-25 was transferred to Turkey, renamed TCG Isin (A-589)
Escape Class Rescue and Salvage Ship:
  • Laid down, 5 June 1943, at Basalt Rock Co. Inc., Napa, CA.
  • Launched, 20 November 1943
  • Commissioned USS Safeguard (ARS-25), 30 September 1944, LT. Jesse F. Simmons in command
  • During World War II USS Safeguard (ARS-25) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 23 to 28 February 1945

  • Following World War II USS Safeguard was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 September 1945 to 28 March 194629 March to 20 April 1946
    21 April to 31 May 19461 to 21 June 1946

  • Decommissioned, 12 December 1947, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 13 February 1952
  • During the Korean War USS Safeguard (ARS-25) participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    22 September to 5 October 1952
    11 to 26 October 1952     		Third Korean Winter
    30 December 1952 to 17 January 1953
    21 January to 4 February 1953
    18 to 22 February 1953
    24 February to 14 March 1953
    28 March to 29 April 1953

  • During the Vietnam War USS Safeguard (ARS-25) participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    13 October to 5 November 1965
    6 to 24 December 1965     		Vietnam Winter-Sprint 1970
    3 February to 18 March 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    25 to 30 December1965
    1 January 1966
    29 January to 13 February 1966     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    9 to 23 May 1970
    21 to 30 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    4 to 5 November 1967
    29 November to 28 December 1967     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    1 to 6 July 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    10 to 24 October 1968     		Consolidation I
    26 July to 15 August 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    25 to 29 November 1968
    7 to 12 December1968
    25 December 1968 to 3 January 1969
    18 to 25 January 1969
    30-January to 18 February 1969     		Vietnamese Ceasefire
    8 November to 26 December 1972
    12 January to 6 February 1973
    3 to 28 March 1973

  • Decommissioned, 25 September 1979 and simultaneously transferred to the government of Turkey, commissioned into the Turkish navy as TCG Isin (A-589) the same day
  • Struck from the US Naval Register, 6 August 1987
  • USS Safeguard earned one battle star for World War II service, two battle stars for Korean War service, and ten campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Permanent transfer to the government of Turkey, 17 August 1987
  • Final Disposition, sunk in the Black Sea, 19 June 2021, in tests of the Atmaca missile fired by the Turkish Navy Ada class corvette TCG Kinaliada (F514)
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,530 t.(lt) 1,940 t.(lim)
    Length 213' 6"
    Beam 39'
    Draft 14' 4" (lim)
    Speed 14.8 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 7
    Enlisted 113
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 Tons
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel Oil - 2,300 Bbls.
    Gasoline - 250 Gals
    Armament
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts, reduced to one single 40mm gun mount, during 1963-64 overhaul
    four .50 cal machine guns, removed during 1963-64 overhaul
    Propulsion
    four Cooper Bessemer GSB-8 Diesel-electric engines
    double Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
     two Diesel-drive 200Kw 120V D.C.
     one Diesel-drive 60Kw 120V D.C.
    twin propellers, 3,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Safeguard (ARS-25)
    Safeguard 425k Aerial view of the south end of Mare Island Naval Ship, between 12 and 19 September 1946. Ships present include:
    USS Oklahoma City (CL-91)
    USS Safeguard (ARS-25)
    USS Avery Island (AG-76)
    USS Quapaw (ATF-110)
    USS Eldorado (AGC-11)
    USS Barricade (ACM-3)
    USS Fieberling (DE-640)
    AFD-16
    USS Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752) and
    Endicott (YM-12)
    Safeguard and Avery Island were at the yard for decontamination from the Bikini Island tests. Oklahoma City is about to be decommissioned; Barricade is about to be turned over to Coast Guard; Endicott dredging berth 18 and the others are in for repairs.
    US Navy photo courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.    		 Darryl Baker
    Safeguard 63k USS Safeguard (ARS-25) underway, date and location unknown.
    Photo by Ted Stone, from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1961-62 edition.    		 Robert Hurst
    Takelma 38k USS Safeguard (ARS-25)
    inboard of USS Takelma (ATF-113) moored at Alpha Dock, Pearl Harbor, date unknown.    		 Courtesy Craig Rathammer and
    The National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Safeguard 33k USS Safeguard (ARS-25) underway, date and location unknown. Courtesy Joe Siesel and
    The National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Safeguard 45k USS Safeguard (ARS-25) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Tom Langford
    Safeguard 314k Overhead view of USS Safeguard (ARS-25) underway off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, 12 January 1970.
    US National Archives, Photo # USN 1142884 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command    		 Mike Green
    Safeguard
    09372524    		 2883k USS Safeguard (ARS-25) underway off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, 12 January 1970.
    US National Archives, Photo # USN 1142886 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command    		 John Spivey
    Grasp 1237k USS Safeguard (ARS-25) (inboard) and USS Grasp (ARS-24) (outboard) conducting salvage operations of USS Regulus (AF-57) after she ran aground on a reef at Kau I Chau Island off the coast of Hong Kong following the passing of Typhoon Rose on 16-17 August 1971.
    US Navy photo    		 Joseph Colombara USS Abnaki
    Safeguard 160k USS Safeguard (ARS-25) moored at Alpha Docks, Naval Station, Pearl Harbor, HI., in 1975 with the Auxiliary Fleet Tug USS Takelma (ATF-113) and USS Conquest (MSO-488). Craig Rothhammer
    Takelma 134k
    Grasp 135k USS Safeguard (ARS-25) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Safeguard 74k USS Safeguard (ARS-25) decommissioning program cover and TCG Isin (A-589) commissioning program cover.
    		 Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy

    Contributed by Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
    TCG Isin (A-589)
    Safeguard 130k TCG Isin (A-589) during salvage operations in the Bosphorus Straits near Istanbul of the Russian Naval School Ship, MV Khasan, 25 September 1985. Khasan collided with Turkish Navy Fast Attack Missile and Torpedo Boat TCG Meltem (P-325). Five Turkish sailors lost their lives in the collision. Cüneyt Demir Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 19k Ex-USS Safeguard (ARS-25) underway as the Turkish navy vessel TCG Isin (A-589), date and location unknown. Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 50k TCG Isin (A-589) moored to a buoy, date and location unknown. Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 64k
    Safeguard 36k TCG Isin (A-589) with other units of the Turkish Navy, date and location unknown. Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 72k TCG Isin (A-589) at anchor, date and location unknown. Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 74k TCG Isin (A-589) in port, date and location unknown. Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 75k TCG Isin (A-589) crew members on the gangway, 20 February 2008, location unknown. Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 78k TCG Isin (A-589) underway, date and location unknown. Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 61k TCG Isin (A-589) at anchor, date and location unknown. Yucel M.Umar, CPO (Ret.) Turkish Navy and Cüneyt Demir Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 392k TCG Isin (A-589) at anchor, date and location unknown. Cüneyt Demir Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 269k Drawing of TCG Isin (A-589) underway, by Cüneyt Demir. Cüneyt Demir Turkish Navy
    Safeguard 85k TCG Isin (A-589) moored in the Bosphorus Straits, circa May 2013. Photo by Robert Smith, Archivist US Navy Memorial Foundation
    USS Safeguard (ARS-25)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Simmons, Jesse Franklin, USN30 September 1944 - 14 February 1946
    02LT. Hazelboker, Bill, USN14 February 1946 - 19 August 1947
    03LCDR. Thurman, Robert Kenneth, USN19 August 1947 - 2 October 1947
    04LCDR. Swarthout, Avery Victor, USN2 October 1947 - 12 December 1947
     Decommissioned12 December 1947 - 13 February 1952
    05LCDR. Boaz, Irvin, USN13 February 1952 - 23 November 1953
    06LCDR. Rogers, Frank William, USN (USNA 1946)23 November 1953 - 3 March 1956
    07LCDR. Baker, Walter Edmund, USN3 March 1956 - 1 February 1958
    08LCDR. McIntire, John Cyrus, USN1 February 1958 - 31 December 1959
    09LCDR. Harris, William Frederick, USN (USNA 1939)31 December 1959 - 1 September 1961
    10LCDR. Read, Garlin Rudolph, USN1 September 1961 - 4 January 1964
    11LCDR. Downey, Louis Aloysius, USN4 January 1964 - 19 March 1966
    12LCDR. Stegall, Woodie Clayton, USN19 March 1966 - 12 September 1967
    13LCDR. Billings, Charles Howard, USN12 September 1967 - 31 October 1969
    14LCDR. Brining, George, USN31 October 1969 - 19 May 1972
    15LCDR. Laswell, James Bryan, USN (USNA 1963)19 May 1972 - 7 February 1975
    16LCDR. Holbert, William Harold, USN7 February 1975 - 15 March 1977
    17LCDR. Mayfield, George Alan, USN (USNA 1964)15 March 1977 - 20 August 1979
    18LCDR. Giles, Blaine Richard, USN20 August 1979 - 28 September3 1979
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 25 January 2025