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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Gear (ARS-34)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Tango - Hotel
NHTH

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal

Diver Class Rescue and Salvage Ship:

Laid down, date unknown, as HMS Pacific Salvor (BARS-4), as part of the Lend-Lease Program at Basalt Rock Co., Napa, CA.

Launched, 24 October 1942

Acquired by the US Navy, 21 September 1942, renamed Gear

Commissioned USS Gear (ARS-34), 24 September 1943, LT. Jesse F. Simmons in command

During World War II USS Gear (ARS-34) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
Marianas operation Assault and occupation of Saipan, 24 July to 8 August 1944	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April to 16 May 1945
Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 to 26 February 1945

Decommissioned, 13 December 1946, at San Pedro, CA.

Assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group

Withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet and leased, 24 February 1953, to Merritt Chapman Scott Corp.,

Returned to US Navy custody, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, 30 April 1981

USS Gear earned three battle stars for World War II service

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 1 July 1982, by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service

Specifications:
Displacement 1,897 t. (trial)
Length 213' 6"
Beam 39'
Draft 14' 1" (lim)
Speed 14.8 kts.

Complement

7 officers

113 enlisted

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts

four single .50 cal machine guns

Fuel Capacities

Diesel 2,300 Bbls

Gasoline 2,450 Gals

Propulsion

Cooper Bessemer Diesel-electric engines

single 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
	43k	*USS Gear* (ARS-34) underway in San Francisco Bay, 7 November 1943. Gear** had undergone repairs at General Engineering & Drydock Co., Alameda, CA. under a Mare Island contract from 3 October to 2 November 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7495-43, 11/7/43	Darryl Baker
	70k	*USS Gear* (ARS-34)** underway in San Francisco Bay, 7 November 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7496-43, 11/7/43	Darryl Baker
	52k	*USS Gear* (ARS-34)** underway in San Francisco Bay, 7 November 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7497-43, 11/7/43	Darryl Baker
	186k	*USS Gear* (ARS-34)** underway in San Francisco Bay, 7 November 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7499-43, 11/7/43	Darryl Baker
09373407	214k	*USS Gear* (ARS-34)** near Mare Island Navy Yard, 7 November 1943. The twin kingpost aft with two booms was part of the original design of this class and was fitted to the first five units to be completed (four ordered by the British, including USS Gear, and *USS Diver* (ARS-5)*. U.S. Naval Shipyard Mare Island, Photo No. 7498-43*	Darryl Baker
	89k	*USS Gear* (ARS-34)** moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., Alameda, CA., 8 November 1943. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7510-43, 11/8/43	Darryl Baker
	160k	*US Gear* (ARS-34) moored pierside at General Engineering & Drydock Co., Alameda, CA., 8 November 1943. Note USS Competent (AM-316)** in the background moored to the adjoining pier. Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 7511-43, 11/8/43	Darryl Baker
	176k	*USS Gear* (ARS-34) alongside USS Alpine (APA-92) anchored off Okinawa, 3 April 1945 while undergoing repairs. Alpine** had been hit and damaged by a kamikaze two days earlier. US National Archives photo # (80-G-311835), a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives	Robert Hurst
	146k	*USS Gear* (ARS-34) under way circa the late 1940s. Her original twin kingpost aft has been replaced with the single kingpost fitted to USS Escape (ARS-6) and the later ships of the class. USS Clamp (ARS-33) and USS Diver (ARS-5)** were similarly modified, probably in 1946-47. US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. Unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green

USS Gear (ARS-34)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LT. Simmons, Jesse Franklin, USN	24 September 1943 - 15 June 1944
02	LT. Morrissey, Raymond Leo, USN (Ret.)	15 June 1944 - 25 August 1944
03	LT. Moritz, Jack Todd, USN	25 August 1944 - 5 October 1945
04	LCDR. Wynn, Perry Paul, USN	5 October 1945 - March 1946
05	LT. White, Edward Douglas, USN	March 1946 - 13 December 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 24 March 2023