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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USSPenguin |
| Builder | Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. |
| Laid down | 9 February 1943, as USSChetco (AT-99) |
| Launched | 20 July 1943 |
| Commissioned | 29 May 1944 |
| Decommissioned | June 1947 |
| Renamed | USSPenguin, 23 September 1943 |
| Reclassified | ASR–12, 23 September 1943 |
| Recommissioned | 3 April 1952 |
| Decommissioned | 29 June 1970 |
| Motto |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Penguin classsubmarine rescue ship |
| Displacement | 1,740 long tons (1,768 t) full load |
| Length | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Beam | 39 ft 3 in (11.96 m) |
| Draft | 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) |
| Speed | 16knots (18 mph; 30 km/h) |
| Complement | 91 |
| Armament |
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The thirdUSSPenguin (ASR–12) was a submarine rescue ship in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II. She was thelead ship of a class of three vessels (Penguin,Bluebird, andSkylark) all originally laid down as fleet ocean tugs before being converted to rescue ships before completion.
Penguin was laid down asChetco (AT-99) by the Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.,Charleston, South Carolina, 9 February 1943; launched 20 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. S. Dickinson; renamed and reclassified USSPenguin (ASR–12), 23 September 1943; and commissioned 29 May 1944.
Penguin, asubmarine rescue and salvage vessel reported for duty with SubRon 1, atNew London, Connecticut, 9 June 1944. Based there after shakedown training, she served as a target and torpedo recovery ship for Allied submarines training in the area; performed towing assignments; participated in the planting and sweeping of experimental mine fields; and conducted salvage operations. Included in the latter were operations on a sunkenU-boat nearBlock Island between April and June 1945.
Shifting toPortsmouth,New Hampshire, for the period 5 July–7 September,Penguin served as a target vessel and a rescue and salvage ship for submarines undergoing sea trials, then returned to New London, and, for the remainder of the year alternated between those two submarine bases. Permanently attached to New London with the new year, 1946, she remained there until November when she participated in cold weather operations offNewfoundland.
On her return toNew London she continued her duties as rescue and salvage ship, target and torpedo recovery vessel, and escort and towing vessel. In June 1947 she joined theAtlantic Reserve Fleet, decommissioning, atAtlantic Reserve Fleet, New London, 4 September.
Penguin, berthed atNew London for four and a half years, recommissioned 3 April 1952. On 28 April, she reported for duty with theAtlantic Fleet's Submarine Forces, and on 23 July, arrived atKey West, her new homeport. For the next nine years, with only occasional interruptions for submarine exercises or salvage operations in theCaribbean, and, in August 1954, offNewfoundland, she carried out her mission in theKey West area for SubRon 12. During that period, however, she established a new record for ships of her class by "rescuing", during training operations, personnel from a submarine 349' below the surface, 24 February 1955.
In 1961,Penguin entered another first on her record. On 20 March she departed forRota, Spain, becoming the first ASR to be deployed to theSixth Fleet. Since that time she has continued salvage operations, primarily on downed aircraft, and weapons evaluation tests; provided target and torpedo recovery services; and performed towing services for theAtlantic Fleet and, in 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1969, for the 6th Fleet. While with the latter she has also served as flagship for that fleet'ssubmarine force. Fortunately, however, into 1970, she had not been called on to conduct rescue operations for an actual submarine disaster.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be foundhere.
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