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Greetings from the Officers and Crew of USNS GRAPPLE (T-ARS 53)! GRAPPLE was turned over to MSC on 13 Jul 2006, we’re still getting the habitability modifications aligned with the way MSC does business. Rescue Salvage ships are the most versatile fleet support ships in the entire U. S. Navy; providing diving, combat salvage, towing, and off-ship fire fighting services to U.S. Naval and Allied forces. GRAPPLE has and will continue to provide humanitarian underwater recovery services at the request of various civilian agencies and foreign governments. Missions GRAPPLE has undertaken in the recent past involve the underwater salvage of TWA Flight 800, Swissair Flight Ill, Egypt Air flight 990, and various military aircraft and armored amphibious craft. USS GRAPPLE has towed countless active and inactive naval vessels (conventional and nuclear powered) including the battleship ex-USS IOWA, and provided recompression chamber support to various diving units including Mobile Diving and Salvage Units, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and Special Warfare (SEAL) units. We also deploy to the Mediterranean Sea six months out of every two years to provide Support to deployed U.S. and local Allied Forces. We are a small, hard-working crew and our very proud of the unique mission our ship performs. USNS GRAPPLE is home-ported at Little Creek Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and spends some time over at St Helena’s Annex. We receive many requests for Patches and other Ship’s insignia. Unfortunately, the command doesn’t possess the funds to distribute these items to everyone who asks for them. If you would like to purchase shoulder patches, hats or t-shirts, feel free to email me at Master.Grapple@msc.navy.mil and I will pass your email along to our MWR officer. Here are a couple other websites for photo viewing: http://navysite.de/ars/ars53.htm |
