U S NAVY 4th FLEET AT RECIFE - SHIP INDEX AM AO AP ARS AS AT

15)ARS 2 CRUSADER

Photo. www.navsource.org

Built 1917

Displacement 950 t.

Armament two .30 cal Lewis machine guns (as AM 29), 20mm or smaller (as ARS)

Propulsion two 200 psi Babcock and Wilcox boilers, Harlan and Hollingsworth Corp. 1,400shp vertical triple expansion engine, one shaft.

Length 187' 10"

Beam 35' 6"

Draft 9' 9"

Speed 14 kts

Complement 82.

Operating with the Commerce Department as Pioneer, the ship was returned to the Navy and commissioned 17 September 1941 as Crusader (ARS–2). The salvage ship operated in the 15th Naval District, headquartered at Balboa, C. Z. throughout World War II. After decommissioning, she was, transferred to the Maritime Commission 13 February 1947.

ARS – 2 Crusader, based at Recife the Fourth Fleet Headquarters, towed American Merchant SS Florida to Fortaleza and later to San Juan for temporary repairs.The American Merchant was torpedoed by U – 154 on 28/May/43 when sailing on Convoy BT 14 (Natal – Trinidad)

DANFS DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN NAVAL FIGHTING SHIPS

FOLLOWING PAGES ON THE SAME ARTICLE

14)AP 24 ORIZABA

16)ARS 20 CHAIN

17)AS 21 ANTAEUS

18)AT 82 CARIB