U.S.S. HOIST

USS HOIST (ARS-40)

Hoist (ARS-40) was launched 31 March 1945 by Basalt Rock Corp. Napa Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. William E. Howard; and commissioned 21 July 1945 Lt. Comdr. R. M. Brunner in command.

After shakedown Hoist sailed from San Francisco 6 September 1945 to begin salvage operations in the Far East. Hoist arrived Buckner Bay Okinawa 11 October and commenced salvage and repair duties until 23 December. Two days later she arriv ed Wakanoura Wan and operated there and at Sasebo until 15 March 1946.

Hoist returned to San Pedro 1 June and sailed for Norfolk 15 July. After overhaul she sailed to Bayonne N J and trained students at the Naval Training Salvage School until 23 February. From March 1947 to December 1948 Hoist continued sal vage operations along the East and Gulf coasts. She sailed 8 December for Narsak Greenland where she operated for 2 weeks before returning to Bayonne. In mid-January 1949 she sailed for the Azores to repair an underwater pipeline returning 16 March. Hoist sailed 23 March to tow targets for aircraft squadron exercises off Bermuda helping maintain the high readiness of the Fleet for service when needed then sailed 9 May for the Virginia Capes for training operations. Hoist now based her o perations out of Norfolk and on 9 August steamed to assist Simon Newcomb (AGSC-14) aground in Mother Burns Cove Labrador. Towing the vessel to Argentia Newfoundland Hoist resumed her salvage and repair duties out of Norfolk with annual deploym ents to the North Atlantic and periodic operations in the Caribbean and Florida waters keeping the Navy in top fighting condition to preserve the peace throughout the world. In addition to her salvage and repair services she acted as station ship perfor med towing operations and engaged in amphibious exercises.

From early 1960 through 1964 Hoist continued similar services but concentrated on local salvage duties out of Norfolk and operations in Florida and the Caribbean.

From 29 May 1964 to 25 August Hoist operated with Trieste II at the site of the Thresher tragedy. Next performing one of her many rescues Hoist along with Seneca (ATF-92) and Windlass (ARSD 4) freed USNS Bluejacket. which had grounded 2 March 1965. Bluejacket was pulled free in 2 days saving her perishable cargo of frozen stores valued at $2 000 000. From 11 October to 12 November Hoist was busy with towing operations when ordered to assist in the salvage of Alamogordo ( ARDM-2) a floating drydock attached to the Polaris program. Hoist and Recovery (ARS-43) raised Alamogordo in 3 weeks. For the remainder of the year Hoist was active in local salvage duties.

On 16 February 1966 Hoist arrived at Palomares Spain to take part in the recovery of an H-Bomb. The un-armed weapon was dropped when a B-52 bomber and KC-135 flying tanker collided. On 7 April after successful completion of the mission Hoist< /I> returned to Norfolk where she arrived 4 May. Hoist performed salvage operations in the Virginia Capes area into 1967.

[Note: The above USS HOIST (ARS-40) history may or may not contain text provided by crew members of the USS HOIST (ARS-40) or by other non-crew members and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]