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  USS Shackle (ARS-9) / USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167/WAGO-167/WAT-167)
USN
Diver-class rescue
and salvage ship

1,441 Tons
213' 6" x 39' x 14' 4"
2 x 40mm AA
4 x .50 cal MG

Ship History
Built by Basalt Rock Company in Napa, CA. Laid down October 26, 1942 as Diver-class rescue and salvage ship. Launched April 1, 1943 as USS Shackle (ARS-9). Comissioned February 5, 1944 in the U.S. Navy (USN) with Lt. Charles G. Jenkins, Jr. in command.

Wartime History
After a shakedown cruise off San Diego, CA then proceeded to Pearl Harbor. During May 1944 steamed to Midway and cleared the wreckage of USS Macaw (ARS-11) from the entrance channel.

Following shakedown out of San Diego, California, Shackle proceeded to Pearl Harbor. In May, she continued west to Midway Island where she cleared the entrance channel of the wreckage of Macaw (ARS-11) that ran aground previously. Afterwards, returned to Pearl Harbor. In November towed ARD-2H and was briefly assigned to Eniwetok, Guam and Saipan.

In late January 1945, she commenced preparations for the assault on Iwo Jima as part of Task Force 51 (TF-51). On February 19, 1945 operated off the Volcano Islands and completed 44 salvages and diving missions. Afterwards, departed for Ulithi. On March 27, 1945 departed for Kerama Retto where she provided assistance to ships operating off Okinawa. During May, she provided salvage and repair assistance to 21 ships, many damaged by kamikaze aircraft.

On 1 July, Shackle joined Task Group 39.11, a mine-sweeping group; and, during that month, as area "Juneau" in the East China Sea was swept, she combined salvage and mine disposal duties. At the end of the month, she returned to Buckner Bay, where, on 12 August, she witnessed the torpedoing of Pennsylvania and immediately commenced salvage work on the damaged battleship. Three days later, the war ended.

Shackle remained in the Buckner Bay area until 20 September. She then sailed for Tokyo Bay where, into November, she was employed in clearing the docking area at Yokosuka. On the 27th, she started back across the Pacific Ocean. Salvage duties interrupted her voyage at Wake Island.

Postwar
At the end of December 1945, arrives Pearl Harbor, then in February 1946 arrived at San Diego then proceeded to San Francisco. On June 29, 1946 decommissioned and transferred to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) as USCGC Acushnet (WAT-167) and was based in Portland, Maine as a tug boat.

In 1971, renamed USCGC Acushnet (WAGO-167)

In 1978, renamed USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167)

References
NavySource - USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167) / USCGC Acushnet (WAGO-167) / USCGC Acushnet (WAT-167) / USS Shackle (ARS-9)
NavSource - USS Shackle (ARS-9)
Facebook - USCGC Acushnet / USS Shackle Community

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Last Updated
July 11, 2022

 

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