Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-20
Navy Benefits
From Wartime
Salvage Experience

One OF the interesting developments
in the United States Navy as the re-
suit Of wartime experience was the
building up of salvage service, de-
signed to aid in the saving of wrecked
ships and the recovery Of cargoes
country entered the World War the
navy possessed no regular salvage
service. although collections of SAL
yaging machinery had been made at
several .depots, and apparatus had
been brought to Il high degree Of eff
cheney. But this was used mostly in
connection with experimental work
in firing at various targets stimulating
vessels.
However. when the gathering of
nited States vessels, large and small.
In European harbors resulted in
many incidental minor accidents. and
the operations of enemy submarines
called for equipment to save costly
boats and their carSoes, the Navy
was quick to build up service which
not only soon repaid the cost of or
Ganization. but has since resulted in
great savings.
The first step the Navy took was
the establishment of salvage sec
ton of the Bureau of Construction
and Repair. drawing personnel and
equipment from private salvaginG
companies. Salvage stations were
established along the Atlantic coast.
by the taking over of many private
concerns. and by August. 1917, a SAL
wage unit had arrived in France This
consisted of the Nays first salvage
vessel, the L. s. s. Favorite. twelve
hundred ton ship equipped with the
finest tools and machinery for recov-
ing wrecked vessels. She was stocked
with diving apparatus, decomposition
chamber, pumps, and cutting and
welding tools for both underwater
and surface work. A % ton derrick
was amidships.
Immediately upon her arrival in
France she started salvaging oper-
atoms that kept her busy with not an
Idle day for eighteen months. Her
work consisted in pulling boats, large
and small. off the beaches, raising
them off the bottom, rcscuing tor
pedoed ships and towing disabled
ships to port. The vessel played an
important part in repairing the trans
port Mt Vernon, which was tor
pedoed after leaving Brest, and then
placed a Golfer dam, the largest that
has ever beer installed in a disabled
ship. on the L. S. S. Westbridge. AL
most any one of the vessels the SAL
wage ship rescued resulted in saving
more than the cost of outfitting and
maintaining her.
This vessel was shortly Joined hy
two others, the Chesapeake and the
Mamma Hata, all equipped with the
most modern gear, and though thew
continued to do their valuable work
for many months, it was not a spec
tacuar task and the men who inn
perilled their lives received little
recognition. One of the important
feats they accomplished was the SAL
wage of the British vessel Narragan-
sett, after the attempt had been given
up by the British. The American
Shlps came along with advice and
equipment that made a success of
what had appeared hopeless task.
The Favorite, while in France. was
the most complete and modern SAL
wage vessel ever sent out, and at
tracted the attention and investiga-
ions OF the foremost European shin
ping nations. In the fall of 1919. all
salvaSing operations having closed.
the Favorite returned home. and the
other two ships were sold to a British
salvage concern with full equipment.
Inc former then was placed in the
SSi"ice Oh tne Panama Canal, where
she Is now doing heroic work.
however. the wartime experience
showed the Navy the need of s,Ich
vessels. so. two were equipped es-
pecially for the purpose, the Falco,f
ana the Widgeon. They are COM
paratively small, strongly built, anHl
nave the finest equipment. They
can work in rough and shallow waters
where other vessels could not ven
lure. The Widgeon will be used on
the West Coast, while the Falcon
winch has been in service along the
Atlantic for some time, has ALREADY
been valuable in the recovery of two
submarines sunk in accidents.
One OF the most spectacular feats
performed by this small shin.s cre,..
accomplished as regular mart ~ tha
Jays work, was the saving ~ the
tta ar off the Chesapeake, Canes
ana by her crew the Ca,;h
oean was. afire. but the Falcon.s ,,n,,
'1a1usd her, quenched the fan,.s
me loaded ammunition in her carso
was exploding about then, as9 !
brought her to port. "iu
,o Inc most interesting part of tho
equipment Of the Falcon is tke d dne
chamber, into wh;o,,
ap-sea divers are taken to nrevant
occurrence OF the bends nv na;
hs; which often results frn,,,
heir too rapid release from tba Mn NH