USS Gear ( ARS - 34 ) USS Gear ( ARS - 34 ) was an " Diver " - class rescue and salvage ship acquired by the U . S . Navy during World War II . Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels . " Gear " ( BARS - 4 ) , originally intended for the Royal Navy under terms of the Lend - Lease Program , was launched as " HMS Pacific Salvor " ( BARS - 4 ) on 24 October 1942 by the Basalt Rock Company in Napa , California ; acquired by the U . S . Navy and designated " Gear " ( ARS - 34 ) on 21 September 1942 ; and commissioned 24 September 1943 , Lt . J . F . Simmons in command . World War II service . " Gear " departed San Diego , California , on 6 December 1943 en route via Pearl Harbor and the Gilbert Islands to Eniwetok atoll in , the Marshall Islands . Here she performed salvage , towing , and repair for ships of the fleet as a unit of Service Squadron 10 until 17 July 1944 . Support operations at Saipan and Tinian . She provided similar services at Saipan ( 25 July – 7 August ) , shifting to Apra Harbor , Guam , on 8 August 1944 for various operations that included the towing and sinking of concrete barges on Calalan Bank to serve as a breakwater ; pulling amphibious landing ships off various beaches : and towing a ship to Tinian and Saipan before return . She returned to Pearl Harbor from the Marianas on 6 December 1944 for overhaul , and departed on 29 January 1945 with an amphibious assault force bound for Iwo Jima . Iwo Jima operations . " Gear " arrived in the outer transport area of Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945 to witness the landing of U . S . Marines under cover of intensive Naval gunfire and air attack . She proved invaluable in assisting the ships of the fleet , pumping out flooded spaces , repairing mortars , making ship repairs and performing various towing assignments . She returned to Saipan on 5 March with an " LSM " and two " LCI ' s " in tow . Okinawa operations . Four days later she was en route with a transport assault force that arrived off Okinawa on 1 April , D - day of invasion . Here she braved the day and night aerial onslaughts in a busy schedule of battle damage repairs to such gallant fighting ships as ( CA - 45 ) , ( DE - 635 ) , ( DD - 483 ) , ( DD - 694 ) . She departed Okinawa on 15 May for repair service at Ulithi ( 21 May – 12 June ) , then proceeded via Eniwetok with two tank landing ships in tow for Pearl Harbor , arriving 6 July 1945 . Alaskan Sea Frontier service . " Gear " departed Pearl Harbor on 11 July and arrived at Portland , Oregon on the 20th . After voyage repairs , she performed towing and salvage for the Alaskan Sea Frontier at Adak , Alaska , until 6 May 1946 , returning to San Pedro , California , on the 23d for services there until decommissioned on 13 December 1946 . Reactivation with a civilian crew . " Gear " was assigned to the San Diego Group , U . S . Pacific Reserve Fleet until 24 February 1953 . A civilian crew of the Merritt Chapman Scott Corp . then operated her for Navy towing and salvage service at San Pedro , California . Under contract to the Merritt Chapman Scott Corp . , she continued Navy salvage and repair duties at San Pedro with occasional coast towing . Final disposition . " Gear " was returned to U . S . Navy custody ( date unknown ) and struck from the Naval Register , 30 April 1981 . Final Disposition : she was sold for scrapping , 1 July 1982 , by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service . Military awards and honors . " Gear " won several battle stars during World War II : Her crew was eligible for the following medals :