USS Grapple ( ARS - 7 ) USS Grapple ( ARS - 7 ) was an " Diver " - class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the U . S . Navy for service in World War II . She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels . " Grapple " ( ARS - 7 ) was launched by Basalt Rock Company in Napa , California , 31 December 1942 ; sponsored by Mrs . Thomas D . Rose ; and commissioned 16 December 1943 at Vallejo , California , Lt . Robert Fisher in command . World War II operations . One of the first ships designed to operate as a combat - salvage vessel , " Grapple " conducted shakedown off the California coast until 15 February 1944 when she sailed for Pearl Harbor with barge " YW - 69 " in tow . With three barges in tow , she departed Pearl 21 March 1944 , proceeded via Majuro and Tarawa to Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides , Florida Island , and Guadalcanal . Screening exercises in South Pacific . There " Grapple " performed miscellaneous screening exercises and readied for her part in the upcoming invasion of Guam , another step in America ' s sweep to victory across the Pacific . On 15 June she came under enemy attack for the first time as three Japanese dive bombers came out of the sun in a surprise attack . Alert antiaircraft crews shot down one of them and seriously damaged another . Invasion of Guam . " Grapple " cleared Kwajalein , staging area for the Guam assault , on 15 July , then 6 days later was standing off Guam in support of the first wave of assault troops . Her vital salvage work at Guam included pulling stranded landing craft off the beaches and repairing damaged ships , usually within range of enemy fire . Demolition crews from " Grapple " , also performed the important work of clearing the Apra Harbor entrance of a Japanese freighter sunk by American bombers . After the consolidation of Guam , " Grapple " returned to Espiritu Santo via Eniwetok for repairs and preparation for next major assault . Salvaging a destroyer and landing craft . Rendezvousing with a convoy at Florida Island , " Grapple " sailed 4 September for the initial assault phase on Peleliu Island , Palaus , which began 15 September . Under constant fire from enemy shore batteries , she laid small - craft mooring buoys inside Peleliu ' s protective reef before being dispatched to aid ( DD - 689 ) , badly damaged in a mine field . While working on the disabled destroyer , a project which lasted over 2 weeks , " Grapple " also assisted a number of beached landing craft and effected temporary repairs on others . Under attack in the Philippines . On 24 December Grapple entered Leyte Gulf , late the scene of one of the war ' s bloodiest and most decisive naval battles , for further salvage work . Four days later she sailed into Mindanao Gulf to salvage " SS William Sharon " , an abandoned Liberty ship still smoldering from kamikaze attacks . The salvage ship , with " Sharon " in tow , and her two destroyer escorts were attacked by Japanese fighter planes in the pre - dawn hours of 30 December , but the planes were driven off . Navy Unit Citation . From Leyte " Grapple " headed north as the invasion of the Philippines unfolded deep into enemy held territory at Lingayen Gulf , again in the initial assault phase . Brilliant salvage work at Lingayen Gulf from 6 January to 26 February 1945 earned " Grapple " and her crew the Navy Unit Citation . Fighting fires on the carrier " Randolph " . She remained on fire - fighting , rescue , and salvage station at Ulithi and Saipan through 7 May , distinguishing herself in fire - fighting efforts on the carrier ( CV - 15 ) , hit by kamikazes on 11 March . After towing a derrick and a lighter to Leyte , " Grapple " sailed for Pearl Harbor . On 6 June she was diverted to assist " SS William Hawkins " , adrift near Johnston Island ; taking the merchantman in tow , she reached Hawaii 11 June , stopping only long enough to disengage her tow before continuing to Portland , Oregon , where she docked 22 June . End - of - war activity and decommissioning . Japan surrendered before " Grapple " reached Hawaii again on 19 October . There she performed various duties until returning to the coast . She reached San Diego , California , 15 May , decommissioned there 30 August 1946 and went in reserve . Reactivated during Korean War . With the outbreak of the Korean War , " Grapple " re - commissioned 26 December 1951 at San Diego , Lt . Roy Coniam in command . After training exercises , she sailed to Pearl Harbor and from there to Japan , reaching Sasebo 8 May 1952 . Five days later she sailed for Korea and joined British units of the United Nations Fleet off Daido Ko 17 May . Later she sailed to Ullong Do and was temporarily converted into a floating laboratory as Navy doctors frantically tried to stem a typhoid epidemic sweeping the peninsula . Hit by shore batteries . On 8 August " Grapple " began " flycatcher " duty off the Korean coast , patrolling at night to thwart enemy sampans laying mines in the shallows . While at anchor near Wonsan 12 August , " Grapple " came under heavy fire from shore batteries , and before she could clear the area was hit just below the water line . Her damage control party removed the unexploded projectile and patched up the 6 " by 15 " hole . Struck by friendly fire . Three days later , still on patrol . " Grapple " received more serious injuries — this time at the hands of a friend . Because of a mistake in Identification signals , ( AM - 315 ) opened fire on " Grapple " at a range of about 900 yards . Several shells fell short or exploded above the ship , but one 3 " projectile hit just above the pilot house , killing 2 men , injuring 11 others , 3 critically , and doing extensive damage to pilot house and gun deck . After repairs at Sasebo , " Grapple " returned to Korea , making three more " flycatcher " patrols to protect U . S . ships operating off shore before returning to Pearl Harbor 9 December 1952 . She then sailed for overhaul at Seattle , Washington . Arctic supply cruises . " Subsequently " , Grapple has based at Pearl Harbor , performing a variety of salvage duties in the mid - Pacific and other areas . In 1953 , 1955 , 1956 , and 1957 , late summer Arctic supply cruises took her through Aleutian waters and into the hazardous ice floes of the Arctic Circle to repair and supply units of the fleet stationed there . In nine Western Pacific cruises to date , " Grapple " has crossed the Pacific to Korea , Japan , Formosa , the Philippines , South Vietnam , and Hong Kong . On these , " Grapple " extensively trained ROK and Nationalist Chinese divers in newest salvage techniques . Blasting reef at Johnston Island . Extraordinary duties for " Grapple " included blasting the coral reef to widen the harbor entrance at Johnston Island in April 1954 prior to nuclear testing . In addition while prepared to act during a flare - up in the Quemoy – Matsu area in August and September 1958 , she assisted Hilo , Hawaii , in mopping up after a devastating tsunami May 1960 . During July and August 1964 she participated in the successful salvage operation of freeing ( DDR - 742 ) , grounded on Pratas Reef in the South China Sea . Vietnam War operations . Departing Pearl Harbor 16 November 1966 , " Grapple " reached waters off South Vietnam 10 December for salvage and rescue operations . Late in the month she prepared to salvage a grounded tug from a reef north of Huế , South Vietnam . " Grapple " was still on station in the Pacific , providing valuable salvage and rescue work for planes and ships as well as participating in a variety of miscellaneous duties and exercises . Final decommissioning . " Grapple " was decommissioned ( date unknown ) and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 December 1977 . She was then sold to Taiwan under the Security Assistance Program , 1 December 1977 , and renamed " ROCS Da Hu " ( ARS - 552 ) . Military awards and honors . " Grapple " received three battle star s for World War II service : She received one campaign star during the Korean War : She received five campaign stars during the Vietnam War : Her crew was eligible for the following medals and ribbons :