View source for USS Gear

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|Ship ordered=as HMS ''Pacific Salvor'' (BARS-4)
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|Ship launched=24 October 1942
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|Ship acquired=21 September 1942
|Ship commissioned=24 September 1943
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|Ship tonnage=1,441 tons
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'''USS ''Gear'' (ARS-34)''' was a [[Diver-class rescue and salvage ship|''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.

== 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 (structure)|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 Island|Okinawa]] on 1 April, D-day of invasion. Subsequently, she assisted with battle damage repairs on various ships. On April 2 and 3, she assisted USS Alpine APA-92 which had been hit by a Kamikazi and its bomb the evening of April 1. She also assisted {{USS|Wichita|CA-45|2}} (CA-45), {{USS|England|DE-635|2}} (DE-635), {{USS|Aaron Ward|DD-483|2}} (DD-483) and {{USS|Ingraham|DD-694|2}} (DD-694). She departed [[Okinawa Island|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]]:
* Iwo Jima operation
* Okinawa Gunto operation
Her crew was eligible for the following medals:
* [[American Campaign Medal]]
* [[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] (2)
* [[World War II Victory Medal]]

== References ==
{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g2/gear.htm}}

== External links ==
* {{navsource|09/37/3705|USS Diver (ARS-5)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111010123441/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergencysmall/basalt.htm Basalt Rock Company] at ''Shipbuilding History''

{{Diver class rescue ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gear (ARS-34)}}
[[Category:Diver-class rescue and salvage ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Napa, California]]
[[Category:World War II auxiliary ships of the United States]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]