USS Pigeon (ASR-21)

History
United States
Name	USS Pigeon
Awarded	15 November 1967
Builder	Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company, Mobile, Alabama
Laid down	17 July 1968
Launched	13 August 1969
Acquired	29 January 1972
Commissioned	28 April 1973
Decommissioned	31 August 1992
Stricken	31 August 1992
Fate	Sold for scrap, February 2012
General characteristics
Class and type	Pigeon-class submarine rescue ship
Displacement	4,119 long tons (4,185 t) light 4,954 long tons (5,033 t) full
Length	251 ft (77 m) o/a 230 ft (70 m) w/l
Beam	86 ft (26 m)
Draft	26 ft (7.9 m)
Propulsion	4 diesel engines, two shafts
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	17 officers, 149 enlisted
Armament	2 × 20 mm guns
Aviation facilities	Helicopter platform only

The third USS Pigeon (ASR–21) was the lead ship of her class of submarine rescue ships. Laid down on 17 July 1968 by the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co., Mobile, Alabama, the ship was launched on 13 August 1969, sponsored by Mrs. Allen M. Shinn, wife of Vice Admiral Shinn, Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and commissioned on 28 April 1973. She was a sister ship to USS Ortolan (ASR-22).