USNS Grapple

USS Grapple (ARS-53)
History
United States
Name	USS Grapple (ARS 53) USNS Grapple (T-ARS 53)
Ordered	29 October 1982
Builder	Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Laid down	25 April 1984
Launched	8 December 1984
Commissioned	15 November 1986
Decommissioned	13 July 2006
In service	14 July 2006
Out of service	1 October 2016
Identification	IMO number: 8434336 MMSI number: 368848000 Callsign: NGRP
Motto	Ready to Serve
Honours and awards	Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award (2000)
Fate	Transferred to MSC NFAF 14 July 2006. Deactivated and placed in storage 1 October 2016
Status	Deactivated
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship
Displacement	2,633 long tons (2,675 t) light 3,317 long tons (3,370 t) full load
Length	255 ft (78 m)
Beam	51 ft (16 m)
Draft	17 ft (5.2 m)
Propulsion	4 × Caterpillar 399 diesel engines
Speed	15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	7 officers and 92 enlisted (USS) 4 military and 26 civilian (USNS)
Armament	2 × Mk 38 25 mm chain guns 2 × 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns

USS Grapple (ARS-53) is a Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship in the United States Navy. Her home port is Norfolk, Virginia. On 13 July 2006 Grapple was decommissioned from US Navy service and converted to civilian operation by Military Sealift Command. She was redesignated as USNS Grapple (T-ARS 53).