USS Penguin (ASR-12)

History
United States
Name	USS Penguin
Builder	Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.
Laid down	9 February 1943, as USS Chetco (AT-99)
Launched	20 July 1943
Commissioned	29 May 1944
Decommissioned	June 1947
Renamed	USS Penguin, 23 September 1943
Reclassified	ASR–12, 23 September 1943
Recommissioned	3 April 1952
Decommissioned	29 June 1970
Motto	De profundis ("From the depths")
General characteristics
Class and type	Penguin class submarine rescue ship
Displacement	1,740 long tons (1,768 t) full load
Length	205 ft (62 m)
Beam	39 ft 3 in (11.96 m)
Draft	15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Speed	16 knots (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Complement	91
Armament	1 × 3"/50 caliber guns 4 × 20 mm 2 × dct

The third USS Penguin (ASR–12) was a submarine rescue ship in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the lead ship of a class of three vessels (Penguin, Bluebird, and Skylark) all originally laid down as fleet ocean tugs before being converted to rescue ships before completion.

Penguin was laid down as Chetco (AT-99) by the Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, South Carolina, 9 February 1943; launched 20 July 1943; sponsored by Mrs. H. S. Dickinson; renamed and reclassified USS Penguin (ASR–12), 23 September 1943; and commissioned 29 May 1944.