USS Current Photos

 

       Updated March 17, 2019

 

 

                                     

     Pete Irvin's Photo Album

            Bikini Atoll 1946

 

 

    Current's crew laying beach gear on the sunken USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor. 1946.
   Current preparing to anchor target ships in Bikini Lagoon during Operation Crossroads. 1946
         Toombs, Gilpan, Lane, Gizmo, Phillips, Irvin and Willcut. 1946.
 
 
 
 
     Upton, Jim Golden, Bill Beach, Garcia
     Irvin & Pennington
     Don Adams, Pete Irvin, and Larry Leighty
 
         Larie, Lepal, Willcut, and  W/O Davis
 
         CM3 Pete Irvin
           Willcut
       Irvin and Pennington
 
 
     Larry Leighty with Gizmo
       Gizmo, Current's ship's mascot. 1946.
 

 

                                                

 

 

 

 

 

 

                  

            Operation Crossroads - The Atomic Tests at Bikini Atoll   1946

                                           

 

 

The target ships taken out of the mothball fleet at Pearl Harbor are preparing for departure to Bikini Atoll for Operation Crossroads Atomic Tests.
   Detonation of the above ground "Able" atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll. July 1, 1946
The underwater "Baker" atomic bomb blast at Bikini Atoll created a spray of water. steam, mud and radioactive material that contaminated most of the ships at Operation Crossroads. Current was one of the ships that returned to the highly radioactive Bikini Lagoon waters three hours after the blast to begin radiation monitoring and target ships' damage assessment. July 25, 1946.
      Photo of the "Baker" atomic blast taken from Eneu Island. July 25, 1946.
   An aerial photo of the "Baker" atomic blast at Bikini Atoll, July 25, 1946
  The "Baker" blast being observed by a unknown support ship crew.
The aircraft carrier USS Saratoga CV-3 sinking at Bikini after the "Baker" atomic blast. July 1946. The Baker blast was detonated 500 yards from the carrier. Salvage efforts were prevented due to high levels of radiation. After 7 hours the Saratoga sank.
         USS Independence after the "Able" blast
The target ship USS Independence CVL-22 burning after the " Able " atomic blast on July 1, 1946. After the " Able Blast ", Current moored to the carrier to keep other vessels from approaching due to high levels of radiation. July 1946.
Close up view of damage to the aircraft carrier Independence after the " Able " bomb blast.
The capsized rusting hull of the grounded German cruiser Prinz Eugen. In December 1946, the Prinz Eugen began taking on water and was intentionally beached on Enubui Island in a futile attempt to save it from sinking. In the process, the ship capsized. In the 1980's, permission was  granted by the United States to remove and display one of the screws at the German Naval Memorial at Laboe, Germany.
  Photo of the capsized German cruiser Prinz Eugen.
       Aerial photo of the sunken Prinz Eugen.
     A close up of the screws of the Prinz Eugen.
     The port screw from the Prinz Eugen on display at the German Naval Memorial,  Laboe, Germany.
 

An underwater photo of the bridge of the sunken Japanese battleship Nagato. The Nagato sank after the underwater 'Baker' atomic bomb test. Current's divers evaluated and mapped the bomb damage on the sunken battleship.

 
       An underwater photo shows one of the battleship Nagato's screws.
        Bill Beach, Emmons, Smith and Schultz on liberty in Honolulu 1946. Photo courtesy of Bill Beach.
   BM1 Lepal and BM1 McGee, Current divers at Bikini Atoll during Operation Crossroads. Photo courtesy of Bill Beach.
"Gizmo" Current's mascot during Operation Crossroads, 1946. Photo taken by Bill Beach. Gizmo died at Pearl Harbor 1946 from exposure to radiation from the atomic tests.
     EM3 W.R Oakes with Current's mascot "Gizmo" at Operation Crossroads 1946. Photo courtesy of Bill Beach.
USS Current passing under the Golden Gate Bridge after departing Mare Island for Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll. Photo by Bill Beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            SS Quartette Grounding on Pearl and Hermes Reef   1952

 

 

      SS Quartette hard aground on Pearl and Hermes Reef. December 1952. Photo courtesy of LCDR Steve Biespiel
     Milo maze  from the SS Quartette's holds  was off loaded by hand.
      Milo maze being loaded onto a barge.
      Milo maze offloaded in bags
      The loaded barge
     The loaded barge aground on Pearl and Hermes Reef.
     The broken SS Quartette.
     Another view of the broken SS Quartette. December 1952.
     Current's Whale boat passing through the bow and stern sections of the SS Quartette.
      A view of the broken bow section of the SS Quartette.
     The stern section of the SS Quartette.
     SS Quartette broken in two on Pearl  and Hermes Reef. December 1952.
      Captain Tiernan on the SS Quartette during salvage operations. December 1952.
Executive Officer, LT Milton Hill and Current's commanding officer from 1953-1954. Photo taken on the SS Quartette during salvage operations. December 1952.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               SS Cornhusker Mariner Grounding, Pusan, Korea    1953

 

 

 

     Steve Biespiel taking  a noon fix to update Current's course and position. Photo courtesy of Steve Biespiel. 1953
Some of the divers from Current, Deliver ARS-23 and Conserver ARS-39 that worked on the Cornhusker Mariner 1953. Photo courtesy of L. G. McCutcheon, crewmember USS Deliver ARS-23.
     Preparing the divers
     Photo of the Cornhusker Mariner on the rocks at Oryuk Island, Pusan  Korea, July 1953
     The bow of the SS Cornhusker Mariner on the rocks of Oryuk Island. Photo by John Faynor, USS Chowanoc ATF-100.
      The SS Cornhusker Mariner on the rocks
      The saved stern section of the Cornhusker Mariner.
      The abandoned bow section of the SS Cornhusker Mariner.
Photo of the grounded stern section of the SS Cornhusker Mariner can be seen in the distance. Photo taken from the USS Polaris AF-11.
Current and Deliver ARS-23 alongside Cornhusker Mariner. The Cornhusker Mariner was towed closer to the harbor for more repairs before being towed to Sasebo, Japan.1953. Photo courtesy of L. G. McCutcheon, crewmember USS Deliver ARS-23.
      Crew rigging beach gear on the main deck of the SS Cornhusker Mariner. Photo by John Faynor.
       The pumps are rigged on the Cornhusker Mariner
       Captain Hill with other crew members observing.
       Current alongside the salvaged stern section of the Cornhusker Mariner in Sasebo Harbor. 1953.
     Everything on the Cornhusker Mariner was bent, broken or cracked. The Cornhusker Mariner in drydock at Sasebo.
      The Cornhusker Mariner in drydock.
      Another drydock photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   Japanese Submarine Salvage Operation   

                      Keehi Lagoon, Oahu, Hawaii    1960

 

 

         
 
          U Tube Video of USS Current Raising the Japanese Sub

 

 

 

 

 

        1965 - 1966 Crew Photos

 

 

 

 

 

                   APL-26    USS Current's 7,000 Mile Tow    December 1966
 

 

        The Story of APL-26   USS Current's 7,000 Mile Tow

 

 Current with APL-26 at Pearl Harbor en-route to Vung Tau, Vietnam January 1967. Current arrived in Vung Tau February 22, 1967.
  Photo of APL-26 and YD-174 just after transfer from Current to YTB-784 at Vung Tau, Vietnam. February 22, 1967.
             APL-26 being towed to a new berth on the Mekong Delta by USS Kalispell YTB-784.
                                  
 
 
 

 

 

 

            Dong Nai Dredge Salvage Operation, Vung Tau, Vietnam  1967

 

 

     Current is rigged for a bow lift of the Dong Nai Dredge.
     Current lies at anchor waiting for a favorable tide before moving the Dong Nai Dredge to shallow water
With the stern lowered in shallow water, the dredge's bow breaks the surface as Current attempts to upright the dredge.
       Mail was a most welcome sight. This Swift Boat delivered Current's first mail in twelve days.
Photo of Current divers SM2 Terry Gilmore, EM2 Garland Stanley and EN2 John King with a catch of Red Snapper. They used a "little too much" C-4 explosives to clear tangled cable and debris from the sunken Dong Nai Dredge during the salvage operation in the Mekong Delta near Vung Tau, Vietnam. The Red Snapper came to the surface and were quickly netted. Fresh Red Snapper was on the dinner menu that evening. April 1967. Flash Earth location of the Dong Nai Dredge salvage operation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    

               M/V Amastra Salvage Operation, Nha Trang, Vietnam  1967

 

 

  Photo of Amastra's stern at the bottom of Nha Trang Harbor. Photo courtesy of George Giganti, Captain of USS Current.
    A view of the sunken Amastra from the beach at Nha Trang
    Amastra's stern at the bottom of Nha Trang Harbor. Photo by Mike Jackson, Radio Officer of Amastra
Amastra crew "volunteers" are returning to Amastra to assist the mooring of the oil tanker Kara to the starboard side of Amastra to offload JP-4 jet fuel to the Kara.
Photo of Amastra and Shell Oil tanker Kara alongside to transfer aviation gasoline from Amastra. Photo submitted by Captain George Giganti.
            MV Kara and MV Amastra moored together
           MV Kara and MV Amastra moored together
          Lloyds of London agent inspecting the damaged Amastra
         Current alongside Amastra
A southerly view of Nha Trang Harbor and the POL anchorage where M / V Amastra was mined. Photo courtesy of John Copeland, 569th Engineering Company.
An aerial view of Nha Trang. The POL anchorage where Amastra was sunk is on the far right center. Photo courtesy of  John Copeland, 569th Engineering Company
   Current approaching Amastra to begin repairs. April 1967. Photo courtesy of Mike Jackson, Radio Officer of Amastra.
Captain George Giganti maneuvering Current alongside Amastra to begin the salvage operation. Photo taken by Mike Jackson.
Amastra down by the stern, Current tied up starboard side to. Photo courtesy of Mike Jackson, Radio Officer of M/V Amastra. April 1967
     Salvage pumps being prepared for transfer to Amastra. Photo by Mike Jackson. April 1967.
Transferring one of Current's salvage pumps to the deck of Amastra to begin the dewatering of the flooded engine room. Photo submitted by LTJG Mark Lusink.
      A fabricated cloth patch being lifted to Amastra. Photo by Mike Jackson
      Amastra begins to show freeboard. Photo by Mark Lusink
       MR3 Preston Thomas prepares mine damaged area on Amastra for installation of a metal patch.
       Shipfitters SFMFN Freddy Fullwood and SFM3 Doug Ault welding the patch to Amastra's hull
Amastra after dewatering. Current's ship fitters welding at temporary patch to make the ship sea worthy for the voyage to Singapore for dry-docking. April 1967.
Amastra dewatered with a metal patch welded to the hull to make the ship seaworthy for the voyage to Singapore for repairs. Photo courtesy of George Giganti, Captain of USS Current.
    Photo of Current, Amastra and Kara at the completion of the salvage operation. Photo by Captain George Giganti.

 

 

 

 

 

 

               SS Minot Victory Salvage Operation, Paracel Islands 1967

                                            

 

      LTJG Vince Weis and LTJG Mark Lusink recording the Minot Victory grounding data.
An underwater photo of Minot Victory's bow aground on the coral of North Reef, Paracel Islands. Photo taken by LTJG Mark Lusink.
EN3 Richard Pappe and SM3 Bob Willette figure eight 1.5 inch beach gear steel cable on Current's fantail in preparation for the Minot Victory salvage operation.
      Current crew members prepare to release one of four Ells Anchors for the Minot Victory salvage operation
     One of Current's Ells Anchors being dropped in preparation for the removal of Minot Victory from North Reef.
Current's tow wire is attached to the stern of Minot Victory, waiting for the maximum high tide. April 1967. A barge and a tug on both the starboard and port sides of Minot Victory are receiving heavy earth moving equipment from the Minot Victory prior to the pull.
Current slowly increasing RPM'S on the screws and taking a strain in the tow cable. Minot Victory slid off North Reef at a high tide after 7 days of preparations. Photo courtesy of Mark Lusink.

 

 

 

 

 

                 C-141 Aircraft Recovery  Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam   1967

 

 

Current diver LTJG Vince Weis attaching a tow wire to the tail of the sunken C-141 aircraft. The tail section was dragged to the beach for the investigation.
      A C-141 jet engine is being hauled aboard Current for inspection. April 1967
      B'osn CWO-4 Art Racette maneuvers the engine on Current's fantail. April 1967
       The C-141 engine on deck ready to be inspected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                LCM-8 Salvage Operation at Duc Pho Beach, Vietnam   1967

 

 

 

A view from Current of the broached LCM-8's upon arrival at the Army supply camp at Duc Pho Beach, Vietnam.    FLASH EARTH LOCATION OF THE LCM-8 SALVAGE OPERATION
IC3 Sam Pitts and another crewmember securing beach gear cable in preparation to drop Ells Anchors for the LCM-8 salvage operation at Duc Pho Beach.
The USS New Jersey BB-62 seaward of Current at Duc Pho Beach firing its 16 inch guns at targets inside Vietnam.
Current delivered this salvaged LCM-8 to the Army at Qui Nhon 85 miles south from Duc Pho Beach. An Army floating crane lifted the LCM to the pier.
 

 

 

             Defense Department Recovery Operation

                Kingman Reef    Palmyra Atoll    1967

 

 

 An aerial view of Johnston Island. Current arrived at Johnston Island from Pearl Harbor to transport Sandia Corporation observers to the drop zone at Kingman Reef.
At high tide, Current entered the lagoon of the horseshoe shaped Kingman Reef on arrival from Johnston Island. Kingman Reef was the designated target area for a B-52 bomb drop. Current was on station for the recovery operation. 1967.
A UTV or universal test vehicle is delivered to a B-52 bomber on the tarmac at Barbers Point Naval Air Station. Instead of an actual nuclear bomb, test vehicles were dropped, packed full of devices to simulate the magnetic and radiation effects of a nuclear blast. Current was at the target area of Kingman Reef to recover the UTV.
      The UTV is being loaded onto the B-52 bomber.
       An aerial view of Kingman Reef at low tide
      An Aerial View of Kingman Reef in the distance
       Kingman Reef at low tide
An aerial view of the dredged ship channel and Sand Island, Palmyra Atoll. Current's crew was scheduled for a weekend of R & R on Palmyra Atoll following an Air Force recovery operation, but the R & R was cancelled due to "operational commitments". Current returned to Pearl Harbor.
       A nautical chart of the approaches to Palmyra Atoll.
       An Aerial view of Palmyra Atoll and all of its islets
       North Beach, Palmyra Atoll
       Sunset, Palmyra Atoll
       Sand Island, Palmyra Atoll
       Sunrise, Palmyra Atoll
An aerial view of Palmyra's lagoon and ship anchorage. The overgrown runway of the former WWll Palmyra Naval Air Station can be seen in the distance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

        USS Guardfish SSN-612  Grounding,  Oahu  1967

 

The story and photo of the Christmas Eve 1967 grounding of USS Guardfish. COMSERVPAC Information Bulletin July 1968.
       News clipping from the Honolulu Star Bulletin.
       News clipping from the Honolulu Advertiser.
      Guardfish in drydock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard after grounding. December 1967.

 

 

 

                           

       

                 

        Beaver Victory Grounding,  Oahu    1968

 

 

        The SS Beaver Victory aground near the entrance to Honolulu Harbor, January 11, 1968.

 

 

 

 

 

 

         1969 - 1970 Crew Photos

 

 

      MR1 Bob Arnold reads his six year re-enlistment contract before he signs on the dotted line !
      Bob Arnold is congratulated by Captain Bradshaw after Bob signed his re-enlistment Papers.
       BM3 Christofferson, BM3 Pompizzi, BM3 Bouchey, GMG2 Braisher, BM1 Manini
       SN Sprague, SN Sasser, SN Keller, SN Louding
       SN Lewis, SN Kruger, SA Bielefeldt, SN Reed, SN Keller
        EM3 Shugert, EM3 Shipley, EM2 Swofford, FN Manson, FN Dias
        IC3 Charter, MR2 Hatter, FN Van Nortwick, SFM3 Matins, EN3 Lindholm
       EN3 Damron, DC3 Goodhue, EN2 Hastings, DC3 Launderville, SFMSN Cornell
       EN2 Mark Kjelsrud, MM1 Foster, FN Lowry, FA Gallagher, SFM1 Taplin, DCC Johnson
       QM2 Warren Wilson, FN Herbert, SN Salveson, SN Raye, SN Sucha, SN Keller
       CS3 Fitzgerald, SN Thompson, SN Helstrom, CS1 Wilcott
        TN Nolasco, SD3 Alon, TN Gomez, SD2 Gonzaga
        SN Redman, SK1 Niegas, SK3 Jacobs, SK2 Donohoe
        QMC Pierce, SN Patterson, EM3 Eames, RMSN Booz, QMSN Barr
        PN3 Winters, YN3 Stone, PNSN Rainville

 

 

 

           Da Nang Harbor Bomb Recovery Operation  April 1970
 

 

 

 

 

 

            SS Lindenwood Victory Adrift    October 1968

 

 

After the Lindenwood Victory lost power and was in danger of going aground, USS Wainwright DLG-28 was the first ship to respond to the distress call. The USS Wainwright took the Victory Ship in tow until Current arrived on the scene at first light, 200 miles south of Japan. October 1968. Photo of Current arriving on scene submitted by CS2 Gary Goode.
     Current approaching SS Lindenwood Victory. Photos by CS2 Gary Goode.
      Current approaching SS Lindenwood Victory in preparation to pass the tow wire.
      Current preparing to pass the tow wire to Lindenwood Victory.
      Current in position to pass the tow wire
       Photo of Lindenwood Victory under tow by USS Wainwright DLG-28
      The SS Lindenwood Victory dead in the water as Current approaches. Photo courtesy of Lt Dennis Patrick.
      Preparations to pass the tow wire.
     Current underway with Lindenwood Victory in tow.
      Two commercial tugs arrive to relieve Current of the Lindenwood Victory.
      After the arrival of the tugs, Current's tow wire is being removed from the Lindenwood Victory.

 

 

 

 

 

                                            

              USNS LST-600 Salvage Operation, Naha Okinawa   1969

    

 

     The broken anchor chain link on LST 600 that caused the grounding on Kanno Se Reef.

   USNS LST 600 aground on Kanno Se Reef off Naha, Okinawa. January 1969. Photo submitted by LT Dennis Patrick.
An aerial view of LST 600 aground in the shallow water on the coral of Kanno Se Reef. Photo courtesy of LT Dennis Patrick.
With Current's tow wire attached to LST-600 in preparation for a pull, a Navy EOD Team detonates explosives to destroy coral under LST-600's keel to aid in the removal process. January 17, 1969. Photo submitted by CS2 Gary Goode.
Current's tow wire is attached to LST 600 waiting for a high tide to attempt the pull. Current's tow wire parted at the 1200 ft. mark during the attempted pull. Note the waves breaking over the shallow coral reef at low tide.
      The deck of LST-600
       Some of Current's salvage crew taking a break on board LST 600.
Compressors and salvage equipment being transferred to LST 600 from Current's work boat. Photo taken by LT Dennis Patrick. January 1969.
Salvage crew transferring lengths of Suction hose from the workboat to LST 600 to pump out flooded compartments.
Photo of QM1 Warren Wilson and CWO-4 Art Racette during LST 600 salvage operation. Others in the photo unknown at this time. Photo courtesy of LT Dennis Patrick.
      DC3 Mark Conrad, left, and members of Current's salvage crew on LST 600.
Current's divers and their tanks board the workboat to examine the extent of damage to the hull of LST 600. Photo submitted by LT Dennis Patrick. January 1969
      Current's deck force rigging beach gear on the forecastle deck in preparation for the LST 600 salvage operation.
Assistance was requested after Current's tow wire was parted and replaced. The photo shows USS Abnaki ATF-96, Current and USS Chowanoc ATF-100 preparing for another pull to free LST 600.
After the LST-600 salvage, one of Current's retrieved Ell's salvage anchors is placed on the fantail in preparation to lift it back into its cradle.

 

 

 

               POL Buoy at Ching Chuun Kang Air Force Base, Taiwan

 

 

Photo of Current laying a 4,290 ft. set of Beach Gear cable off of the Ching Chuun Kang Air Force Base, Taiwan in preparation to pull a new POL pipeline to sea. This is believed to be a record for the longest set of Beach Gear laid for a salvage job. 1967. Photo submitted courtesy of BM2 ( DV ) Jack Steffens.
Photo of CCK POL buoy and stern of Current taken from the deck of USS Grapple ARS-7. Photo courtesy of MR1 Bob Arnold .
     BM2 (DV) Jack Steffen working on a POL line hose connection at Tan My after it was damaged by a Swift Boat.
Current provided repair services to the off shore POL buoy at Ching Chuun Kang Air Force Base,  Wu Chi, Taiwan. 1969. Photo by Gary Goode.
     Current's divers and crew working on the Ching Chuun Kang AFB petroleum offloading buoy. 1969

   

   Click to return to Current's Home page