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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Restorer (ARS-17)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Victor - Kilo
 NIVK
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal

USS Restorer (ARS-17) was transferred to Denmark renamed KDMS Vitus Bering
Anchor Class Rescue and Salvage Ship:
  • Laid down, 25 March 1942, at Snow Shipyards, Inc., Rockland, ME.
  • Launched, 24 October 1942
  • Commissioned USS Restorer (ARS-17), 6 October 1943, LT. C. M. Boyd, USNR, in command
  • During WWII USS Restorer was assigned to Europe-Africa Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    West Coast of Italy operations
    Anzio-Nettuno, 28 February to 1 March 1944     		Invasion of Southern France
    15 August to 25 September 1944

  • Decommissioned, 6 March 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 19 July 1946
  • USS Restorer earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 22 April 1947 for disposal
  • Sold to Denmark and commissioned into the Royal Danish Navy, 27 February 1948, as KDMS Vitus Bering, at New Orleans, LA.
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,615 t.(fl)
    Length 183' 3"
    Beam 37'
    Draft 14' 8"
    Speed 12 kts
    Complement
    Officers 6
    Enlisted 59
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal gun mount
    four single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel 1,000 Bbls
    Gasoline 3,000 Gals
    Propulsion
    four Hoover, Owens, Rentschler Co. 685A Diesel-electric engines
    three Diesel-drive 40Kw 240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,200shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Restorer 109k USS Restorer (ARS-17) running the measured mile off Rockland, ME., 5 October 1943, one day before commissioning.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo No. 19-N-61961
    a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. Courtesy Shipscribe.com    		 Ron Reeves
    Restorer 56k USS Restorer (ARS-17) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Ron Titus
    USS Restorer (ARS-17)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Boyd, Charles Melvin, USNR6 October 1943 - 25 August 1945
    02LT. Rogers, John Walton, USN25 August 1945 - 6 March 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Salvage Ship (ARS) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 24 April 2020