Bolster (ARS 38) - Naval Cruise Book

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BM2 Erwin checks on red diver. During the US ROK joint diver training, Bolster divers provided a valuable training asset to the Korean Navy. The chilling waters of Korea were no match for the deep-sea divers. 69

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The divers awoke to many a cold morning in Chinhae during Bolster ' s joint diver training with the Korean Navy. Ltjg Thornton, ET3 Peterson, BM3 Brigham and (IMGC Angle standby to provide assistance. BM3 Brigham in the MKl The water ' s great!! 68

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USS BOLSTER ARS-38 USS BOLSTER (ARS ,38), ASSIGNED TO SERVICE SQUADRON FIVE AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, IS PRIMARILY DESIGNED FOR RESCUE. SALVAGE, AND TOWING OPERATIONS. SHE ALSO HAS A VERSATILE REPAIR CAPABILITY AND HAS EASILY BEEN ADAPTED TO NUMEROUS OPEN OCEAN ENGINEERING MISSIONS. WITH AN OVERALL LENGTH OF 213 ' 6 , A BEAM OF 43 ' 11 AND A FULL LOAD DISPLACEMENT OF 2,100 TONS, BOLSTER IS ABLE TO MANEUVER IN SHALLOW, NEARLY INACCESSIBLE WATERS, AS WELL AS IN THE OPEN SEA. BOLSTER ' S EXPANSIVE STORAGE FACILITIES FOR FUEL AND SUPPLIES PERMIT HER TO REMAIN AT SEA FOR OVER 40 DAYS OR 9,000 NAUTICAL MILES WITHOUT REPLENISHMENTS. PROPULSION FOR THE BOLSTER IS PROVIDED BY FOUR, 16 CYLINDERS, 399 CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES DRIVING ELECTRIC GENERATORS AND MOTORS WHICH IN TURN DEVELOP 3500 SHAFT HORSE POWER AND DRIVE THE TWIN SCREWS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED SPEED IS 15 KNOTS. THE CREW IS COMPRISED OF SEVEN OFFICERS AND 85 ENLISTED MEN. AMONG THESE MEN ARE FOUND, NOT ONLY THE VARIOUS SERVICE RATINGS COMMON TO MOST SHIPS, BUT ALSO, 12 FULLY QUALIFIED DEEP SEA AND SALVAGE DIVERS. THE SHIP ' S DIVING EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING A DOUBLE- LOCK RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER, SCUBA GEAR, AND THE MKl AND MK5 DIVING SYSTEMS, SUPPORTS DIVING OPERATIONS TO DEPTHS OF 190 FEET. AS A RESCUE SALVAGE VESSEL, BOLSTER IS EQUIPPED WITH EIGHT COMPLETE SETS OF BEACH GEAR , AND VARIOUS SIZES OF PORTABLE SALVAGE PUMPS, COMPRESSORS, GENERATORS, WELDING MACHINES AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT. THE NUMEROUS PIECES OF SALVAGE GEAR CARRIED IN BOLSTER ' S SPACIOUS STORAGE COMPARTMENTS AND THE ONBOARD MODERN MACHINERY REPAIR FACILITIES PROVIDE THE MATERIALS AND CAPABILITIES NECESSARY FOR CARRYING OUT MISSIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, INDEPENDENT OF SHORE FACILITIES. LOCATED ON THE FANTAIL IS THE ALMON JOHNSON AUTOMATIC TOWING MACHINE WHICH HAS A PULL OF 50 TONS, ENOUGH TO TOW THE LARGEST OF NAVAL SHIPS. OTHER BOLSTER FEATURES INCLUDE THE 20 TON BOOM FORWARD AND AN 8 TON BOOM AFT, TWO 35 FOOT ALUMINUM TWIN SCREW WORK BOATS FOR PERSONNEL TRANSFERS, DIVING PLATFORMS FOR UNDERWATER WORK, TWO WATER FIRE FIGHTING MONITORS CAPABLE OF PUMPING OVER 4000 GALLONS OF WATER PER MINUTE ONTO A SHIP IN DISTRESS AND ON FIRE, TWO SINGLE BARREL 20 MM ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS, AND TWO 50 CALIBER MACHINES GUNS. 70