USS Viking (ARS-1) - USS Viking

USS Viking

Viking (ARS-1), a conversion of USC&GS Guide, was required for the World War II war effort.

On 25 July 1941, work to convert the ship to a salvage vessel began at the San Diego Marine Construction Co. During the reconfiguration, on 5 August, the U.S. Navy renamed the ship Viking, third ship of the name, and classified her ARS-1. While the alterations were still in progress, Japanese aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 plunging the United States into World War II. Placed "in service" on 3 January 1942, Viking was pronounced ready for duty on 12 February.

Manned by a civilian crew and operated from San Diego, California, by the Merritt, Chapman, and Scott salvage firm—a civilian company working under a contract let by the Bureau of Ships—Viking stood ready to perform salvage and rescue tasks in the 11th Naval District.

Between 3 and 6 July 1942, Viking assisted two local patrol craft, YP-267 and YP-269, which had run aground off San Diego, towing them both back to port for repairs. From the ship's movement reports, Viking appears to have spent an uneventful autumn and winter at her home port.

She shifted to San Francisco, California, briefly in January 1943, en route to Guadalupe to perform emergency salvage operations under the aegis of the Commander, Western Sea Frontier. Returning to San Diego, California, in February, the salvage vessel operated there into 1944.

On 27 October, Viking sailed for San Pedro for refit and returned to San Diego later in November. On the last day of 1944, Viking departed her home port in company with Tenino (ATF-115), bound for Clipperton Island. There, the two vessels joined Seize (ARS-26) to free the grounded LST-563. During the rescue operation, Viking suffered damage from heavy seas and put into San Diego for repairs soon thereafter.

The salvage vessel subsequently operated out of San Diego and San Pedro, California through the end of World War II in mid-August 1945. She performed tug and tow services with ships ranging in size from destroyers to LST's into the 1950s. In December 1949, she aided the grounded steamer SS Aristocratus off the south point of Santa Rosa Island.

Eventually, Viking's area of operations embraced Long Beach and Port Hueneme, California, as well as the San Diego locale.

Relieved by Gear (ARS-34) as salvage vessel for the 11th Naval District, Viking was returned to Navy custody by the Merritt, Chapman, and Scott salvage firm. On 17 March 1953, she was authorized for disposal; and her name was struck from the Navy list on 19 April 1953.

She lay at the Naval Supply Depot, San Pedro, California, until sold on 22 July 1953 to Nathan Cohen and Son, Inc., of Los Angeles, California. The veteran of service in the United States Navy, as well as of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, was scrapped soon thereafter.