Snatch ARS-27
Snatch
(ARS-27: dp. 1,897; 1. 213'6"; b. 39'; dr. 14'4"; s.
14.8 k; cpl. 120; a. 4 40mm.; cl. Diver)
Snatch (ARS-27) was laid down on 28 September 1943 by the Basalt Rock Co., Napa Calif., launched on 8 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. S. B. Johnson; and commissioned on 11 December 1944.
Snatch conducted her shakedown cruise off San Diego and returned to San Francisco. She steamed from that port on 20 February 1945 for Manus, Admiralty Islands, towing YF's 622, 919, and 926. On 4 March, she ran into heavy seas which caused 919 and 926 to collide. YF-926 was taking water and down by the bow. The seas were still rough three days later so the salvage ship changed course for Kealakekna Bay, Hawaii. YF-926 sank on the 8th, the day before reaching port. Two days later, Snatch sailed to Pearl Harbor towing the remaining lighters.
Snatch steamed to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, on 17 March. From 5 to 9 April, she participated in salvage operations of SS Esso Washington which was grounded near the entrance of Eniwetok Passage. On the 14th, the ship steamed for Guam with a dredge and two barges in tow. En route, she was diverted to Tinian, Mariana Islands, arriving on 23 April. On 15 May, she sailed for Leyte Gulf, P.I., calling at Ulithi to take YF-606 and YF-lOO1 in tow.
Snatch operated in the Philippine Islands from 26 May to 30 December 1945 when she sailed for San Diego,Calif. She operated from there until 23 December 1946 when she was placed in reserve, out of commission, and berthed there. On 1 April 1967, her designation was changed to AGOR-18. Snatch was struck from the Navy list on 1 May 1970 and sold to S. S. Zee of Taiwan on 8 November 1971 for scrap.