Pigeon III ASR-21

Pigeon III
(ASR-21: dp. 3,411 (f.); 1. 251'; b. 86'; dr. 19'; s. 15 k.;
cpl. 135; a. 2 3", 4 .50 cal. mg.; cl. Pigeon)

The third Pigeon (ASR-21) was laid down 17 July 1968 by the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co., Mobile, Ala.; launched 13 August 1969; sponsored by Mrs. Allen M. Shinn, wife of Vice Admiral Shinn, Cormnander Naval Air Force, U.S.Pacific Fleet.

Leader of a new class of submarine rescue ships designed to operate with the Navy's new deep submergence rescue vehicles, Pigeon will be the first seagoing catamaran warship built for the Navy since Robert Fulton's twin-hulled steam warsh~p Fulton was built at the close of the War of 1812. Her twin hull gives great stability for deep water operations and provides ample deck working space. She will be able to earry two deep submergence vehicles on her main deck. These craft will be capable of docking to a disabled submarine on the sea bottom, removing survivors and transporting them to the surface. Pigeon will also carry the McCann diving bell or rescue chamber which was used to rescue the survivors of submarine Squalus (SS-192) in 1939. Pigeon's mooring system will enable her to maintain a precise position over a disabled submarine during rescue operations.

Pigeon's rescue control center will use a 3-dimensional sonar system for continuous tracking of the rescue vehicle. During rescue operations it will serve as a floating command post with specialized communications equipment for contacting the disabled submarine and any other craft, planes or ships working with her. The submarine rescue capability of this ship will far exceed that of any previous submarine rescue system.

Pigeon is to be commissioned late in 1970.