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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Prairie (AD-15)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Delta - Whiskey
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (4) - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Defense Service Medal - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (3)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2-Persian Gulf) - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Dixie Class Destroyer Tender:
  • Laid down, 7 December 1938, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.
  • Launched, 9 December 1939
  • Commissioned USS Prairie (AD-15), 5 August 1940, CAPT. J. B. W. Waller in command
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 26 March 1993
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Title transfer to MARAD, 1 April 1993
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 2 April 2 1993 (some sources indicate 6 April 1993) to "Nishant Import & Export" of the United Arab Emirates for $960,000. Towed to India in April 1993 and scrapped
  • USS Prairie earned one campaign star for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 16,500 t.
    Length 530' 6"
    Beam 73' 4"
    Draft 24' 5"
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement 1,698
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    four single 40mm AA gun mounts
    Aft two 5"/38 mounts and all 40mm gun mounts later removed, and helicopter platform added
    Propulsion steam turbines, twin shafts
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Prairie 68k Broadside view of Prairie (AD-15) after launching at New York Shipbuilding Corp, Camden, N.J., 9 December 1939. The ship beyond Prairie is probably USS Dixie (AD-14) fitting out at the yard.
    New York Shipbuilding Corp photo.    		 David Buell
    Prairie 121k USS Prairie (AD-15) bow view, port side, Philadelphia Navy Yard, 27 January 1940
    US Navy photo    		 Capt. Jerry Mason USN
    Prairie 48k USS Prairie (AD-15) at anchor, circa 1943, location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1960.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Prairie 36k USS Prairie (AD-15), underway, date and location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Prairie 51k USS Prairie (AD-15) underway, date and location unknown.
    ©Marine Photos, San Diego, CA.    		 Mike Smolinski
    Prairie 49k USS Prairie (AD-15) underway, date and location unknown. Louis Drinovsky
    Prairie 89k USS Prairie (AD-15) at anchor tending five destroyers alongside. From inboard to outboard:
    USS O'Hare (DD-899)
    USS John R. Craig (DD-885)
    USS Perkins (DD-877)
    USS Floyd B. Parks (DD-884) and
    USS Ross (DD-563)
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1954    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Morton 60k USS Prairie (AD-15) moored to a buoy at San Diego, CA., with USS Wiltsie (DD-716) and USS Morton (DD-948) alongside, November 1960. Robert Schultz ETC(SW) USN Ret.
    Prairie 67k USS Prairie (AD-15) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1967    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Prairie 47k USS Prairie (AD-15) underway, date and location unknown.
    ©Marine Photos, San Diego CA.    		 Mike Smolinski
    Prairie 53k USS Prairie (AD-15) underway off Point Loma as she exits San Diego Bay, date unknown.
    ©Marine Photos, San Diego CA.    		 Mike Smolinski
    Prairie 70k USS Prairie (AD-15) moored pierside at Pearl Harbor, 1967. Photo by Ramon Jackson
    Prairie 46k USS Prairie (AD-15) departing Pearl Harbor during her 1979 deployment.©Marine Photos, San Diego CA. Mike Smolinski
    Prairie 73k USS Prairie (AD-15) moored pierside at NAS Alameda in April 1980. Photo by Robert M. Cieri
    Prairie 68k USS Prairie (AD-15) moored pierside at NAS Alameda in April 1980. Photo by Robert M. Cieri
    Prairie 53k USS Prairie (AD-15) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1984    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Prairie 197k USS Prairie (AD-15) underway, date and location unknown. Photo caption reads: "Destroyer tender USS Prairie (AD 15) is still going strong after nearly a half-century of distinguished service to the fleet. Commissioned in 1940, Prairie celebrates its 48th birthday in August. It is the oldest Navy ship on continuous active duty."
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1988    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Prairie 66k USS Prairie (AD-15) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, November 1989    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Prairie 88k USS Prairie (AD-15) underway, 25 April 1962, location unknown, Note the private automobiles on the helicopter flight deck.
    US Navy photo    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Prairie 130k USS Prairie (AD-15) moored pierside at NavSta San Diego, CA. with USS Hull (DD-945) alongside, February 1992. Larry Lee
    Prairie 81k USS Prairie (AD-15) moored pierside at NavSta San Diego, CA. with USS Hull (DD-945) alongside, February 1992. Larry Lee
    Prairie 60k USS Prairie (AD-15) underway, date and location unknown. Richard Mill BMCS USN Ret.
    Prairie 57k USS Prairie (AD-15) moored at Naval Station Long Beach, 26 March 1993, decked out in red white and blue bunting ready for decommissioning after 50 years of service. The "Don`t Treat on Me" flag flying from the vessel`s starboard yardarm signifies that USS Prairie was the oldest ship in naval service at that time. Mike Smolinski
    USS Prairie (AD-15) Memorabilia
    Prairie

    An early USS Prairie.
    Base engraved May-27-1942.
    Courtesy Ed Velasquez.    		 Prairie

    Ships patch    		 Prairie


    Welcome Aboard pamphlet - 1983
    Contributed by Russ Padden,
    Courtesy Don Scott YNCS USN Ret.    		 Prairie
    Ships patch
    commemorating
    fifty years service to the fleet.
    Contributed by
    Mike Smolinski
    View the USS Prairie (AD-15)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Additional Information
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 9 November 2007