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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Prairie (AD-15)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Delta - Whiskey NEDW

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)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Defense Service Medal - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp)
Fourth Row - National Defense Service Medal (3) - Korea Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2-Persian Gulf)
Fifth Row - Vietnam Service Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Sixth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) - Republic of Korean War Service Medal (retroactive)

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. John B. W. Waller in command

During World War II Prairie was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

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 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

Specifications:
Displacement 18,000 t. (lim)
Length 530' 6"
Beam 73' 4"
Draft 24' 5"
Speed 19.6 kts (trial)

Complement

officer 123

enlisted 1,576

Armament

four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts

four single 40mm AA gun mounts

two 3pdr gun mounts

Aft two 5"/38 mounts and all 40mm gun mounts later removed, and helicopter platform added

Largest boom capacity 20 t.

Ship's Service Generators four 750Kw 450V A.C.

Fuel Capacity

NFSO 24,555 Bbls.

Diesel 2,705 Bbls.

Propulsion

two New York Shipbuilding Parsons-design steam turbines

four Babcock & Wilcox "A" (three drum expansion type) boilers 485psi 720°.

double De Laval Main Reduction Gear

two propellers, 11,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	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
	121k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** bow view, port side, Philadelphia Navy Yard, 27 January 1940 US Navy photo	Capt. Jerry Mason USN
	101k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** at the Boston Navy Yard. 17 October 1943, preparing to transfer to the Pacific. The ship was commissioned in 1940 with open mounts in number 2 and 3 positions, and splinter protection was soon fitted around all four 5"/38 mounts. Enclosed mounts were substituted and ther protective tubs removed after the ship was damaged by a pier fire at Argentia, Newfoundland in May 1942. USNaval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 94747 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command	Robert Hurst
	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.
	36k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)**, underway, date and location unknown.	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
	51k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown. ©Marine Photos, San Diego, CA.	Mike Smolinski
	49k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown.	Louis Drinovsky
AD 15 750-46, Navy Photo, 2/15/46	226k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) at Mare Island on 15 February 1946. The photo was taken from the USS General G. M. Randalll (AP-115) Note YD-33 forward of Prairie**.	Darryl Baker
AD 15 747-46, Navy Photo, 2/15/46	221k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) and the USS Haven (AH-12) at Mare Island on 19 February 1946. The photo was taken from the USS General G. M. Randalll (AP-115)**.	Darryl Baker
	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.
	117k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) with destroyers alongside on both her starboard and port sides, while moored in the harbor at Yokosuka, Japan, circa July-August 1959. USS Fletcher (DD-445) is the outboard ship on Prairie**'s port side.	Photo by Derick S. Hartshorn
	101k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) moored at Naval Base Yokosuka, Japan, fall 1959 with: USS Southerland (DDR-743), USS Samuel L. Moore (DD-747), USS Rowan (DD-782), and USS Gurke (DD-783)** alongside.	Photo by Derick S. Hartshorn
	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.
	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
	270k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) with USS Shields (DD-596), USS Agerholm (DD-826), USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786)** and an unidentified destroyer alongside, 20 August 1962, location unknown. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # 94750.	Ed Zajkowski
	67k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1967	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	47k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown. ©Marine Photos, San Diego CA.	Mike Smolinski
	53k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway off Point Loma as she exits San Diego Bay, date unknown. ©Marine Photos, San Diego CA.	Mike Smolinski
	70k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** moored pierside at Pearl Harbor, 1967.	Photo by Ramon Jackson
	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.
	46k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** departing Pearl Harbor during her 1979 deployment.©Marine Photos, San Diego CA.	Mike Smolinski
	73k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** moored pierside at NAS Alameda in April 1980.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	68k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** moored pierside at NAS Alameda in April 1980.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	130k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) moored pierside at NavSta San Diego, CA. with USS Hull (DD-945)** on the opposite side of the pier, probably in February 1982.	Larry Lee
	81k		Larry Lee
	53k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1984	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	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.
	60k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown.	Richard Mill BMCS USN Ret.
	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

For more photos and information about USS Prairie, see:
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
Memorabilia
Welcome Aboard pamphlet - 1983
Commanding Officers

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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Last Updated 7 June 2013