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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Patches Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Zelima (AF-49)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Yankee - Zulu
NCYZ
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Charity (P)apa - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Second Row - Korean Service Medal (1)- Armed Forces Service Medal (Korea, Quemoy-Matsu, Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (5)
Third Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)


Alstede Class Stores Ship:
  • Laid down, 5 December 1944, as SS Golden Rocket, a Maritime Commission type (R2-S-BV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1212), at Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, CA.
  • Launched, 2 March 1945
  • Delivered to the War Shipping Administration, 16 July 1945
  • Operated by United Fruit Co. under contract to the WSA
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission and acquired by the Navy in the summer of 1946
  • Converted to a Provisions Store Ship, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Commissioned USS Zelima (AF-49), 27 July 1946, CDR. Earl H. Pope, USN (28), in command
  • During the Korean War USS Zelima (AF-49) participated in the following campaign:

    Korean War Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    First UN Counter Offensive
    21 to 23 February 1951

  • During the Vietnam War USS Zelima (AF-49) participated in the following campaigns:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    24 to 25 April 1963
    16 to 30 September 1964
    7 to 11 October 1964
    24 to 25 October 1964
    22 to 28 June 1965
    Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase V
    20 October to 1 November 1968
    Vietnam Defense Campaign
    6 to 14 July 1965
    31 July to 8 August 1965
    15 to 22 and 26 to 30 August 1965
    24 to 25 October 1965
    Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 to 5 November 1968
    20 November to 2 December 1968
    Vietnam Counteroffensive
    26 January to 7 February 1966
    13 to 20 February 1966
    6 to 12 March 1966
    10 to 19 July 1966
    29 July to 4 August 1966
    17 to 24 August 1966
    Vietnam CounteroffensiveTet 69/ Counteroffensive
    21 May to 3 June 1969

  • Decommissioned 30 April 1970, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Transferred to MARAD custody, 3 June 1970, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Title transferred to MARAD, 1 September 1971
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1976
  • USS Zelima earned one battle star for Korean War service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Final Disposition, sold by MARAD, 25 November 1981, to Levin Metals Corp. (fishing)
    Specifications:
    Displacement 15,500 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 28'
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 292
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion cross-compound turbine, single propeller

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Zelima 51k USS Zelima (AF-49) under way, date and location unknown.
    ©Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA.
    Mike Smolinski
    Zelima 88k USS Zelima (AF-49) under way, date and location unknown. Courtesy Lyle Hildebrand USS Vega web site
    Zelima 172k USS Zelima (AF-49) moored pierside at NSD Oakland, CA., 14 December 1950.
    Photo by LTC Kingston M Winget US Army Ret.
    LTC Kingston Winget II US Army Ret.
    Zelima 256k USS Zelima (AF-49) crewmembers and stevedores secure a hatch cover prior to departing NSD Oakland, CA., 14 December 1950.
    Photo by LT Colonel Kingston M Winget US Army Ret.
    LT Colonel Kingston Winget II US Army Ret.
    Zelima 74k USS Zelima (AF-49) moored, NavSta Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA., circa 1952-53 From the collection of CAPT. T.C. Edrington III PhD, USN - courtesy of his daughter Kyra Larn Edrington
    Zelima 34k USS Zelima (AF-49) ships officers . Photo taken on board Zelima while she was moored at NavSta Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA., circa 1952-53. Cdr T.C. Edrington, the Commanding Officer at that time, is the father of Tom Edrington, the contributor of this photo, the Zelima photo, the Christmas 1953 wardroom menu, Christmas card. From the collection of Capt. T.C. Edrington III PhD, USN - courtesy of his daughter Kyra Larn Edrington
    Zelima 276k USS Zelima (AF-49) steams alongside USS Boxer (CVA-21) for an underway replenishment, 16 November 1955. Note the signs hanging from her superstructure. US National Museum of the US Navy
    Zelima 125k USS Zelima (AF-49) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, April 1963.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Zelima 141k USS Zelima (AF-49) under way during a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with USS Sproston (DD-577) and USS Nicholas (DD-449), date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Zelima 39k USS Zelima (AF-49) moored pierside, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Zelima 77k USS Zelima (AF-49) under way, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Zelima 23k USS Zelima (AF-49) under way off Vietnam, circa, 1960s. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Basilone 48k USS Zelima (AF-49) replenishes the destroyer USS Basilone (DD-824) and the attack carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) in the Western Pacific, circa first half of 1966. Robert Hurst
    Zelima
    09064935
    272K USS Zelima (AF-49) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Piedmont
    09031769
    209k USS Piedmont (AD-17) docked at Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippines in 1969 with USS Vega (AF-59) and USS Zelima (AF-49) alongside.
    U.S. Navy photo from the USS Piedmont (AD-17) 1969 cruise book
    Robert Hurst

    USS Zelima (AF-49)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Pope, Earl Hallett, USN (USNA 1928)27 July 1946 - 1947
    02LCDR. Witherow Jr., Joseph, USN (USNA 1932)1947 -  
    03CDR. Lewis, Porter, USN, (USNA 1932) :RADM1950 - March 1952
    04CDR. Bourke, Robert Emmet, USN (USNA 1934)March 1952 -  
    05CDR. Edington III, Thomas Craighead, USN (USNA 1934)1953 - 1954
    06CAPT. Cochran, Dale Eugene, USN (USNA 1935)1954 - 1956
    07CAPT. Graff, Victor Bernard, USN (USNA 1938)1956 - 29 April 1958
    08CDR. Laliberte, Joseph Henry, USN29 April 1958 - 1959
    09CDR. Kuhn Jr., Martin, USN1959 - 20 October 1961
    10CAPT. Peterson, Dale Killdeer (Pete), USN20 October 1961 - 11 January 1963
    11CAPT. Edwards, Eldon Leo, USN11 January 1963 - 3 January 1964
    12CAPT. Carmody, Martin Doan (Red), USN :RADM3 January 1964 - 8 January 1965
    13CAPT. Johnston Jr., Philip Devereaux, USN (USNA 1945)8 January 1965 - 20 January 1966
    14CAPT. Hodgson, Gordon Seymour, USN20 January 1966 - 2 February 1967
    15CAPT. Potter, John Richard, USN (USNA 1945)2 February 1967 - 3 July 1968
    16CAPT. Brozo, John Greiner, USN3 July 1968 - 30 April 1970
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Miscellaneous
    MARAD Vessel History Database
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 5 May 2023