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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinksi

USS Zelima (AF-49)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Yankee - Zulu
 NCYZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Second Row - Korean Service Medal (1)- Armed Forces Service Medal (3-Korea, 10-Quemoy-Matsu, 6-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 summer 1946
  • Converted to a Provisions Store Ship, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Commissioned USS Zelima (AF-49), 27 July 1946
  • 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:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    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 29 July to 4 August 1966
    17 to 24 August 1966     		Vietnam CounteroffensiveTet 69/ Counteroffensive
    21 May to 3 June 1969
    Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase V
    20 October to 1 November 1968     		 

  • Decommissioned in September 1969, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June1976
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by MARAD sale, fate unknown
  • USS Zelima earned one battle star for Korean War service and five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    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) underway, date and location unknown.
    ©Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA.    		 Mike Smolinski
    Zelima 88k USS Zelima (AF-49) underway, date and location unknown. Courtesy Lyle Hildebrand USS Vega web site
    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 82k USS Zelima (AF-49) alongside USS Boxer (CVA-21) for an underway replenishment. Note the signs hanging from her superstructure.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, May 1956.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Zelima 125k USS Zelima (AF-49) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, April 1963.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Miscellaneous items (Menus and Christmas Card)
    USS Zelima (AF-49)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    3CDR. Edington III, Thomas Craighead1953 - 1954
    4CAPT. Cochran, Dale Eugene1954 - 1956
    5CAPT. Graff, Victor Bernard1956 - 29 April 1958
    6CDR. Laliberte, Joseph Henry29 April 1958 - 1959
    7CDR. Kuhn Jr., Martin1959 - 1960
    8CAPT. Edwards, Eldon Leo11 January 1963 - 12 January 1964
    9CAPT. Carnody, Martin Doan (Red) :RADM13 January 1964 - January 1965
    10CAPT. Johnston, Philip D.January 1965 - January 1966
    11CAPT. Hodgson, Gordon S.January 1966 - 2 February 1967
    12CAPT. Potter, John R. (45)2 February 1967 - February 1968
    13CAPT. Brozo, John GreinerFebruary 1968 - 1969
    14CDR. Tredick, William Heulings (61)1969 - September 1969
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 17 September 2010