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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

T-APC-117 / T-AGS-35 Sgt. George D. Keathley


USNS George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) was transferred to Taiwan, renamed Chu Hwa (AGS-564)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top row - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Bottom Row - Korean Service Medal (9) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Sgt. Jonah E. Kelly Class Coastal Transport:
  • Laid down, 16 June 1944, as Alexander R. Nininger a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2247) at Walter Butler Shipbuilders Inc., Duluth, MN.
  • Launched, 7 December 1944
  • Renamed Acorn Knot in February 1945
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 30 March 1945 for operation by Grace Lines
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission and assigned to the Army Transportation Service, 28 July 1946
  • Renamed USAT Sgt. George D. Keathley in March 1949
  • Transferred to the US Navy, 1 July 1950
  • Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS)
  • Placed in service as USNS Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-APC-116)
  • Placed out of service, 11 December 1956
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River, N.Y
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 24 October 1957
  • Custody assigned to MARAD
  • Reacquired by the US Navy in December 1956
  • Converted to a Hydrographic Survey Ship at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA.
  • Placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35)
  • Placed out of service in December 1971
  • Transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) in March 1972, renamed Chu Hwa (AGS-564)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 April 1976
  • Struck from the Republic of China Naval Register in August 1988
  • Final Disposition, returned to US custody and disposed of as a target
  • Sgt. George D. Keathley was awarded nine campaign stars for her service during the Korean Conflict
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,366 t.(lt) 6,090 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 9"
    Beam 50' 4"
    Draft 17' 7"
    Speed 11.5 kts.
    Complement
    (APC) crew 148
    (AGS) unknown
    APC-Troop Accommodation 101
    Armament
    APC unknown
    AGS none
    Propulsion diesel, single propeller.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USNS Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-APC-117)
    Keathley 89k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-APC-117) in port, probably in Japan, January 1955. Photo taken by a Commander Naval Forces Far East Photographer.
    US Navy photo # NH 98932 from the Military Sealift Command collection at the Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Keathley 92k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-APC-117) in port, probably in Japan, January 1955. Photo taken by a Commander Naval Forces Far East Photographer.
    US Navy photo # NH 98933 from the Military Sealift Command collection at the Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    USNS Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35)
    Keathley 69k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., during the 1960s.
    US Navy photo # NH 98935 from the Military Sealift Command collection at the Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Keathley 32k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) moored, date and place unknown. Ramon Jackson
    Keathley 84k Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) moored inboard of Dutton (T-AGS-22), date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Carl R. Friberg Jr.,
    First Officer Sgt George E. Keathley
    ROCS Chu Hwa (AGS-564)
    Keathley 22k ex-Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) in Taiwanese service as Chu Hwa (AGS-564) Taiwan Navy Web Site
    Keathley 16k ex-Sgt. George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35) in Taiwanese service as Chu Hwa (AGS-564) Taiwan Navy Web Site
    View the Sgt George D. Keathley (T-AGS-35)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Oceanographer of the Navy
    Navy Survey Ships (AGS)
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