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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AO-30 Chemung

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Foxtrot - Alpha - Quebec
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2) - Asiatic=Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal (4) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (9-Vietnam, 1-Taiwan Straits, 2-Quemoy-Matsu, 7-Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal (6) Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down (date unknown) as SS Esso Annapolis, a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A1) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 9) at Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 9 September 1939
  • Acquired by the Maritime Commission, 5 June 1941 from Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey
  • Commissioned USS Chemung (AO-30), 3 July 1941, CDR. E. T. Spellman in command
  • Decommissioned, 3 July 1950, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Recommissioned, 1 December 1950
  • Decommissioned, 18 September 1970, at San Diego, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register in May 1971
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration,31 March 1971, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 14 May 1971, to Levin Metals Corp.
  • Chemung received two battle stars for World War II service, four battle stars for Korean War service and six campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,470 t.(lt) 24,830 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 32' 4"
    Speed 18 kts.
    Complement 304
    Armament
    four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 146,000 barrels
    Propulsion geared turbines, twin screws. 30,400hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Chemung 58k Chemung (AO-30), date and place unknown. Auke Visserīs ESSO Tanker web site
    Chemung 122k Chemung (AO-30) refueling Alaska (CB-1), date and place unknown. Auke Visserīs ESSO Tanker web site
    Chemung/Steinaker 58k Chemung (AO-30) refueling Steinaker (DD-863) and Princeton (CV-37), April 1946 .
    Chemung 88k Broadside view of Chemung (AO-30) off Mare Island, 26 July 1957. Chemung undergoing repairs at Mare Island from 30 April until 31 July 1957.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 35825-7-57, 7/26/57.    		 Darryl Baker
    Chemung 105k Chemung (AO-30) underway refueling a carrier and destroyer.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1946    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Chemung 72k CDR George G Molumphy speaking, during ceremonies recommissioning Chemung (AO-30) for Korean War service, 1 December 1950, at San Diego, CA. Standing behind the speaker are (from left to right): Unidentified CDR, RADM Francis X McInerney, CAPT Frank T Sloat, CAPT Elmer P Abernethy, and RADM Wilder D Baker.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-427320, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Chemung 56k Chemung (AO-30) underway off the entrance to Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 1959-60 Photo by Capt. Don Bodron, USCG, Ret.
    Chemung 56k Chemung (AO-30) underway off the entrance to Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 1959-60 Photo by Capt. Don Bodron, USCG, Ret.
    Chemung 104k Chemung (AO-30) refuels Boyd (DD-544) in the Pacific Ocean, 11 April 1962.
    US Navy photo # USN 1060497, by Ph1 Bundy, USN.    		 David Buell
    Chemung 154k Chemung (AO-30) refueling Bennington (CVS-20), WestPac, mid-July 1964. Joseph Pires, USS Bennington Association & Web Site Historian).
    Chemung 75k Chemung (AO-30) underway during replenishment of an aircraft carrier, 1966 © Richard Leonhardt
    Chemung 17k Chemung (AO-30), off Danang, Vietnam, date unknown. Lynn Pickeral
    Brown Water LST
    USS Washtenaw County (LST-1166) web site
    Chemung 110k Chemung (AO-30) refueling Hooper (DE-1026) in rough seas, date unknown Don Scott, YNCS(SS), USN, Ret
    Chemung 83k Chemung (AO-30) decommissioning ceremony, San Diego, CA., 18 September 1970. The man at the far right in civilian clothing, wearing sunglasses was Mr. Butler's father, and a plank owner of the Chemung US Navy photo. Jack Butler
    View the Chemung (AO-30)
    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 Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 7 December 2007