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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Taluga (T-AO-62)
ex
USS Taluga (AO-62) (1944 - 1972)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Oscar - Sierra
NWOS
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Falter (U)niform - 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 - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 16 April 1945, Kerama Retto) - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (4) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Campaign Medal (6) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (12-WIA, 16 April 1945)

Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 23 December 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A3) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 728), at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 10 July 1944
  • Commissioned USS Taluga (AO-62), 25 August 1944, CDR. Hans M. Mikkelsen in command
  • During WWII USSTaluga was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Luzon operation
    Formosa attacks, 3 to 4, 9 and 15 January 1945
    Luzon attacks, 6 to 7 January 1945
    China Coast attacks, 12, and 16 January 1945
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    5th and 3d Fleet raids in support of Okinawa Gunto, 16 March to 2 June 1945
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 15 to 25 February 1945
    3rd Fleet operations against Japan 10 to 14 July 1945

  • USS Taluga was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal

    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 September 1945 to 1 February 19462 September 1945 to 1 February 1946
    10 July to 10 August 194610 July to 10 August 1946
    3 to 9 March 194716 January to 2 February 1953
    15 to 22 July 194814 December 1953 to 14 January 1954
    26 to 31 August 19482 to 3 February 1955

  • During the Korean War USS Taluga participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    9 to 15 and 25 to 31 October 1951
    16 to 25 November 1951
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    20 to 29 October 1952
    4 to 10 and 23 to 30 November 1952
    1 December 1952
    Second Korean Winter
    13 to 26 December 1951
    7 to 25 January 1952
    2 to 10 February 1952
    Third Korean Winter
    16 to 22 December 1952
    26 February to 5 March 1953
    18 to 27 March 1953
    9 to 17 April 1953

  • During the Vietnam War USS Taluga participated in the following campaigns:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    3 to 5 March 1962
    10 to 12 March 1962
    20 to 26 April 1962
    16 to 31 March 1965
    3 to 14 April 1965
    17 to 25 April 1965
    28 April to 8 May 1965
    18 to 29 May 1965
    9 to 21 June 1965
    1 to 3 July 1965
    Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    3 to 23 May 1970
    25 May to 3 June 1970
    8 to 11 June 1970
    Vietnam Defense
    4 to 7, 10 to 16 and 20 to 27 July 1965
    2 to 10 August 1965
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    11 to 20 and 23 to 30 July 1970
    8 to 16 August 1970
    24 August to 2 September 1970
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    15 to 22 June 1969
    1 July 1969
    Consolidation I
    21 August to 19 September 1971
    Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    24 to 31 March 1970
    6 to 13 and 21 to 29 April 1970
     

  • Decommissioned, 4 May 1972, at Long Beach, CA.
  • Turned over to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) and placed in service as USNS Taluga (T-AO-62)
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 21 February 1992
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Title transfer to MARAD, 1 May 1999
  • USS Taluga earned four battle stars for World War II service, four battle stars for Korean War service the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with six campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet, 1 July 2010
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,236 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 32'
    Speed 18.3 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 22
    Enlisted 291
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity
    NSFO - 123,700 Bbls
    Gasoline - 788,000 Gals
    Fuel Capacity 15,000 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Bethlehem Steel geared turbines
    four Foster and Wheeler K-type boilers, 450psi 750°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gear
    Ship's Service Generators
    two turbo-drive 400Kw 230V A.C.
    one Diesel-drive 150Kw 230V A.C.
    twin propellers, 13,500shp

    Robert Hurst
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Taluga (AO-62)
    Taluga 298k
    Namesake
    Taluga, a river in Liberty County Florida. The Taluga River once was considered a tributary of the Ochlockonee River, but the entire stretch may now be referred to as the Ochlockonee River on modern maps.
    Tommy R. Trampp SK3USS Taluga
    Young 266k USS Cassin Young (DD-793) alongside USS Taluga (AO-62) during an underway replenishment, 20 February 1945. Taluga's Service Force was refueling ships of a carrier task group off Iwo Jima.
    Photo from the Ltjg. Lloyd Lavack collection of USS Taluga.
    Tommy Trampp
    Taluga
    091906212
    145k Kamikaze Suicide Plane Attack on USS Taluga (AO-62), 16 April 1945.
    091906212 - 091906213 - 091906214 Clearing away the wreckage of the suicide plane and pilots remains.
    091906215 - Suicide planes propeller imbedded in catwalk
    091906216 - part of the planes wing stuck in the ship's mast
    Tommy R. Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga
    091906213
    172k
    Taluga
    091906214
    92k
    Taluga
    091906215
    211k
    Taluga
    091906216
    94k
    Taluga 122k USS Taluga (AO-62) refueling USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2).
    US Navy photo
    .
    Taluga 142k USS Taluga (AO-62) refueling USS Oriskany (CVA-34) and USS Charles P. Cecil (DD-835).
    US Navy photo
     
    Taluga 265k USS Taluga (AO-62) at anchor, circa 1951, location unknown. Derrick S. Hartshorn, courtesy LTjg. Jerome Bolick USN Ret.
    Taluga 130k USS Taluga (AO-62) underway near Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 5 June 1952.
    US National Archives at Riverside Photo # LB060552-16701
    Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
    Taluga 124k Overhead view of USS Taluga (AO-62) refueling an unidentified Essex class aircraft carrier and destroyer.
    US Navy photo
    Edward H. Cleary
    Taluga 85k USS Taluga (AO-62) refueling Seventh Fleet ships during the second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958. Taluga worked out of Kaohsiung, Taiwan during this period.. Tommy R. Trampp SK3USS Taluga
    Taluga 121k USS Taluga (AO-62) under way, circa 1957 to 1961, location unknown. Tommy R. Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Kawishiwi 34k USS Taluga (AO-62), bottom USS Kawishiwi (AO-146), center, and USS Hassayampa (AO-145) top, underway off the Philippines in 1957.
    US Navy photo # 80-G-1013403
    Robert Hurst
    Taluga 182k USS Taluga (AO-62) under way, 16 September 1958. location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    David Upton
    Manatee 293k USS Taluga (AO-62) and USS Manatee (AO-58) moored at Naval Station Pearl Harbor in 1960. Image is from the movie "The Wackiest Ship in the Army" Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga 219k USS Taluga (AO-62) under way alongside an unidentified aircraft carrier in rough seas, circa 1962 to 1973, probably off the coast of North or South Vietnam. Tommy R. Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    CVA-43
    0243aj
    321k USS Taluga (AO-62) refueling USS Buchanan (DDG-14) and USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), possibly in the South China Sea on 3 July 1965.
    Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 15 was aboard. Parked aft on the flight deck, left to right, are: an A-4E Skyhawk from Attack Squadron (VA) 155 "Silver Foxes," two F-8D Crusaders from Fighter Squadron (VF) 154 "Black Knights," and an A-4C Skyhawk from VA-153 "Blue Tail Flies." (0243aj)
    O.W. Kirk Kuykendall, IC3, USS Buchanan,
    USS Oriskany, 1971-73
    CVA-43 410k
    Taluga 133k
    Taluga 120k
    Taluga 232k USS Taluga (AO-52) replenishes the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) and the guided missile frigate USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25), circa 1966. The Big E, with assigned Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9), was deployed to Vietnam from 19 November 1966 to 6 July 1967.
    US Navy "All Hands" magazine April 1967, p. 15
    Taluga 304k USS Taluga (AO-62) refueling USS Hancock (CVA-19) and an unidentified destroyer off the coast of Japan in February 1967. Note the Soviet trawler (spy ship) in the distance. Photo by Charles "Bud" Dehnert USS Hancock
    Taluga 273k
    Taluga 62k USS Taluga (AO-62) moored outboard of another AO at Naval Base Subic Bay, Philippines Islands in 1967.
    Photo taken from USS Bausell (DD-845)
    Photo by Lee Noland STGC, USN Ret. USS Bausell.
    Taluga 316k Photo of the bridge area of USS Taluga (AO-62) while alongside USS Evans (DE-1023) during a refueling evolution during a WESTPAC deployment in April 1967. Photo by Darryl Baker
    Taluga 350k USS Taluga (AO-62)drops away after refueling USS Evans (DE-1023) during a WESTPAC deployment in April 1967. Photo taken from USS Evans. Photo by Darryl Baker
    Taluga 345k USCGC Minnetonka (WHEC-67) going alongside USS Taluga (AO-62) for refueling off the coast of South Vietnam, 1968. Photos by Keith Barker, CDR, USCG (Ret.), USCGC Minnetonka
    Taluga 443k
    Taluga 445k
    Neches 60 USS Neches (AO-47), USS Passumpsic (AO-107) and USS Taluga (AO-62) steam together in 1968, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Robert Hurst
    Taluga 117k USS Taluga (AO-62) coming alongside USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1965 to 1971. Tommy R. Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga
    0919062141
    85k USS Taluga (AO-62) steams alongside HMAS Brisbane (D-41) while preparing for an UNREP in 1971.
    Photo by Bob Westthorp RAN 1964-1988.
    Bob Canchola
    Taluga 111k USS Taluga (AO-62) at anchor, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga 549k USS Taluga (AO-62) refueling USS Bayfield (APA-33) in WestPac, date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
    Taluga 107k USS Taluga (AO-62) under way, circa 1969, location unknown.
    US Navy photo by PH 1 Allen Choy
    Robert Hurst
    Taluga 58k Post card commemorating USS Taluga (AO-62)'s almost 28 years of continuous commissioned service. Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga 118k USS Taluga (AO-62) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    USNS Taluga (T-AO-62)
    Taluga 38k USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) underway, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga 49k USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) under way at San Diego, CA. with the assistance of tugs. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Vancouver 536k USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) refueling USS Vancouver (LPD-2) in the Gulf of Siam during Operation Eagle Pull in March 1975. Photo by Richard Spring, CMDCM (SW/AW) USN Ret.
    Taluga 436k USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) alongside USS Ranger (CVA-61) during an underway replenishment at sea, circa 21 February - 22 September 1979.
    US Navy photo from USS Ranger 1979 Cruisebook.
    John Slaughter, Webmaster, USS Ranger History & Memorial Site
    Taluga 58k USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) moored at the Foot of Broadway Pier, San Diego, CA. in 1980 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Taluga 381k Stern view of USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) moored pierside, at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, HI., November 1981. Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Taluga 250k USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) moored pierside, at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, HI., November 1981. Photo by Chris Howell
    Taluga 340k USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) moored pierside, at Naval Supply Center Pearl Harbor, HI., January 1984. Ron Reeves
    MARAD
    Taluga 218k Stern view of ex-USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) moored in row F, National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. in June 2010
    Photo by Mike Holmes.
    Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga 224k Bow view of ex-USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) moored in row F, National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
    MARAD photo
    Ron Reeves
    Taluga 123k Ex-USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) drydocked at Pier 70, BAE Systems’ San Francisco Ship Repair facility in June 2010.
    Photo by Mike Holmes
    Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga 184k Ex-USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) leaving BAE Systems’ San Francisco Ship Repair under tow by the tug Scorpius enroute to the breakers yard, ESCO Marine at Brownsville, TX., 26 July 2010.
    Photo by Mark VanDenBerg.
    Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga 330k Ex-USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) in the Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal, 21 August 2010 while enroute to Brownsville, TX. from San Francisco, CA.
    Photo by Bud Rothgeb.
    Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga 117k Ex-USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) off of South Padre Island, TX., 31 August 2010, while under tow by the tug Eileen McAllister.
    Photo by Bud Rothgeb and Bob Huggins.
    Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga
    Taluga 1965k Ex-USNS Taluga (T-AO-62) at the end of her last journey, moored at ESCO Marine, Brownsville, Tx. awaiting dismantling, 2 September 2010.
    Photo by Bob Huggins, Wally Guterraz and Bud Rothgeb.
    Tommy Trampp SK3 USS Taluga

    Additional Ships Patches and Memorabilia
    Taluga
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp SK3
    USS Taluga 1957-61
    Taluga
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp SK3
    USS Taluga 1957-61
    Taluga
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Taluga
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    Taluga
    Shoulder patch and ashtray
    presented to refueled ships 1957-61
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp SK3
    USS Taluga
    Taluga
    1970 WestPac Vietnam Patch
    Contributed by Tommy Trampp SK3
    USS Taluga
    Taluga

    Contributed by Tommy Trampp SK3
    USS Taluga


    For more photos and information about USS Taluga, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • MARAD Vessel History Database
  • Photo collection of Ltjg Lloyd LaVack USS Taluga
  • Postal Covers related to the ship

  • Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Mikkelsen, Hans Michael25 August 1944 - 7 December 1945
    02CDR. Koch, George Phillip, USN7 December 1945 - 13 January 1946
    03CDR. Llanso, Francisco J.13 January 1946 - 21 February 1946
    04CAPT. Bowling Jr., Jack French21 February 1946 - 1946
    05CAPT. Bowman, Roscoe Leroy, USN (USNA 1921A)1946 - March 1947
    06CAPT. Raring, George Louis, USN (USNA 1932)March 1947 - 1948
    08CAPT. Brady, Parke Howle, USN (USNA 1930) :RADM1949 - 29 April 1950
    09CAPT. Thompson, Wells :RADM29 April 1950 - 1951
    10CDR. Seagroves, Everett Edgar1951 - September 1952
    11CDR. Pugh, Donald EllsworthSeptember 1952 - 1954
    12CAPT. Roullard, George Dee1954 -1956
    13CAPT. Whiting, George Harris, USN (USNA 1936)1956 - 18 August 1958
    14CAPT. Kitch, William Lawrence, USN (USNA 1938)23 July 1959 - January 1960
    15CAPT. Putman, Charles Francis, USN (USNA 1937)January 1960 - July 1960
    16CAPT. Jackson, Henry Smith, USN (USNA 1938)July 1960 - 1961
    17CAPT. Taylor, Thomas Hart, USN (USNA 1940)1961 - 26 July 1962
    18CAPT. Hardy, John Ingolf, USN (USNA 1940)26 July 1962 - 1 August 1963
    19CAPT. Maher, David Balfour, USN (USNA 1943)1 August 1963 - 31 July 1964
    20CAPT. Colleran, Gerard Francis, USN (USN 1943)31 July 1964 - 28 September 1965
    21CAPT. White, Edward Charles, USN (USNA 1945)28 September 1965 - 27 September 1966
    22CAPT. Cooper, Parker Cleeve, USN27 September 1966 - 14 August 1967
    23CAPT. Kodis, Anthony James14 August 1967 - 23 December 1968
    24CAPT. Boyd, Edward Ayres, USN :RADM23 December 1968 - 1 May 1970
    25CAPT. Grause, Jerome Edward, USN1 May 1970 - 1971
    26CAPT. Caldwell Jr., Robert Hugh, USN (USNA 1936)1971 - 1971
    27CDR. Ruhle, Robert Carl1971 - 4 May 1972
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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    Last Updated 26 March 2021