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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193)

Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Sierra - Delta NWSD

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Unit Commendation (3)
Bottom Row - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (4) - Southwest Asia Service Medal

Henry J. Kaiser Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 7 August 1986, at Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, LA.

Launched, 2 October 1987

Placed in service with MSC as USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193), 13 September 1988

Walter S. Diehl is part of the MSC Naval Auxiliary Force, MSC Far East

Specifications:
Displacement 9,500 t.(lt) 42,382 t.(fl)
Length 677'
Beam 97' 5"
Draft 35' (max.)
Cargo Capacity 178,000-bbls
Speed 20 kts.
Complement

Civilian, 18 Officers, 64 Merchant Seamen

Navy, 1 Officer, 20 Enlisted
Aircraft helicopter platform only
Propulsion two medium speed Colt-Pielstick PC4-2/2 10V-570 diesel engines, twin shafts, 16,000 hp per shaft

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
35k	Namesake Captain Walter S. Diehl was a pioneer of aerodynamics and aircraft design. From 1918 until his retirement in 1951, he directed the Navy's work in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. He was responsible for the funding, programs, and facilities of the Aerodynamics Laboratory. The author of the authoritative "Engineering Aerodynamics," he actively participated in and strongly influenced continuing advances in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. Walter Diehl is credited with initiating action that led to establishment of the David W. Taylor Model Basin at Carderock, Maryland, the Aircraft Research Station at Chincoteague, Virginia, and the Navy's test flight unit at the Naval Air Station, Anacostia, D. C., which later developed into the U.S. Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent, Maryland.	Bill Gonyo
109k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) underway in the Arabian Gulf, 29 April 1999 with USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and USS Chancellorsville (CG-62)** as they prepare to make their approach for an underway replenishment with USNS Walter S. Diehl. USS Kitty Hawk and her battle group were participating in Operation Southern Watch. US Navy photo # 990429-N-0226M-003 by Chief Photographer's Mate (AW/SW) Mahlon K. Miller	Navy Newsstand web site
84k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193)**, underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
82k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193)**, underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	MSC web site
115k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) refueling USS O'Brien (DD-975)** while in the Persian Gulf, circa 1990-91	.
90k	*USS O'Brien* (DD-975) breaks away from USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193)** after completing her refueling while in the Persian Gulf, circa 1990-91	.
93k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) pulls alongside USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)** to conduct a connected replenishment at sea (CONREP). USS Truman was on station in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. US Navy photo # 010107-N-1058W-001 by PH3 Dwain Willis, from the Navy Newsstand	Bill Gonyo
48k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) conducting a simultaneous replenishment at sea (RAS) with the guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70) (left) and the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67)** (right), 19 June 2002. US Navy photo	Navy News web site
36k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO 193) during a replenishment, 19 June 2002, with USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), seen from USS Hue City (CG-66)*. Operation Enduring Freedom*.	Photo by LT Steve Dundas, CHC USNR
1527k	The Spruance-class destroyer *USS Cushing* (DD-985)'s Commanding Officer, Commander Daniel Weed, observes an underway replenishment (UNREP) with USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193). The Cushing** was on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. US Navy photo # 020626-N-4374S-008 ARABIAN SEA (26 June 2002) by PH2 Michael Sandberg.	Robert M. Cieri
50k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193)** underway, 16 January 2003, location unknown. US Navy photo # 030116-N-2385-R-003	Steven A. Cardali
95k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) provides fuel and supplies to the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89) and aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) during a replenishment at sea (RAS) evolution in the Persian Gulf, 14 May 2005, while MSC combat stores ship USNS Spica (T-AFS-9) steams alongside using helicopters to conduct a vertical replenishment (VERTREP). The Carl Vinson** Carrier Strike Group was deployed conducting operations in support of multi-national forces in Iraq and maritime security operations in order to set the conditions for security and stability in the region. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier would end this deployment with a homeport shift to Norfolk, Va., to commence a three-year refuel and complex overhaul. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Dusty Howell (# 050514-N-3241H-002).	USN
658k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) conducts an underway replenishment with the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) while under way in the South China Sea. Essex** is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group and serves as the flagship for CTF 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force commander.US Navy photo # 071124-N-0913B-021 (24 November 2007) by MCSN Andrew Brantley.	Robert M. Cieri
265k	Boxes filled with supplies and mail are transported over wires from *USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) to the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA-1)** during a replenishment-at-sea. USS Tarawa and embarked *11th Marine Expeditionary Unit* are on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations and the global war on terrorism. US Navy photo # 071202-N-4774B-090 Andaman Sea (Dec. 2, 2007) by MC3 Daniel A. Barker.	Lee Wahler
239k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) conducts a replenishment at sea with USS Essex (LHD-2) while underway in the South China Sea, 8 May 2008. Essex is the lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. expeditionary strike group and was participating in Cobra Gold 2008, a military exercise centered around a humanitarian assistance mission. The amphibious assault ship and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Juneau (LPD-10), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LPD-49) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89)** are moving to the Andaman Sea off the coast of Burma for potential humanitarian assistance operations in the wake of cyclone Nargis. US Navy photo # 080509-N-1778P-054 SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 9, 2008) by MC2 Drae Parker.	Lee Wahler
975k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) conducts a replenishment at sea with USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) and USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4)*. US Navy photo # 091023-N-5716H-557 PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 23, 2009)* by MC2 Josh Huebner.	Lee Wahler
793k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) conducts a replenishment at sea with USS Mustin (DDG-89). Mustin** is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON-15) and is permanently forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. US Navy photo # 100619-N-2562W-005 PHILIPPINE SEA (June 19, 2010) by IS1 Benjamin Wooldridge.	Lee Wahler
1093k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) transits alongside the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73)** for a replenishment at sea. George Washington, the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, is underway helping to ensure security and stability in the western Pacific Ocean. US Navy photo # 100809-N-6720T-004 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 9, 2010) by MC3 Adam K. Thomas.	Lee Wahler
552k	*USNS Walter S. Diehl* (T-AO-193) refuels the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) during a refueling at sea. Boxer** is the flagship of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group deployed with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU). US Navy photo # 110324-N-GW695-142 INDIAN OCEAN (March 24, 2011) by MC3 Stephen M. Votaw.	Lee Wahler
695k	GM2 Nelson Sanchez shoots a shot-line from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer *USS Wayne E. Meyer* (DDG-108) to USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193). The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) transits alongside Walter S. Diehl on the far side. Wayne E. Meyer** is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations. US Navy photo # 111020-N-VH839-014 GULF OF THAILAND (Oct. 20, 2011) by MC3 Joshua Keim.	Lee Wahler
1531k	Sailors man the fuel transfer station aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer *USS Wayne E. Meyer* (DDG-108) during a replenishment at sea with USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO-193). Note the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) transiting on the far side of Walter S. Diehl*. US Navy photo # 111020-N-VH839-034 GULF OF THAILAND (Oct. 20, 2011)* by MC3 Joshua Keim.	Lee Wahler