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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Wichita (AOR-1)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Papa - Victor
NHPV

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (5)
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Persian Gulf)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (4) - Humanitarian Service Medal (Boat People) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Wichita Class Replenishment Oiler:

Laid down, 16 June 1966, at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA.

Launched, 16 March 1968

Commissioned USS Wichita (AOR-1), 7 June 1969

During the Vietnam War USS Wichita (AOR-1) participated in the following campaigns:

**Vietnam War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII 21 to 29-July 1970 7 to 15 August 1970 4 to 17 September 1970 11 to 24 October 1970 3 to 18 November 1970 29 November to 17 December 1970 4 to 8 January 1971	Consolidation II 10 to 13 January 1972 3 to 6 February 1972 12 to 23 February 1972 7 to 10 March 1972
Consolidation I 30 August to 16 September 1971 26 September to 28 October 1971 4 to 23 November 1971 30 November 1971	Vietnam Ceasefire 11 August to 1 September 1972 7 to 23 September 1972 2 to 24 October 1972 6 to 19 November 1972 10 to 22 December 1972 29 December 1972 to 26 January 1973 1 to 3 February 1973

Decommissioned, 12 March 1993

Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 15 February 1995

Title transfer to MARAD, 18 December 1998

Current Disposition, on historical review hold

USS Wichita earned four campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Specifications:
Displacement 14,048 t.(lt) 39,790 t.(fl)
Length 659'
Beam 96'
Draft 37' (max.)
Speed 20 kts.
Complement

Officers 34

Enlisted 463
Armament

two Phalanx Close-In-Weapons System (CIWS)

Sparrow Missile System (NSSMS)
Aircraft two CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters
Propulsion

two steam turbines

three boilers

twin propellers, 32,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
	97k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** launching at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA., 16 March 1968. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, December 1968.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	138k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** tests her wash down system while underway during builders trials. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1969.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	70k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1) and USS Kilauea (AE-26)** exchange provisions during a training exercise, date and place unknown.. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1970.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	101k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1) refueling USS Saratoga (CV-60) and one of the carrier's escorts while in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of Vietnam in 1972. When the Saratoga finished fueling, the lines were let loose and the Saratoga rooster call came over the PA system. The Wichita** replied with Glenn Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" as she disappeared from view. A class act response.	Photo and comments by John C. Driskill PH3 USS Saratoga
	86k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo
	86k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo
	50k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo
	59k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1) moored starboard side to, at NAS North Island**, circa 1975. US Navy photo
	81k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo
	58k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo
	44k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1) replenishing USS Horne (CG-30)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo
	62k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** standing out of San Diego Bay, 1977.	Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	62k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** standing out of Long Beach, CA. 1977	Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	72k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** departing NAS Alameda, CA., 12 February 1982.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	115k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1) during an underway replenishment evolution with USS Sterett (CG-31)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1984.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	70k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1984.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	83k	Aerial view of *USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from DANFS.	Robert Hurst
	57k	*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from the collections of the US Navy Memorial.	Stan Svec
MARAD Suisun Bay Group Reserve Fleet
	171k	Ex-*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** laid up in reserve in the Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. US Maritime Administration photos	Ron Reeves
	242k		Ron Reeves
	51k	Interior views of Ex-*USS Wichita* (AOR-1)** while laid up in reserve at the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., 16 February 2010	Photos by Michael McDermott
	41k
	66k

Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Bill Jerome	Contributed by Kevin Dorning

For more photos and information about USS Wichita, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
U.S. Navy Oilers
Commanding Officers

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

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 25 January 2013