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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 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
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • 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 34 Officers, 463 Enlisted
    Armament
    two Phalanx Close-In-Weapons System (CIWS)
    Sparrow Missile System (NSSMS)
    Aircraft two CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters
    Propulsion three boilers, two steam turbines, twin shafts, 32,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Wichita 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.
    Wichita 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.
    Wichita 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.
    Wichita 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
    Wichita 86k USS Wichita (AOR-1), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Wichita 86k USS Wichita (AOR-1), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Wichita 50k USS Wichita (AOR-1), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Wichita 59k USS Wichita (AOR-1) moored starboard side to, at NAS North Island, circa 1975.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Wichita 81k USS Wichita (AOR-1) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Wichita 58k USS Wichita (AOR-1), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Wichita 44k USS Wichita (AOR-1) replenishing USS Horne (CG-30), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Wichita 62k USS Wichita (AOR-1) standing out of San Diego Bay, 1977. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Wichita 62k USS Wichita (AOR-1) standing out of Long Beach, CA. 1977 Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Wichita 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.
    Wichita 70k USS Wichita (AOR-1) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1984.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Additional Ships Patches
    Wichita
    Contributed by Bill Jerome    		 Wichita
    Contributed by Kevin Dorning
    View the USS Wichita (AOR-1)
    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 22 February 2008