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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

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
  • USS Wichita earned four campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Towed to Bremerton Naval Shipyard, 13 March, 1993 for stripping
  • Departed, 4 April 1993, Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet
  • Laid up, 7 April 1993, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., Row G, Berth 7
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 February 1995
  • Title transfer to MARAD, 18 December 1998
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 4 February 2013, to International Shipbreaking LTD. (ESCO), Brownsville, TX. (MA-14306)
  • Removed to BAE Pier 70 San Francisco for cleaning, 8 February 2013
  • Departed BAE, 16 March 2013 under tow by M/V Roughneck, arrived Brownsville, 28 April 2013
    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
    Wichita 296k The ship's sponsor Mrs. Henry B. Yaeger christens Wichita (AOR-1) as she is launched at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA., 16 March 1968 Dale Hargrave
    Wichita 421k Wichita (AOR-1) launching at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA., 16 March 1968. Dale Hargrave
    Wichita 97k Wichita (AOR-1) launching at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA., 16 March 1968.
    US Navy photos.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret. and
    Robert Hurst
    Wichita 101k
    Wichita 379k Wichita (AOR-1) launching at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA., 16 March 1968. Dale Hargrave
    Wichita 85k Wichita (AOR-1) under way during builders trials circa 1969.
    Photo courtesy General Dynamics, Quincy Division.
    Robert Hurst
    Wichita 138k Wichita (AOR-1) tests her wash down system while under way during builders trials in 1969.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1969.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Wichita 280k USS Wichita (AOR-1) at anchor near Mare Island Naval Shipyard, circa 1969.
    Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum file # AOR 1 10857-1969
    Darryl Baker
    Wichita 98k USS Wichita (AOR-1) steams in company with USS Kilauea (AE-26) in 1970.
    Photo courtesy General Dynamics (Quincy).
    Robert Hurst
    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
    09210136
    137k USS Wichita (AOR-1) refuels USS Brinkley Bass (DD-887) off the coast of Vietnam. Photo taken from the HMAS Brisbane (D-41) by Bob Westthorp RAN 1964-1988. Bob Canchola
    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
    09210140
    315k USS Wichita (AOR-1) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Oriskany (CV-34) during Oriskany's 1972-73 WestPac deployment.
    Photos by Ron Camp USS Oriskany
    Bob Canchola
    Wichita
    09210141
    312k
    Wichita
    09210142
    278k
    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 81k USS Wichita (AOR-1) under way, 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 59k USS Wichita (AOR-1) moored starboard side to, at NAS North Island, circa 1979.
    US Navy photo
     
    Wichita 72k USS Wichita (AOR-1) departing NAS Alameda, CA., 12 February 1982. 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.
    Wichita
    09210143
    257k USS Wichita (AOR-1) underway in San Francisco Bay outbound to sea from NAS Alameda, date unknown. ©George Barber. Nicholas Tiberio
    Wichita 83k Aerial view of USS Wichita (AOR-1) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.
    Robert Hurst
    Wichita 57k USS Wichita (AOR-1) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from the collections of the US Navy Memorial.
    Stan Svec
    Wichita
    09210144
    188k USS Wichita (AOR-1) underway in San Francisco Bay, date unknown. ©George Barber. Nicholas Tiberio
    Wichita 73k USS Wichita (AOR-1) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Robert Hurst
    Wichita
    09210137
    118k Port bow view and overheard views USS Wichita (AOR-1) replenishing USS Paul F. Foster (DD-964) off San Diego, 1 October 1993.
    US Navy photos by PHC Bill Wallace
    Chin Yu Chu
    Wichita
    09210138
    85k
    Wichita
    09210139
    106k
    MARAD Suisun Bay Group Reserve Fleet
    Wichita 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
    Wichita 242k
    Wichita 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
    Wichita 41k
    Wichita 66k

    Additional Ships Patches
    Wichita
    Contributed by Bill Jerome
    Wichita
    Contributed by Kevin Dorning


    For more photos and information about USS Wichita, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • USS Wichita (AOR-1)

  • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Deibler, Robert Russell7 June 1969 - 22 September 1970
    02CAPT. Stevens, Jack Marion, USN (USNA 1947)22 September 1970 - 2 December 1971
    03CAPT. McCracken, William Herman2 December 1971 - 17 August 1973
    04CAPT. Varley, James Francis17 August 1973 - 27 May 1975
    05CAPT. Sheets, Roger E. (Rog)27 May 1975 - 11 September 1976
    06CAPT. MacKenzie, James A.11 September 1976 - 28 March 1978
    07CAPT. Pederson, Dana A.28 March 1978 - 21 December 1979
    08CAPT. Less, Anthony Albert (Tony) :VADM21 December 1979 - 10 July 1981
    09CAPT. Terry, Bert Dixon10 July 1981 - 7 January 1983
    10CAPT. Unruh, Jerry Lee :VADM7 January 1983 - 22 June 1984
    11CAPT. Sprouse, Haywood Galbraith (Woodie)22 June 1984 - 10 December 1985
    12CAPT. Dantone Jr., Joseph John (Quail), CAPT :RADM10 December 1985 - 12 March 1987
    13CAPT. Slater, Thomas Stafford :RADM12 March 1987 - 16 December 1988
    14CAPT. McGinn, Dennis Vincent, USN (USNA 1967) :VADM16 December 1988 - 28 June 1990
    15CAPT. Romanski, Paul A.28 June 1990 - 24 January 1992
    16CAPT. Crandall Jr., Charles K.24 January 1992 - 12 March 1993
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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    Last Updated 12 August 2022