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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Milwaukee (AOR-2)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Lima - Delta - Lima
 NLDL
Voice Call Sign "Gallup Tango"
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3)
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Libya, 1-Lebanon) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (6-Lebanon, 2-Libya)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Coast Guard SOS Ribbon - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Wichita Class Replenishment Oiler:
  • Laid down, 29 November 1966, at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA.
  • Launched, 1 January 1969
  • Commissioned USS Milwaukee (AOR-2), 1 November 1969
  • During the Vietnam War USS Milwaukee participated in the following Campaign:
    Vietnam War
    Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Ceasefire
    12 to 14 November 1972
    24 November to 10 December 1972
    18 to 30 December 1972
    12 to 11 and 19 to 20 February 1973

  • Decommissioned, 27 January 1994
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 April 1997
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 April 1997
  • Title transfer to MARAD, 24 February 2001, for disposal
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Final Disposition, MARAD announced, 15 January 2009, that Milwaukee was sold for $56,410 for scrapping by Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA.
  • USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) earned one campaign star 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
    Milwaukee 133k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) while underway after completing an underway replenishment of an unidentified Knox-class frigate, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 84k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 108k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) replenishing an unidentified Aircraft Carrier off her port side while an unidentified Destroyer prepares to come alongside for replenishment off her starboard side. Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 106k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) underway, date and location unknown. Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 134k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) during underway replenishment of USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS Concord (AFS-5), circa 1980, location unknown. Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 105k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) and the Dutch replenishment ship HNLMS Poolster (A-835) about to commence an underway replenishment, date and place unknown. Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 142k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) and the Dutch replenishment ship HNLMS Poolster (A-835) during an underway replenishment, date and place unknown. Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 129k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) underway, date and location unknown. Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 142k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) underway, date and location unknown. Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 60k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Milwaukee 71k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Milwaukee 60k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) replenishing USS Spruance (DD-963), date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Milwaukee 83k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) underway, date and location unknown. Jack Dowd CDR. USNR Ret.
    Milwaukee 78k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) underway, date and location unknown. Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Milwaukee 117k USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) sticker sold in ships store. Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. USS Milwaukee 1980-84
    Iwo Jima 1088k
    An aerial view of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard looking west/northwest, 30 October 1995. The shipyard closed, 30 September 1995, but the Navy Intermediate Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) continues to store decommissioned ships. Vessels visible , left to right: the battleships USS Iowa (BB-61), and USS Wisconsin (BB-64) at the DD wharf; USS Sylvania (AFS-2), USS Milwaukee (AOR-2) and USS Savannah (AOR-4) at pier 5; the aircraft carriers USS Forrestal (CV-59) and USS Saratoga (CV-60); at pier 4; the amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) and USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) at pier 2. In the back pool is the heavy cruiser USS Des Moines (CA-134) and numerous destroyers and frigates.DOD photo # DN-SC-97-00422 PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (30 October 1995), a US Navy photo by Robert J. Sitar, now in the collections of Defense Imagery.mil.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    View the USS Milwaukee (AOR-2)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Milwaukee AOR-2
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 16 January 2009