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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Kilo - Zulu - Oscar
NKZO
Voice Call Sign "Gallup Tango"
Nicknamed "Ka-zoo"
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
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2)
Third Row - Navy Expeditionary Service Medal (1-Iran/Indian Ocean, 5-Lebanon) - National Defense Service Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal


Wichita Class Replenishment Oiler:
  • Laid down, 1 October 1970, at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA.
  • Launched, 1 November 1972
  • Commissioned USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6), 11 August 1973, CAPT. John Henry Bres in command
  • Decommissioned, 16 August 1996
  • Title transfer to the Maritime Administration (MARAD)
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 29 October 1998
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, to Esco Marine, Brownsville, TX. for $1,465,726, announced by MARAD 15 July 2008, Removed from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, 30 September 2008
    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
    Kalamazoo 59k USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Kalamazoo (AOR-6) web site
    Kalamazoo/Turner 67k USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) refueling USS Richmond K Turner (CG-20), North Atlantic, October 1975 © Richard Leonhardt
    Kalamazoo 64k USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) at Barcelona, Spain, 12 July 1980 Photo by Fabio Peņa
    Kalamazoo 121k USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    US Navy from "NAVSEA Journal."
    Bob Bush
    Kalamazoo 53k USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) underway, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Kalamazoo 143k Aerial view of USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) replenishing the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the guided missile destroyer USS Richard D Byrd (DDG-23) and the guided missile cruiser USS Josephus Daniels (CG-27), 5 February 1987. The ships are part of Carrier Group Eight.
    Defense Visual Information Center photo # DN-SC-87-03840, a US Navy photo by PH1 Ron Beno now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.
    Bill Gonyo
    Kalamazoo 1454k A starboard view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and their escorts underway off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon, 5 February 1987. The escorts are, from front to back: the frigate USS W.S. Sims (FF-1059) replenishment oilers USS Savannah (AOR-4) and USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) and the guided missile destroyer USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG-23).
    Defense Visual Information Center photo # DN-ST-87-04835, by PH1 Ron Beno, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.
    Bill Gonyo

    There is no DANFS history available for USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) at NavSource
    USS Kalamazoo (AOR-6) Commanding Officers
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 19 February 2010