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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AOR-6 Kalamazoo

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Sierra - Victor
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
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
  • Decommissioned, 16 August 1996
  • Title transfer to the Maritime Administration (MARAD)
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA. awaiting disposal
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 29 October 1998
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    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
    Kalamazoo 59k Kalamazoo (AOR-6) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Kalamazoo (AOR-6) web site
    Kalamazoo/Turner 67k Kalamazoo (AOR-6) refueling Richmond K Turner (CG-20), North Atlantic, October 1975 © Richard Leonhardt
    Kalamazoo 64k Kalamazoo (AOR-6) at Barcelona, Spain, 12 July 1980 Photo by Fabio Peņa
    Kalamazoo 121k Kalamazoo (AOR-6) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    US Navy from "NAVSEA Journal."    		 Bob Bush
    Kalamazoo 53k Kalamazoo (AOR-6) underway, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Kalamazoo 143k Aerial view of Kalamazoo (AOR-6) replenishing the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Nimitz (CVN-68), the guided missile destroyer Richard D Byrd (DDG-23) and the guided missile cruiser Josephus Daniels (CG-27), 5 February 1987. The ships are part of Carrier Group Eight.
    Defense Visual Information Center photo # DN-SC-87-03840, by PH1 Ron Beno.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Kalamazoo 1454k A starboard view of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier 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 W.S. Sims (FF-1059) replenishment oilers Savannah (AOR-4) and Kalamazoo (AOR-6) and the guided missile destroyer Richard E. Byrd (DDG-23).
    Defense Visual Information Center photo # DN-ST-87-04835, by PH1 Ron Beno.    		 Bill Gonyo
    There is no DANFS history available for Kalamazoo (AOR-6) at NavSource
    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 7 December 2007