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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Tutuila (ARG-4)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - Yankee - November NPYN

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (3) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 1-Dominican Republic)
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (13) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (6) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

USS Tutuila (ARG-4) was transferred to the Republic of China and renamed ROCS Pien Tai (ARG-516)

Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:

Laid down, 11 August 1943, as SS Arthur P. Gorman, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1179), at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Baltimore, MD.

Launched, 12 September 1943

Acquired by the Navy, 18 September 1943

Converted to an Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship at Maryland Drydock Co, Baltimore, MD.

Commissioned USS Tutuila (ARG-4), 8 April 1944, CDR. George T. Boldizsar in command

Decommissioned, 7 December 1946, at Galveston, TX.

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Galveston

Recommissioned, 7 May 1951, at Orange, TX.

During the Vietnam War USS Tutuila (ARG-4) participated in the following campaigns:

**Vietnam War Campaigns**
Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 17 July 1966 to 31 May 1967	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 June to 31 October 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 10 June to 9 November 1967 24 November 1967 to 29 January 1968	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 1 November 1969 to 25 February 1970 3 March 30 April 1970
Tet Counteroffensive 30 January to 1 April 1968	Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1 May to 30 June 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 2 April to 30 June 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 1 to 5 July 1970 22 September 1970 to 22 March 1971 8 April to 30 June 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 1 July to 1 November 1968	Consolidation I 1 July to 3 September 1971 21 September to 30 November 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase Vi 2 to 22 November 1968	Consolidation II 1 December 1971 to 4 January 1972
Tet/69 Counteroffensive 10 May to 8 June 1969	.

Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 21 February 1972, at Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Transferred to the Republic of China and renamed ROCS Pien Tai (ARG-516)

Final disposition, fate unknown

USS Tutuila received thirteen campaign stars, three Navy Unit Commendations, and two Meritorious Unit Commendations for Vietnam War service

Specifications:
Displacement 5,159 t.(lt) 8,700 t.(fl)
Length 442'
Beam 57'
Draft 23'
Speed 13 kts.
Complement 574
Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

three 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

four 40mm AA gun mounts

twelve 20mm AA gun mounts
Propulsion reciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950hp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By/Source
USS Tutuila (ARG-4)
	79k	Broadside view of *USS Tutuila* (ARG-4) off Norfolk, Navy Yard, 18 May 1944. Note Tutuila** is painted Camouflage Measure 31, Design 6AX. Navy Yard Norfolk photo # 7628(44) May 18,1944.	Russ Padden
	40k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)** with; USS LCI(R)-705 USS LCI(M)-802 USS LCI(M)-803 USS LCI(R)-647 *LCT-1213* and an unidentified vessel alongside, date and location unknown.	Russ Padden
	78k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	.
	44k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)**, date and location unknown.	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
	82k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4) at anchor with (from outboard to inboard); USS Cardinal (MSC(O)-4)** USS Lapwing (MSC(O)-48) USS Hawk (MSC(O)-17) USS Fulmer (MSC(O)-47) USS Peregrine (MSF-373) circa 1956-57, probably at Charleston, S.C. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1959.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	82k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)** Christmas Card, 1960.	Randy Pilak USS Tutuila 1960-61.
	96k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)** moored at Fort Everglades, October 1960.	Randy Pilak USS Tutuila 1960-61.
	65k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)**, off Hawaii, circa 1965 US Navy photo	John T. Kulp USS Tutuila 1965-66
	58k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)**, off Hawaii, circa 1965 US Navy photo	John T. Kulp USS Tutuila 1965-66
	106k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)**, anchored off Nha Be, South Vietnam in 1971	© Richard Leonhardt
	78k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)**, anchored off Nha Be, South Vietnam in 1971	© Richard Leonhardt
	92k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)**, anchored off Nha Be, South Vietnam in 1971	© Richard Leonhardt
	75k	*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4)** underway, date and location unknown.	Randy Pilak USS Tutuila 1960-61
	44k	USSTutuila (ARG-4) Welcome Aboard Pamphlet, 1964	Fred Willshaw
ROCS Pien Tai (ARG-516)
	44k	ex-*USS Tutuila* (ARG-4) in the Republic of China service as ROCS Pien Tai (ARG-516)** moored pierside, date and place unknown.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.

Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Roy Nielsen, SF3 USS Tutuila	Contributed by Roy Nielsen, SF3 USS Tutuila

View the USS Tutuila (ARG-4)
DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

View Miscellaneous Exterior Photos of USS Tutuila by Randy Pilak USS Tutuila (ARG) 1960-61

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Mobile Riverine Force Association
Brownwater Navy

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Last Updated 29 February 2008