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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Florikan (ASR-9)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Foxtrot - Quebec NUFQ

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (4) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (3) - Korean Service Medal
Fourth Row - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Chanticleer Class Submarine Rescue Ship:

Laid down, 30 September 1941, at Moore Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Oakland, CA.

Launched, 14 January 1942

Commissioned USS Florikan (ASR-9), 5 April 1943, LT. Niel K. Banks, USNR, in command

During World War II Florikan was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of operations

During the Korean War II Florikan was deployed to the Korean War Zone during the following periods: 19 September to 9 October 1951, 17 October 1951 to 19 January 1952, 18 May to 10 August 1953 and 5 to 26 September 1953

During the Vietnam War USS Florikan participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Vietnam War Campaign
Tet69/Counteroffensive 25 to 26 March 1969 and 5 April 1969

Decommissioned, 2 August 1991

Struck from the Naval Register, 3 September 1991

USS Florikan earned one campaign star for Vietnam War service

Transferred to the Maritime Administration, 28 July 2001, for disposal

Laid up in the National Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Withdrawn from the Reserve Fleet, 28 November 2006, to Naval Weapons Station Concord, CA. for SINKEX preparation

Final Disposition, fate unknown.

Specifications:
Displacement 1,780 t.(lt) 2,045 t.(fl)
Length 251' 4"
Beam 42'
Draft 16'
Speed 14.5 kts.

Complement

Officers 6

Enlisted 96

Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.

Armament

two single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

eight 20mm AA gun mounts

four depth charge tracks

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 1,785 Bbls

Propulsion

Diesel-electric drive

four Alco 539 Diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines

single Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears

single propeller, 3,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By /Source
	55k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** underway, location unknown, circa 1943.	Robert Hurst
	61k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** underway, location unknown, circa 1943. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	29k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** overhead view underway, date and location unknown.	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
	126k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** under way near the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, circa early 1950s. Note the McCann rescue chamber in its normal position on deck aft and the new buoy installation amidships. US. Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # KN-7592, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	223k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9) moored pierside, probably at Naval Station San Diego, CA., December, circa 1950s, Date is based on buoy configuration amidships and forward armament which was removed sometime prior to 1963. Moored astern of Florikan is the Amphibious Force Command Ship USS Estes (AGC-12)**. US Navy photo.	Brian Miller
	187k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** under way, 8 August 1957, location unknown. US History and Heritage Command photo # NH 83862, courtesy of D.M. McPherson, 1975	Robert Hurst
	24k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** underway, departing San Diego, date unknown.	Submitted by Craig Rothhammer to NAFTS (National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors)
	117k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** moored pierside, San Diego, CA., 1967 US Navy photo.	Scott Koen
	118k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** underway in 1968, location unknown. US Navy photo.	Robert Hurst
	105k	Aerial 3/4 Port Bow View of *USS Florikan* (ASR-9)*, 20 May 1969, while operating off the coast of Oahu, HI. Fleet Air Photo Lab. NAS Barbers Point, HI. # VBP-00602-5-69* by PH2 R. F. Kinsey.	Robert M. CierI
	395k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** underway, location unknown, circa 1970. US Navy photo NPC 1143694.	Scott Koen
	41k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** transiting Columbia River enroute to Portland, OR., 1979	Submitted by John Ackerman to NAFTS (National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors)
	468k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)** underway on the Columbia River in Oregon, 1 May 1982. Defense Visual Information Center photo # DN-SC-82-05687 by Bergman PHotographic Services.	Bill Gonyo
	63k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)**, moored at Pearl Harbor, August 1987,	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
09320916	266k	*USS Florikan* (ASR-9)*'s Submarine Rescue Chamber on display at USS Bowfin Museum, Honolulu. HI., date unknown Photo courtesy: Andrzej Trzmiel*	Yu Chu

USS Florikan (ASR-9)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Banks, Niel K., USNR	5 April 1943 - 11 October 1943
02	CDR. Sharp Jr., George Arthur USN (USNA 1929) :RADM	11 October 1943 - 2 April 1944
03	LTjg. Hima, Desiderous (Dennis), USNR	2 April 1944 - 9 November 1945
04	LT. Giliam Jr., Fred USN (USNA 1945)	9 November 1945 - 27 September 1947
05	LT. Crocker, George Francis John, USN	27 September 1947 - 10 October 1949
06	CDR. Shutt, Richard George, USN (USNA 1941)	10 October 1949 - 11 August 1951
07	LCDR. Rait, John Crocker USN (USNA 1940)	11 August 1951 - 10 April 1952
08	LT. Brockett, Earl Elisha, USN	10 April 1952 - 7 November 1953
09	LCDR. Smith, Forrest Eugene, USN	7 November 1953 - 3 October 1955
10	LCDR. Kilcoyne, Francis Joseph, USN	3 October 1955 - 3 October 1957
11	LCDR. Ploof, Kenneth, USN	3 October 1957 - 19 March 1960
12	LCDR. Hedgepeth, Charles Harley, USN	19 March 1960 - 31 August 1961
13	LCDR. Hogan, Francis William, USN	31 August 1961 - 27 November 1961
14	LT. Maher, John Henry, USN	27 November 1961 - 15 March 1963
15	LCDR. Smitter, Clarence Harold, USN	15 March 1963 - 14 October 1964
16	LCDR. Bergman, Walter Robert, USN	14 October 1964 - 18 July 1966
17	LCDR. Leonard, William Joseph, USN	18 July 1966 - 14 June 1968
18	LCDR. Disney, Donald Gilbert, USN	14 June 1968 - 27 August 1970
19	LCDR. Wagner, Fred Don, USN	27 August 1970 - 10 August 1972
20	LCDR. Witten, Robert Lee, USN	10 August 1972 - 10 August 1974
21	LCDR. Drake, Albert Wayne, USN	10 August 1974 - 2 October 1976
22	CDR. Hamilton, Jack Edward USN (USNA 1962)	2 October 1976 - 16 February 1979
23	CDR. Brady, Timothy Sterling	16 February 1979 - July 1981
24	CDR. Silver, Lawrence Michael USN (USNA 1964)	July 1981 - 1983
25	CDR. Tyler, Robert Jeffrey, USN	1983 - 1983
26	CDR. Norris Jr., Donald Owen, USN	1983 - 30 December 1984
27	CDR. Wellman, William Henry USN	30 December 1984 - 29 February 1988
28	CDR. Knueppel, Wolfgang Werner, USN	29 February 1988 - 29 January 1991
29	LCDR. Waters, Michael K., USN	29 January 1991 - 2 August 1991


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
MARAD Vessel History Database

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 4 February 2022