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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Penguin (ASR-12)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - kilo - Mike
 NUKM
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Penguin Class Submarine Rescue Ship:
  • Laid down, 9 February 1943 as Fleet Tug, Chetco (AT-99) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 20 July 1943
  • Redesignated and renamed Submarine Rescue Ship Penguin (ASR-12), 23 September 1943
  • Commissioned USS Penguin (ASR-12), 29 May 1944, LCDR. George W. Albin, Jr. USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Penguin was assigned to SubRon 1, at New London, CT.
  • Decommissioned, 4 September 1947, at New London, CT.
  • Recommissioned, at New London, CT., 3 April 1952
  • Decommissioned, 29 June 1970, at Key West, FL.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Registered in 1972 by Shibley Ocean Industries, Inc., Houston, TX. as tugboat Percheron
  • Operated in 1973 under the Panamanian flag by Shibley Boats of Panama, S.A. as tugboat Dona Rosa Marie
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,740 t.
    Length 205'
    Beam39' 3"
    Draft 15' 6"
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 6
    Enlisted 199
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four single 20mm AA gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 2,310 Bbls
    Propulsion
    Diesel-electric, four Alco diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines
    single propeller, 3,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By
    /Source
    Chetco (AT-99)
    Penguin 1234k Chetco (AT-99) on the builders ways at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C. in July 1943 prior to her conversion to Penguin (ASR-12) in September 1943. Alan Owens
    USS Penguin (ASR-12)
    Penguin
    110203310    		 40k
    Namesake
    Penguin - Family (Spheniscida) are a group of aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere: only one species, the Galápagos penguin, is found north of the Equator. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage and flippers for swimming. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of sea life which they catch with their bills and swallow it whole while swimming. A penguin has a spiny tongue and powerful jaws to grip slippery prey. (Wikipedia)    		 Tommy Trampp
    Penguin 91k USS Penguin (ASR-12) under way, late 1940s, location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #'s 80-G-626122 and NH 105502, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Penguin 48k USS Penguin (ASR-12) under way, date and location unknown. (NAFTS)
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Penguin 116k USS Penguin (ASR-12) under way, 2 February 1959, probably at Key West, FL. She is wearing the emblem of Submarine Squadron 12 (SUBRON 12) on her bridge wing. Photo taken from USS Bushnell (AS-15).
    US Naval History and Heritage Command (UA-283), Photo # Unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    Penguin 113k USS Penguin (ASR-12) stands by in Malta at M'sida, prior NATO Exercise 'Medflex Invicta', April 16-21, 1961.
    Imperial War Museum British Post-1945 Official Classified Print Collection, Photo No. © IWM (HU 102633)     		Mike Green
    Penguin 76k USS Penguin (ASR-12) under way off Key West FL, November 1966 ©Richard Leonhardt
    Penguin 69k USS Penguin (ASR-12) under way in Valletta Harbor, Malta, circa 1961.
    Photo A. & J. Pavia from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1961-62 edition.    		 Robert Hurst
    Penguin 97k USS Penguin (ASR-12) under way in Valletta Harbor, Malta, circa 1961 or 1969.
    US Navy photo.    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    USS Penguin (ASR-12)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Albin Jr., George Waugh29 May 1944 - 28 May 1945
    02LT. Bastianelli, Harry Thomas28 May 1945 - 24 September 1945
    03LT. Engler, Clifford W.24 September 1945 - 1 October 1946
    04LCDR. Messick, Harry Joseph1 October 1946 - 4 September 1947
     Decommissioned4 September 1947 - 3 April 1952
    05LT. Enright, George Earnest, USN1958 - 20 May 1960
    06LT. Kutzleb Sr., Robert Eugene20 May 1960 - ?
    07LCDR. Carry, Allan Harry, USN1964
    08LCDR. Prescott, Robert1965 - 23 June 1967
    09LCDR. Mustard, James Dale, USN23 June 1967 - 15 August 1969
    10LCDR. Mullaly, William Joseph, USN15 August 1969 - 29 June 1970
     LCDR. Putnam, John Clarence, USN (USNA 1956)no dates
     LCDR. Mikich, Emil, USNno dates
    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
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Fleet Tug (AT) Photo Index Back To The Submarine Rescue Ship (ASR) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 5 January 2024