Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Patch at left contributed by Mike Smolinski, at right by Lawrence K Brown ETC USN Ret (1958-60)

ASR-15 Sunbird

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Tango - Alpha
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2 stars)
Bottom Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon - National Defense Service Medal (2 stars)
Chanticteer Class Submarine Rescue Ship:
  • Laid down, 2 April 1945, at Savannah Machinery and Foundry, Co., Savannah, GA.
  • Launched, 3 April 1946
  • Accepted by the Navy and towed to Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, SC. for lay up, 15 January 1947
  • Commissioned USS Sunbird (ASR-15), 23 June 1950, at New London, CT., LCDR. A. R. Clark, Jr., in command
  • Decommissioned, 30 September 1993
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 2 November 1993
  • Transferred to MARAD custody, 1 May 1999, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Contract for scrapping awarded to Bay Bridge Enterprises, Chesapeake, VA., 18 July 2005
  • Removed from the National Defense Reserve Fleet James River Group, 17 August 2005, by towing to Bay Bridge Enterprises, scrapping completed 12 November 2005.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,780 t.(lt) 2,045 t.(fl)
    Length 251' 4"
    Beam 42'
    Draft 16'
    Speed 14.5 kts.
    Complement 102
    Armament
    two single 3"/50 DP gun mounts
    eight 20mm AA gun mounts
    four depth charge tracks
    Propulsion diesel-electric, single screw, 3,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Sunbird 20k Sunbird (ASR-15) entering Port Canaveral, FL, during Space Shuttle "Challenger" recovery operation
    US Navy photo    		 Courtesy Donald Banks and
    The National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Sunbird 97k Sunbird (ASR-15) in drydock (marine railway), at East Boston, MA, 4 July 1961. ©Richard Leonhardt
    Sunbird 67k Sunbird (ASR-15) in drydock (marine railway), at East Boston, MA, 4 July 1961. ©Richard Leonhardt
    Sunbird 107k Sunbird (ASR-15) anchored in Monaco harbor, date unknown. Jim Pastore USS Sunbird, 1974-75
    Sunbird 53k Sunbird (ASR-15) underway, date and location unknown. Jim Pastore USS Sunbird, 1974-75
    Sunbird 66k Sunbird (ASR-15) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr
    Sunbird 267k Starboard bow view of Sunbird (ASR-15) underway at Port Canaveral, FL., 1 February 1986.
    Defense Visual Information Center photo # DN-SC-86-06843.    		 Bill Gonyo
    View the Sunbird (ASR-15)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    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 Submarine Rescue Ship (ASR) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    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