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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Bluebird (ASR-19)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Oscar - Bravo
 NJOB
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
China Service Medal (extended) - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal

USS Bluebird was transferred to Turkey, renamed TCG Kurtaran (A584)
Penguin Class Submarine Rescue Ship:
  • Laid down as Fleet Ocean Tug, Yurok (AT-164) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Reclassified, Submarine Rescue Ship, ASR-19 7 November 1945
  • Renamed Bluebird and Launched, 3 December 1945
  • Commissioned USS Bluebird (ASR-19), 28 May 1946, LCDR. P. R. Hodgson in command
  • Decommissioned, 15 August 1950 and simultaneously transferred to the Turkish Navy, renamed TCG Kurtaran (A584)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 26 September 1950
  • Current Disposition, active Turkish Navy
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,675 t.
    Length 205'
    Beam 38' 6"
    Draft 15' 5"
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 108
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    four single 20mm AA gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 2,275 Bbls
    Propulsion
    four General Motors Diesel 12-278A main engines driving four General Electric generators
    three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines
    Ship's Service Generators
    two Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    one Diesel-drive 200Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    single screw, 3,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Bluebird (ASR-19)
    Bluebird 75k USS Bluebird (ASR-19) underway, date and location unknown. .
    Bluebird 56k USS Bluebird (ASR-19) underway at Tsingtao, China, 1947. Henry Wristen USS Bluebird
    TCG Kurtaran (A584)
    Bluebird 40k Ex-USS Bluebird (ASR-19) underway while in Turkish service as TCG Kurtaran (A584), date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Bluebird 45k TCG Kurtaran (A584) moored to a buoy circa 1966. Robert Hurst
    Bluebird 94k TCG Kurtaran (A584) underway, date and location unknown. Cüneyt Demir
    Bluebird 151k TCG Kurtaran (A584) underway, date and location unknown. Cüneyt Demir
    Bluebird 227k TCG Kurtaran (A584) moored, date and location unknown. Cüneyt Demir
    Bluebird 81k Drawings of TCG Kurtaran (A584) unknown by Cüneyt Demir. .
    Bluebird 50k

    For more photos and information about USS Bluebird, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • Photo Collection of Yucel M. Umar GMC Turkish Navy Retired
    • Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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 Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF) 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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 16 October 2009