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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

Between 1947 and 1950 USS Bluebird (ASR-19) was assigned to Occupation service and China service for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
10 to 11 May 1947	14 May to 12 October 1947
17 to 21 October 1947	1 to 4 August 1949
8 to 27 August 1949	26 to 29 November 1949
11 to 30 October 1949
20 June 1949 to 15 July 1950

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
USS Bluebird (ASR-19)
	49k	*USS Bluebird* (ASR-19)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photos courtesy the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors, contributed by Craig Rothhammer.	Robert Hurst
	28k
	50k
	75k	*USS Bluebird* (ASR-19)** underway, date and location unknown.
	56k	*USS Bluebird* (ASR-19)** underway at Tsingtao, China, 1947.	Henry Wristen USS Bluebird

TCG Kurtaran (A584)

Contributed by Yucel M. Umar GMC Turkish Navy Retired

40k	Ex-*USS Bluebird* (ASR-19) underway while in Turkish service as TCG Kurtaran (A584)**, date and location unknown.	Robert Hurst
65k	*TCG Kurtaran* (A584)** underway in Valletta Harbor, Malta, circa 1961. Photo by A. & J. Pavia, from "Jane's Fighting Ships" 1961-62 edition.	Robert Hurst
45k	*TCG Kurtaran* (A584)** moored to a buoy circa 1966.	Robert Hurst
94k	*TCG Kurtaran* (A584)** underway, date and location unknown.	Yucel M. Umar GMC Turkish Navy Retired and Cüneyt Demir
151k	*TCG Kurtaran* (A584)** underway, date and location unknown.	Cüneyt Demir
227k	*TCG Kurtaran* (A584)** moored, date and location unknown.	Cüneyt Demir
81k	Drawings of *TCG Kurtaran* (A584)** unknown by Cüneyt Demir.
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

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

Last Updated 28 October 2011