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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

ATF-164 Yurok / ASR-19 Bluebird


USS Bluebird was transferred to Turkey, renamed TNS Kurtaran (A584)
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


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 transferred to the Turkish Navy, renamed TNS Kurtaran (A584)
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,740 t.
    Length 205'
    Beam 39' 3"
    Draft 15' 6"
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 99
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 gun mount
    four single 20mm AA gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Propulsion diesel-electric, four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines, single screw, 3,600shp

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    Bluebird (ASR-19)
    Bluebird 75k Bluebird (ASR-19) underway, date and place unknown. .
    Bluebird 56k Bluebird (ASR-19) underway at Tsingtao, China, 1947. Henry Wristen USS Bluebird
    TNS Kurtaran (A584)
    Bluebird 40k Ex-Bluebird (ASR-19) underway while in Turkish service as TNS Kurtaran (A584), date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Bluebird 45k TNS Kurtaran (A584) moored to a buoy circa 1966. Robert Hurst

    View the Bluebird (ASR-19)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    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 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 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 9 February 2007