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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Patch at left contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN Ret., at right contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Skylark (ASR-20)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Oscar - Foxtrot
NJOF

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - National Defense Service Medal (2)

USS Skylark (ASR-20) was transferred to Brazil and renamed Gastao Moutinho (K-10)

Penguin Class Submarine Rescue Ship:

Laid down in 1945 as the Navajo Class Fleet Tug, Yustaga (ATF-165) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.

Redesignated Submarine Rescue Ship, 11 October 1945

Assigned hull number ASR-20, 13 November 1945

Renamed Skylark, 5 December 1945

Launched, 19 March 1946

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet prior to commissioning at Charleston, S.C.

Commissioned USS Skylark (ASR-20), March 1951, at New London, CT.

Decommissioned, struck from the Naval Register, sold to Brazil, and commissioned into the Brazilian Navy as Gastao Moutinho (K-10), 30 June 1973

Redesignated Gastao Moutinho (U-20) in 1989

Deactivated, 18 September 1996

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 1,735 t.
Length 205'
Beam 39' 3"
Draft 15' 6" (lim)
Speed 16 kts.

Complement

Officers 6

Enlisted 100

Armament

one single 3"/50 cal gun mount

four single 20mm AA gun mounts

two depth charge tracks

Fuel Capacity Diesel 2,310 Bbls

Propulsion

four Busch-Sulzer (539) Diesel-electric main engines
Ship's Service Generators
two Diesel-drive 200Kw 120V/240V D.C.
one Diesel-drive 60Kw 120V/240V D.C.

twin propellers, 3,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
USS Skylark (ASR-20)
	124k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** moored pierside at New York Navy Yard, 20 June 1951, during an inclining experiment. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM, photo # 19-N-138256i a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	93k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** under way during the early 1950s. US Naval History and Heritage Command (UA-283), Photo No. Unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	79k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** under way, circa 1950s or 60s. This photo was from her public relations package. US Navy photo # NH 97310 from the collection of Christopher P Cavas, 2000	US Naval Historical Center
	195k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	David Wright
	2958k	*USS Fulton* (AS 11) alongside the State Pier, New London, CT., circa 1967-69. At the end of the pier is the submarine rescue vessel USS Skylark (ASR-20). Aft of Fulton is USS Gato (SSN-615), and moored in the nest next to Fulton is USS Dace (SSN-607), USS Jack (SSN-605)**, and an unknown Thresher/Permit class boat (inboard in the nest). US Navy photo.	DCC(SS/SW) David Johnston, USN
	74k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** moored at State Pier, New London, CT. circa 1960s.	Ron Reeves
	91k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
09322026	164k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20), escort vessel for, USS Thresher (SSN-593) searches for the missing submarine in a stormy Atlantic 220 miles east of Boston. Skylark was the last vessel to communicate with Thresher** at 0919 EST the morning of 10 April 1963. AP Wirephoto dcg5211opool	Darryl Baker
	108k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** under way, probably at Naples, Italy, circa 1960s.. US Navy photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	88k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** under way near Malta in 1963. Photo from the 1966/67 Edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships", courtesy of A & J Pavia	Robert Hurst
	285k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** underway in the Thames River, near New London, CT., circa 1971-1972	Rick Sherley
	49k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** towing decommissioned diesel submarine from Boston to New London, to be stripped for parts, during the winter of 1971.	Rick Sherley
	58k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** moored at US Naval Submarine Base Groton, CT., circa 1972	Rick Sherley
	480k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** under way near US Naval Submarine Base New London, CT., circa 1969-72	Harold Weinbaum courtesy David A Downey BM2 (DV) USN
	429k	*USS Fulton* (AS 11) moored alongside Frontier Pier, Naval Station San Juan, Puerto Rico, circa 1970-73, with three diesel submarines, two nuclear Submarines and USS Skylark (ASR-20)** alongside. US Navy photo.	Harold Weinbaum courtesy David A Downey BM2 (DV) USN USS Fulton 1972-73
	55k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20) with USS Talbot (DEG-4) in tow, circa 1971-73. Talbot was operating the the VA Capes area when she issued a destress call after breaking down due to a reduction gear problem. Skylark was in the area and took Talbot** in tow, delivering her to Newport, R.I. 3 or 4 days later.	Rick Sherley
	63k	One of *USS Skylark* (ASR-20)**'s many duties included torpedo retrieval. When space got tight on the fantail torpedoes were stored along the main deck on both port and starboard sides, circa 1971-73.	Rick Sherley
	72k		Rick Sherley
	78k	The Submarine Rescue Chamber (SRC) belonging to *USS Skylark* (ASR-20) was temporarily hoisted on to USS Fulton (AS-11)'s boat deck so Skylark** could pick up two fork lifts at Naples and deliver them to the Submarine Base at La Maddelena, Sardinia, to be used during site vertreps from the pier. Circa 1971-73. SRC removal was necessary due to room and weight (10.5 ton ).	Rick Sherley
	721		Rick Sherley
	90k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20) alongside USS Fulton (AS-11)** at the Submarine Base, La Maddelena, Sardinia, during one of the first vertreps from the pier, circa 1972.	Rick Sherley
	129k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	101k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "Mud, Muscles and Miracles" by Captain Charles A. Bartholomew, USN, and Commander William I. Milwee, Jr., USN (Ret.)	Robert Hurst
	462k	*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** ship's plaque	Tommy Trampp
Gastao Moutinho (K-10)
	46k	Ex-*USS Skylark* (ASR-20)** in Brazilian naval service as Gastao Moutinho (K-10) moored pierside circa 1974, location unknown.	Yu Chu
	58k	Gastao Moutinho (K-10) underway, date and location unknown.	Yu Chu
	51k	Gastao Moutinho (K-10) underway, date and location unknown.	Yu Chu
	164k	Gastao Moutinho (U-20) moored pierside probably at Rio de Janeiro, circa 1989-1996.	Yu Chu

USS Skylark (ASR-20)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Heller, Glenn Gettus, USN	March 1951 - June 1952
03	LCDR. Huffman, Paul Edward	November 1954 - January 1957
04	CDR. Chambers Jr., Lloyd Stuart, USN (USNA 1946)	January 1957 - March 1959
05	LCDR. Brown, Robert Lee, USN	March 1959 - October 1960
06	LT. Osborne, Charles Nason	October 1960 - December 1962
07	LCDR. Fiore, Harold Joseph	December 1962 - January 1963
08	LCDR. Hecker, Stanley	January 1963 - April 1964
09	LT. Petranek, Vernon Eugene,	April 1964 - August 1966
10	LCDR. Blumie, John Alexander	August 1966 - August 1968
11	LCDR. Darling, Donald Lee	August 1968 - August 1970
12	LCDR. Smith Jr., Alfred Anderson	August 1970 - 30 June 1973


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

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

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 24 June 2022