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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN Ret.

USS Ortolan (ASR-22)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - November - Alpha - Charlie
 NNAC
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Navy Battle "E" Ribbon - National Defense Service Medal
Pigeon Class Submarine Rescue Ship:
  • Laid down, 28 August 1968, at Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Co., Mobile, AL.
  • Launched, 10 September 1969
  • Commissioned USS Ortolan (ASR-22), 14 July 1973
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 30 March 1995
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Title transfer to MARAD, 1 May 1999
  • Final Disposition, contract awarded for scrapping announced, 3 July 2009 to Esco Marine, Brownsville, TX., contract cost $325,090, departed James River Reserve Fleet, 20 July 2009
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,706 t.(lt) 4,545 t.(fl)
    Length 251
    Beam 93'
    Draft 26' (max)
    Speed 15 kts
    Complement 139
    Armament two 3"/50 guns
    Aircraft helicopter pad only
    Propulsion four diesel engines, two propeller shafts
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Ortolan 85k USS Ortolan (ASR-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 NAFTS
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Ortolan 69k USS Ortolan (ASR-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 NAFTS
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Ortolan 78k USS Ortolan (ASR-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Tom Langford
    Ortolan 94k USS Ortolan (ASR-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "NAVSEA Journal."    		 Bob Bush
    Ortolan 133k USS Ortolan (ASR-22) underway, date and location unknown.
    A copy of this photo is available from Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA.    		 Photo ©Atlantic Fleet Sales
    Submitted by Robert M. Cieri
    MARAD James River Group Reserve Fleet
    Ortolan 87k From left to right; ex-USS Kittiwake (ASR-13), ex-USCGC Escape (WMEC-6), ex-USS Ortolan (ASR-22) and an unidentified AKR, Large, Medium Speed Roll on/Roll off ship, laid up in reserve in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., 8 April 2009 Photo Mike Hibbard
    Ortolan 119k From left to right; ex-USCGC Escape (WMEC-6), ex-USS Ortolan (ASR-22) and an unidentified AKR, Large, Medium Speed Roll on/Roll off ship laid up in reserve in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., 8 April 2009 Photo Mike Hibbard
    Ortolan 106k Ex-USS Ortolan (ASR-22) Bow view, showing floats and midship view, showing deck gantry over DSRV cradle, while laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., 8 April 2009 Photos Mike Hibbard
    Ortolan 156k
    Ortolan 87k From right to left; ex-USS Kittiwake (ASR-13), ex-USCGC Escape (WMEC-6), and ex-USS Ortolan (ASR-22) laid up in reserve in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., 9 April 2009 Photo Mike Hibbard
    Ortolan 102k From left to right; ex-USS Cape Cod (AD-43), ex-USNS Harkness (T-AGS-32), ex-USS Kittiwake (ASR-13), ex-USCGC Escape (WMEC-6), and ex-USS Ortolan (ASR-22) laid up in reserve in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA., 9 April 2009 Photo Mike Hibbard
    Ortolan 100k Ex- USS Ortolan (ASR-22) moored at ESCO Marine in Brownsville, TX. awaiting the ship breakers torch, August 2009. Mike Hibbard, Courtesy ESCO Marine web site.
    View the USS Ortolan (ASR-22)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Navy History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Taw, Louis M.14 July 1973 - 30 August 1973
    02CDR. Ramsay, Robert W.30 August 1973 - 14 August 1976
    03CDR. Esau, Anthony Christopher14 August 1976 - 21 February 1979
    04CDR. Griggs, Carlton Albert21 February 1979 - 20 June 1981
    05CDR. Paul, Thomas Walder 20 June 1981 - 19 October 1983
    06CDR. Babetz, Jeffrey Dale19 October 1983 - 24 May 1985
    07CDR. Otto, David T.24 May 1985 - 25 November 1987
    08CDR. Landers, Michael J.25 November 1987 - 5 July 1990
    09CDR. Armstrong, Paul A.5 July 1990 - 22 June 1992
    10CDR. Clark, Brian Gordon22 June 1992 - 8 April 1994
    11CDR. Leary, David Allen8 April 1994 - 31 March 1994
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    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
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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 26 February 2010