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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Kalmia (ATA-184)
ex
 USS ATA-184 (1944 - 1948)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - November - Charlie
 NJNC


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal -Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Philippine Liberation Medal

USS Kalmia (ATA-184) was transferred to Colombia, renamed ARC Bahia Utria
Maricopa Class Auxiliary Fleet Tug:
  • Laid down, 27 July 1944, as Rescue Ocean Tug (ATR-111), at Levingston Shipbuilding Co., Orange, TX.
  • Reclassified Auxiliary Fleet Tug (ATA-184), 15 May 1944
  • Launched, 29 August 1944
  • Commissioned USS ATA-184, 6 November 1944, LTjg W. E. Hummel in command
  • Decommissioned, 24 June 1946, at Astoria, OR.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Astoria
  • Named Kalmia (ATA-184), 16 July 1948
  • Placed in service, 1 April 1952
  • Commissioned, USS Kalmia (ATA-184), 5 May 1952
  • Decommissioned and leased to Columbia, 1 July1971, renamed ARC Bahia Utria
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 31 October 1977
  • Final Disposition, sold outright under the Security Assistance Program, 31 October 1977 to Colombia, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 835 t.(fl)
    Length 143'
    Beam 33' 10"
    Draft 13' 2"
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 5
    Enlisted 40
    Largest Boom Capacity 5 t.
    Armament
    one 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 1,200 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two GM 12-278A Diesel-electric engines
    single Fairbanks-Morse Main Reduction Gears
    two Diesel-drive 60Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Kalmia 77k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) underway, probably soon after recommissioning in 1952.
    US Navy photo # NH 102801 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Kalmia 104k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) underway, probably soon after recommissioning in 1952.
    US Navy photo # NH 102802 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Kalmia 118k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) underway, circa mid-1950s. location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 102804 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Kalmia 57k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) underway, 16 January 1964. Note the catapult on Kalmia's foredeck for launching target drone aircraft.
    US Navy photo # NH 102803, by PH2 J. Kruckenberg, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Kalmia 42k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) underway with a tow, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Kalmia 185k Aerial views of USS Kalmia (ATA-184) underway off NAS North Island, San Diego Bay in the fall of 1967. Kalmia was towing two barracks ships from the Panama Canal to Long Beach and Port Hueneme. The barracks ships were being refurbished for use in Vietnam. At that time it was believed to be the longest tow to ever depart the Panama Canal.
    US Navy photos    		 Don Gillispie USS Kalmia
    Kalmia 124k
    Vincennes 93k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) with the assistance of harbor tugs Muskegon (YTB-763) and Arawak (YTM-702) tow the old cruiser Ex-USS Vincennes (CL-64) out of San Diego Bay, 7 October 1969. Ex-USS Vincennes was expended as a target off the coast of southern California on 28 October 1969. Note that her gun barrels have been cut off.
    US Navy photo # K-77750 from the collections of the US Naval Historic Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Kalmia 104k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) with ex-USS Vincennes (CL-64) in tow, circa 7 to 28 October 1969. Ex-USS Vincennes was sunk as a target off the coast of southern California on 28 October 1969.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Kalmia 86k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) "Welcome Aboard" pamphlet, front and back pages, 1973. Denns Colton USS Kalmia
    Kalmia 182k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) "Welcome Aboard" pamphlet, inside pages, 1973. Denns Colton USS Kalmia
    USS Kalmia (ATA-184)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Hummel, W. E.6 November 1944 - 6 March 1945
    02LTjg. Phipps6 March 1945 - ?
     LT. Astorino, Gerald Paulno dates
     LT. Jones, Jerry ScottOctober 1964 - ?
     LT. Ansley, James H.October 1966 - ?
     LT. Wyatt, Thomas Walden31 December 1968 - ?
     LT. Andruss Jr., Frank D.1972 - ?
     LCDR. Sanderlin, Francis Richard1973 - ?
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    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 Ocean Rescue Tug (ATR) Photo Index Back To The Auxiliary Fleet Tug (ATA) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 12 November 2010