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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Al Grazevich

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
Sotoyomo 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, LT. William E. Hummel, USN in command
  • During World War II USS ATA-184 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 23 August 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 Colombia, 1 July 1971, 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.(lt) 1,360 t.(fl)
    Length 143'
    Beam 33' 10"
    Draft 13' 2" (limiting)
    Speed 12 kts.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Largest Boom Capacity 5 t.
    Complement
    Officers 5
    Enlisted 40
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 1,200 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two GM 12-278A Diesel-electric engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gear
    Ship's Service Generators
    two 60Kw 120V. D.C.
    single propeller, 1,200shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Kalmia 246k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) under way, probably soon after recommissioning in 1952.
    US Navy photo    		 Tommy Trampp
    Kalmia 77k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) under way, probably soon after recommissioning in 1952.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 102801    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Kalmia 104k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) under way, probably soon after recommissioning in 1952.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 102802    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Kalmia 118k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) under way, circa mid-1950s. location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 102804    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Kalmia 57k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) under way, 16 January 1964. Note the catapult on Kalmia's foredeck for launching target drone aircraft.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 102803, by PH2 J. Kruckenberg.    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Kalmia 42k USS Kalmia (ATA-184) under way 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) under way 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 Naval History and Heritage Command photo # K-77750    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    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)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Hummel, William Earl, USN6 November 1944 - 23 August 1946
     Decommissioned23 August 1946 - 5 May 1952
    02LT. Dorr, Theodore Philip, USN5 May 1952 - ?
    03LT. Koch, Joseph, USN1956 - 20 December 1957
    04LT. Cross, Charles Himrod, USN20 December 1957 - 14 November 1959
    05LT. Fox, Richard Vogell, USN14 November 1959 - October 1961
    06LT. Lockwood Jr., Robert Kenneth, USNOctober 1961 - ?
    07LT. Cormack, James Peter, USNNovember 1963 - October 1964
    08LT. Jones, Jerry Scott, USNOctober 1964 - January 1965
    09LT. Astorino, Gerald Paul, USNJanuary 1965 - October 1966
    109LT. Ansley, James Henry, USNOctober 1966 - 31 December 1968
    11LT. Wyatt, Thomas Walden, USN31 December 1968 - January 1969
    12LCDR. Fellis, Richard Thomas, USNJanuary 1969 - July 1969
    13LCDR. Sanderlin, Francis Richard, USNJuly 1969 - 1971
    14LT. Andruss Jr., Frank D., USN1971 - 1 July 1971
    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 26 March 2021