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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Salish (ATA-187)
ex
 USS ATA-187 (1944 - 1948)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Oscar - Kilo
 NJOK
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic -Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal

USS Salish was transferred to Argentina and renamed ARA Alferez Sobral (A9)
Sotoyomo Class Auxiliary Fleet Tug:
  • Projected as Rescue Ocean Tug ATR-114
  • Laid down, 29 August 1944, as ATA-187, at Levingston Shipbuilding Co., Orange, TX.
  • Launched, 29 September 1944
  • Commissioned, USS ATA-187, 7 December 1944. Lt. Thomas G. Lewis in command
  • During World War II USS ATA-187 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 22 April to 31 May 1945
  • Named USS Salish (ATA-187), 16 July 1948
  • Decommissioned, 10 February 1972
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1975
  • Transferred (sold) to Argentina, 1 February 1975, under the Security Assistance Program, renamed ARA Alferez Sobral (A9)
  • Damage in 1982 during the Falkland War, repaired
  • Discarded by the Argentine Navy in 1984
  • Final Disposition fate unknown
  • USS Salish (ATA-187) received one battle star as USS ATA-187 for her World War II service
    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
    USS ATA-187
    Salish 104k USS ATA-187 passing under the Golden Gate Bridge as she returns to San Francisco from Operation "Cross Roads", Bikini Atoll, October 1946. National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors, courtesy David Stinson USS Salish
    USS Salish (ATA-187)
    Salish 42k USS ATA-187 underway, circa 1953, location unknown.
    Photo courtesy National Fleet Tug Sailors Association, contributed by Sherman McGee.    		 Robert Hurst
    Salish 62k USS ATA-187 underway, circa 1956, location unknown.
    Photo courtesy National Fleet Tug Sailors Association, contributed by Sherman McGee.    		 Robert Hurst
    Salish 76k USS ATA-187 moored pierside at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba circa November/October 1957.
    Photo courtesy National Fleet Tug Sailors Association, contributed by Sherman McGee.    		 Robert Hurst
    Salish 46k USS ATA-187 underway, circa 1966, location unknown. Note awning over bow section covering crewmen while they work.
    Photo courtesy National Fleet Tug Sailors Association, contributed by Sherman McGee.    		 Robert Hurst
    Salish 63k USS Salish (ATA-187) underway, date and location unknown. National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    ARA Alferez Sobral (A9)
    Salish 6k
    Namesake
    José María Sobral (Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos - 14 April 1880 - Capital Federal, 14 April 1961; coincidentally he was born and died on 14 April) was an Argentine explorer, geologist and military officer. Contribution of Francisco Javier Santos Vázquez.    		 Fabio Pena
    Salish 50k Ex-USS Salish (ATA-187) in Argentine service as ARA Alferez Sobral (A9) underway shortly after joining the Argentine Navy in the 1970s. Photo by Ignacio Amendolara. Robert Hurst
    Salish 61k Damage to the bridge area of ARA Alferez Sobral (A9) after being hit by one or both of the Sea Skua ASMs fired by a Lynx HAS.Mk.2/3 (XZ247) helicopter from HMS Glasgow during the Falklands War of 1982. Earlier she had been attacked by a Lynx (XZ242) helicopter from HMS Coventry, which fired two missiles, one of which missed the bridge and the other one hit Sobral's fiberglass motorboat, injuring the crew of a 20 mm cannon and knocking out the radio masts.. Robert Hurst
    Salish 80k ARA Alferez Sobral (A9) moored pierside, April 2003, location unknown. Armada Argentina web site
    Salish 355k ARA Alferez Sobral (A9) underway at Ushuaia, November 2008. Photo by Matias Cosso. Robert Hurst
    USS Salish (ATA-187)
    DANFS     history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Lewis, Thomas G.7 December 1944 - ?
     LT. Cotton, Robert V.1963 - August 1965
     LT. Donovan, Francis RaymondAugust 1965 - ?
     LT. Hansen, Hans Peterno dates
     LT. Hutton Jr., Joseph JohnMarch 1967 - ?
     LT. Sargent, Harry7 July 1969 - ?
    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 Rescue Ocean 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 4 November 2011