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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Samoset (ATA-190)
ex
 USS ATA-190 (1945 - 1948)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - India - Tango
 NIIT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal

USS Samoset (ATA-190) was transferred to Haiti, renamed Henri Christophe (MM20)
Sotoyomo Class Auxiliary Fleet Tug:
  • Planned and authorized as Rescue Ocean Tug ATR-117
  • Reclassified Auxiliary Fleet Tug ATA-190,15 May 1944
  • Laid down, 29 September 1944 at Levingston Shipbuilding Co., Orange, TX.
  • Launched, 26 October 1944
  • Commissioned USS ATA-190, 1 January 1945, LTjg. Elmo D. Twiehaus, USN in command
  • During World War II USS ATA-190 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, 1 to 6 May 1945

    Following World War II USS ATA-190 was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September 1945 to 27 March 1946
  • Named USS Samoset (ATA-190), 16 July 1948
  • Decommissioned, 12 September 1969
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Transferred, cash sale, to Haiti under the Security Assistance Program, 1 October 1978, renamed Henri Christophe (MM20)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1978
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS Samoset (ATA-190) earned one battle star as USS ATA-190 for World War II service
    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
    Samoset 26k USS Samoset (ATA-190) underway from Naval Station Norfolk, circa 1963.
    US Navy photo.    		 Contributed by Craig Rothhammer to
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Sagamore 136k USS Samoset (ATA-190) on the port side of the lock. On the starboard side of the lock, is USS Sagamore (ATA-208) during a goodwill tour to Cardiff Wales, date unknown.
    Photo courtesy the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors, contributed by George Antellas.    		 Robert Hurst
    Samoset 135k USS Samoset (ATA-190) underway in Chesapeake Bay, 1967.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Samoset 158k USS Samoset (ATA-190) towing a target, 27 June 1967, during operations off the Virginia Capes.
    US Navy photo # KN 15675, courtesy Shipscribe.com    		 Mike Green
    USS Samoset (ATA-190)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Twiehaus, Elmo David, USN1 January 1945 - ?
    02LCDR. Smith Jr., Walter Webster, USN1956 - ?
    03LCDR. Stouter, Leland Roy, USNJuly 1961 - June 1963
    04LT. Boland Jr., Joseph Eugene, USNRJune 1963 - ?
    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 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 10 July 2020