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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Sunnadin (ATA-197)
ex
USS ATA-197 (1945 - 1948)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Juliet - Romeo
NIJR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Vietnam Service Medal (3) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal


Sotoyomo Class Auxiliary Fleet Tug:
  • Planned and authorized as Rescue Ocean Tug ATR-124
  • Reclassified Auxiliary Fleet Tug ATA-197, 15 May 1944
  • Laid down, 4 December 1944, at Levingston Ship Building Co., Orange, TX.
  • Launched, 6 February 1945
  • Commissioned USS ATA-197, 14 March 1945, LT. William A. Rye, USNR in command
  • During World War II USS ATA-197 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Named USS Sunnadin (ATA-197), 16 July 1948
  • During the Vietnam War USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    13 to 24 December 1965
    Vietnam Counteroffensive - Phase II
    30 December 1966 to 21 January 1967
    7 to 27 March 1967
    Vietnam Counteroffensive
    25 to 31 December 1965
     

  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 20 November 1969, at Pearl Harbor, HI.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS Sunnadin earned three campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Sold in February 1971 to Flynn-Learner, Honolulu, HI.
  • Resold in 1971 to Luzon Stevedoring Company, Manila, renamed Kahuna
  • Resold in 1981 to Safesea Shipping International Ltd., Panama, name retained
  • Final Disposition, 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
    two Diesel-drive 60Kw 120V. D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,200shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Sunnadin 95k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) underway outside of Pearl Harbor, H.I. circa 1953-54. Note the catapult on her bow for launching drones for target practice.
    Photo from "Towline" the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors magazine, 1 September 1996, courtesy William Vacek USS Sunnadin.
    Stan Svec
    Sunnadin 78k Crew members of USS Cocopa (ATF-101) keep eye on wire rope secured to USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) during towing session.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1959.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Sunnadin 95k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) moored pierside, October 1960, Pearl Harbor, H.I. Charles Tremblay EN2 USN USS Sunnadin
    Sunnadin 75k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) moored pierside, October 1960, Pearl Harbor, H.I. Charles Tremblay EN2 USN USS Sunnadin
    Sunnadin 83k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) moored pierside, October 1960, Pearl Harbor, H.I. Charles Tremblay EN2 USN USS Sunnadin
    Sunnadin 85k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) moored pierside, October 1960, Pearl Harbor, H.I. Charles Tremblay EN2 USN USS Sunnadin
    Sunnadin 85k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) underway off Hawaii, looking aft while towing a barge, date unknown Photo by Charles Tremblay EN2 USN USS Sunnadin
    Sunnadin 91k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) looking aft while enroute to Kwajalein Atoll with a barge in tow, date unknown Photo by Charles Tremblay EN2 USN USS Sunnadin
    Sunnadin 74k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) pilot house with an unidentified seaman and the ship's Executive Officer CWO4 Wylie, date unknown Photo by Charles Tremblay EN2 USN USS Sunnadin
    Sunnadin 65k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197)'s starboard bridge wing, CWO4 Wylie on watch, date unknown Photo by Charles Tremblay EN2 USN USS Sunnadin
    Sunnadin 111k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) underway, view of the ship's 26' Motor Whaleboat, date unknown Photo by Charles Tremblay EN2 USN USS Sunnadin
    Sunnadin 67k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) moored pierside, Pearl Harbor, HI., 1967 Photo by Ramon Jackson
    Sunnadin 70k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) moored, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, December 1962
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Sunnadin 76k USS Sunnadin (ATA-197) underway at Pearl Harbor, HI., date unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, December 1966
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.

    USS Sunnadin (ATA-197)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Rye, William A., USNR14 March 1945 - December 1945
    02LT. Trautmann, Homer F., USNRDecember 1945 - March 1946
    03ENS. Morris, Dudley H., USNRMarch 1946 - June 1946
    04LTjg. Reed, Wilbur Edwin, USNJune 1946 -1948
    05LT. Belechak, Stephen Clair, USN1960 - 23 March 1962
    06LT. Billings, Charles Howard, USN23 March 1962 - June 1964
    07LT. Smallwood, Roger ClintonJune 1964 - 1 October 1966
    08LT. Turpin Jr., Thomas Jefferson, USN1 October 1966 - 22 July 1967
    09LT. James, Daniel A., USN22 July 1967 - 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

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    Last Updated 26 March 2021