Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Eli Blanco

USS Wandank (ATA-204)
ex
 USS ATA-204 (1945 - 1952)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Lima - Hotel
 NILH
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Menu Lima
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 - World War II Victory Medal
Bottom Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Vietnam Service Medal (2) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Sotoyomo Class Auxiliary Fleet Tug:
  • Planned and authorized as Rescue Ocean Tug (ATR-131)
  • Reclassified Auxiliary Fleet Tug (ATA-204),15 May 1944
  • Laid down, 25 September 1944, at Gulfport Shipbuilding, Corp., Port Arthur, TX.
  • Launched, 9 November 1944
  • Commissioned, USS ATA-204, 18 January 1945, LTjg. Vernon L. Ryan, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS ATA-204 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 28 November 1947, at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Astoria, OR.
  • Reactivated, 17 April 1952, at Astoria, OR.
  • Recommissioned, USS Wandank (ATA-204), 3 May 1952, at Pearl Harbor, LT. William A. Walden in command
  • Homeport changed to Naval Station Guam in 1966
  • During the Vietnam War USS Wandank (ATA-204) participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    14 to 17 January 1968     		Tet69/Counteroffensive
    23 to 25 April 1969
    1 to 6 May 1969
  • Decommissioned, 1 July 1971, at Guam
  • Simultaneously turned over to the Department of the Interior for service in the Trust Territories
  • Returned to US Naval custody, 22 May 1973
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 August 1973
  • Subsequently returned to the Interior Department for serves in the Trust Territories
  • USS Wandank received two campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 610 t.(lt) 835 t.(fl)
    Length 143'
    Beam 33' 10"
    Draft 13' 2" (lim)
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 5
    Enlisted 40
    Largest Boom Capacity 5 t.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 1,200 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 12-278A Diesel-electric engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gear
    two Diesel-drive 60Kw 120V D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS ATA-204
    Wandank 16k USS ATA-204 underway during builders trials near Port Arthur, TX., circa December 1944.
    A US Navy Bureau of Ships photo courtesy the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors, contributed by Bill Mozingo.    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Wandank (ATA-204)
    Wandank 117k USS Wandank (ATA-204) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Eli Blanco RM3, USS Wandank 1967-1968
    Wandank 95k USS Wandank (ATA-204) underway, date and location unknown.
    Photo courtesy the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors, contributed by Craig Rothhammer.    		 Robert Hurst
    Wandank 450k USS Wandank (ATA-204) moored pierside forward of USS San Joaquin County (LST-1122) at Naval Supply Depot Guam, circa 1967-68. Photo by Eli Blanco RM3, USS Wandank 1967-1968
    Wandank 60k USS Wandank (ATA-204) conducting gunnery practice off Saipan, circa 1967-1968. Photo by Eli Blanco RM3, USS Wandank 1967-1968
    Wandank 105k
    Wandank 180k USS Wandank (ATA-204) moored outboard of USS Mahopac (ATA-196) at Naval Base Yokosuka Japan in 1968 while training for a special ops mission. Photo by Eli Blanco RM3, USS Wandank 1967-1968
    USS Wandank (ATA-204)
    DANFS History entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Ryan, Vernon L. USNR18 January 1945 - ?
     Decommissioned28 November 1947 - 3 May 1952
     LT. Walden, William A.3 May 1952 - ?
     LT. Flikeld, Jack Robert USN? - 17 March 1967
     LT. Dolph, W. A. USN17 March 1967 - ?
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Wandank (ATA-204) Change of Command program 17 March 1967
    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 28 October 2011