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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AT-67 / ATF-67 Apache


USS Apache (ATF-67) was transferred to the Republic of China and renamed Ta Wan (ATF-551)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - Navy Unit Commendation (3)
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ()
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Taiwan) - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Philippines Liberation Medal (2)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (3-WIA 5 January 1945 - Luzon)
Navajo Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 8 November 1941, as Fleet Tug (AT-67) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 8 May 1942
  • Commissioned, USS Apache (AT-67), 12 December 1942, LTjg. Clyde S. Horner in command
  • Reclassified Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-67), 15 May 1944
  • During WWII Apache was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Treasury-Bougainville operation
    Occupation and defense of Cape Torokina, 1 November to 15 December 1943     		Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Guam, mid-July to 3 August 1944
    Consolidation of Solomon Islands
    Consolidation of northern Solomon Islands, December 1943 to March 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 4 January 1945
    Bismarck Archipelago operation
    Emirau Island, 17 March 1944     		.

  • Decommissioned, 3 December 1946
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group
  • Recommissioned, 20 July 1951
  • During the Korean War Apache participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Second Korean Winter
    19 December 1951 to 4 January 1952
    19 January to 18 February 1952
    20 March to 13 April 1952
    26 to28 April 1952     		Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    9 to 12 May 1952
    16 to 28 June 1952

  • During the Vietnam War Apache participated in the following campaign:
  • Decommissioned, 27 February 1974
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 30 March 1974
  • Sold under the Security Assistance Program to the Republic of China, 1 June 1974, renamed Ta Wan
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • Apache won five battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation for her World War II service, two battle stars for Korean service and one campaign star, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for Vietnam service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,235 t.(lt) 1,674 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 38' 6"
    Draft 15' 4"
    Speed 16k.5kts.
    Complement 85
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel-electric, four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines, single screw, 3,600shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Apache (ATF-67)
    Apache 81k Apache (ATF-67) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Apache 31k Apache (ATF-67) underway in 1955, place unknown. Submitted by Joe Hubbard
    to NAFTS
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Apache 42k Apache (ATF-67) underway off the coast of southern California, 31 August 1964.US Navy photo by PH2 Lindberg. US Naval Historical Center
    Apache 44k Apache (ATF-67) underway, circa 1970-1971 Submitted by Bob Hallmark
    to NAFTS
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Ta Wan (ATF-551)
    Apache 76k ex-Apache (ATF-67) in the Republic of China service as Ta Wan (ATF-551) moored pierside, at Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 16 March 2006. Photo by Perry Huang
    Apache 82k ex-Apache (ATF-67) in the Republic of China service as Ta Wan (ATF-551) moored pierside, at Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 16 March 2006. Photo by Perry Huang
    Apache 129k ex-Apache (ATF-67) in the Republic of China service as Ta Wan (ATF-551) getting underway at Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 16 March 2006. Photo by Perry Huang
    Apache 72k ex-Apache (ATF-67) in the Republic of China service as Ta Wan (ATF-551) underway departing Keelung Harbor, Taiwan, 16 March 2006. Photo by Perry Huang
    View the Apache (ATF-67)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    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 Fleet Tug (AF) Photo Index Back To The Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 14 July 2006