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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Bannock (ATF-81)
ex
 USS Bannock (AT-81) (1943 - 1944)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Golf - Tango
 NWGT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


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

USS Bannock (ATF-81) was transferred to Italy
Navajo Class Fleet Tug:
  • Laid down, date unknown, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 7 January 1943
  • Commissioned USS Bannock (AT-81), 28 June 1943, LT. Sam P. Morgan USN, in command
  • Reclassified as a Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-81), 15 May 1944
  • During WWII USS Bannock was first assigned to Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
    Task Group 122.3 - Salvage and Fire Fighting Group (Wreck Dispersal Vessel)     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 6 May to 30 June 1945

  • Following World War II USS Bannock was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September 1945 to 22 January 1946
  • Decommissioned, 21 February 1947, at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange
  • Recommissioned, 11 September 1951
  • Decommissioned, 25 November 1955
  • Laid up in the Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred (sold) to Italy, 1 May 1979, under the Security Assistance Program
  • Final Disposition, discarded by Italy, fate unknown
  • USS Bannock earned two battle stars for her service during World War II
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,235 t.(lt) 1,675 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 38' 6"
    Draft 15' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 5
    Enlisted 80
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 2,265 Bbls
    Propulsion
    four General Motors 12-278 Diesel-electric main engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    two 100Kw 120V D.C.
    one 60Kw 120V D.C.
    three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines
    single propeller, 3,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Bannock (AT-81)
    Bannock 28k USS Bannock (AT-81) commissioning ceremony, 28 June 1943, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
    US Navy photo    		 Alan Owen
    USS Bannock (ATF-81)
    Bannock 28k USS Bannock (ATF-81) underway, 26 August 1944, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Bannock 52k USS Bannock (ATF-81) at the scene of the sinking of USS Meredith (DD-726), off Utah Beach, 9 June 1944. Meredith struck a mine off Utah Beach, 8 June 1944 and was sunk the following day by German aircraft. Note, just across the midship area of the 83' patrol boat is the stern, and over the bow, is the overturned bow of Meredith.
    US Navy photo    		 Michael Feagin in honor of his father Byron Feagin USS Bannock
    Bannock 261k USS Bannock (ATF-81) change of command, LT. Harold Mitchell Yelton, USN relieves LCDR. Jesse Lee White, USN, 25 September 1954. US Navy photos.
    LCDR. White looks on as LT. Yelton reads his orders in assuming command of Bannock
    LCDR. White's Commissioning Pennant is hauled down
    "O" Division inspection during change of command
    LT Yelton's crew photo. Front Row officers left to right; WO Phillips, Engineering ENS. LTjg. Rosenfield, XO; LT Yelton, CO; ENS. Peterson; CWO Wayda. Don Burner is far left in the first row of crew standing, at far left.    		 Don Burner RM3 USS Bannock
    Bannock 279k
    Bannock 261k
    Bannock 309k
    Bannock 224k USS Bannock (ATF-81) underway in the Chesapeake Bay, circa 1954-55. Note the missing whale boat and motor launch, both were away for overhaul. Don Burner RM3 USS Bannock
    C.P. 451 Bannock
    Bannock 1386k Ex-USS Bannock (ATF-81) in Italian Coast Guard service drydocked at Genoa, Italy, 26 January 1969 Photo by Carlo Martinelli
    Bannock 65k C.P. 451 Bannock in 1999 Submitted by Elizabeth Piet and Alex Sinke
    to NAFTS
    (National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors)
    Bannock 48k C.P. 451 Bannock in service with the Italian Customs Service, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Bannock 69k C.P. 451 Bannock laid up at Naples, Italy. In a message from Guardia Costiera. ".. regarding your mail of 07/03/2005 we inform you that the ship is in 'disarmament' and that she is in the Naples Port. We send the photo of the ship." Michael Feagin in honor of his father Byron Feagin USS Bannock
    USS Bannock (AT-81 / ATF-81)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Morgan, Sam Patterson, USN28 June 1943 - 15 September 1944
    02LT. Goertner, John Michael, USNR15 September 1944 - December 1945
    03LT. Hobbs, Truman M., USNRDecember 1945 - 1946
    04LT. Grove, Francis Wayne, USN1946 - 21 February 1947
     Decommissioned21 February 1947 - 11 September 1951
    05LT. Dreman, Wesley Curtis11 September 1951 - 1953
    06LCDR. White, Jesse Lee, USN1953 - 25 September 1954
    07LT. Yelton, Harold Mitchell, USN25 September 1954 - 25 November 1955
    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 Fleet Tug (AT) Photo Index Back To The Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF) 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 15 May 2015