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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AT-93 / ATF-93 Tekesta

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Victor - Yankee
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal

USS Tekesta (ATF-93) was transferred to Chile, and renamed Yelcho (AGS-64)
Navajo Class Fleet Tug:
  • Laid down, 7 September 1942, at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 20 March 1943
  • Commissioned USS Tekesta (AT-93), 16 August 1943, LT. John O. Strickland in command
  • Redesignated Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-93), 16 May 1944
  • During WWII Tekesta was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 1 to 8 February 1944     		Tinian capture and occupation
    27 April to 20 July 1944
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 15 June to 26 July 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April to 14 June 1945

  • Following World War II Tekesta performed occupation duty in the Far East, including China Service, until 23 August 1946
  • Inactived at Naval Shipyard Mare Island, 4 April 1950
  • Departed Mare Island under tow for San Diego, 10 April 1950
  • Decommissioned, 14 April 1950, at San Diego, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group
  • Placed in service, 24 January 1958, LT. Fred J. Sleinner in charge
  • Placed out of service in early-1960
  • Transferred (leased) to Chile, 16 May 1960, renamed Yelcho (AGS-64)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 25 June 1992
  • Placed out of commission by the Chilean Navy, 16 August 1996
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • Tekesta earned four battle stars during World War II
    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 gun mounts, two single 20mm guns
    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 Source
    USS Tekesta (ATF-93)
    Tekesta 49k Tekesta (ATF-93) at Ie Shima, circa April-June 1945. Steve Becker for his father Duane O. Becker EN1 USS Tekesta
    Tekesta 145k Tekesta (ATF-93) alongside the badly damaged destroyer Newcomb (DD-586) at Kerama Retto. Newcomb was towed to Kerama Retto by Tekesta after being hit five times by Japanese Kamikaze suicide aircraft while screening minesweepers off Ie Shima, 6 April 1945. Steve Becker for his father Duane O. Becker EN1 USS Tekesta
    Tekesta 116k Tekesta (ATF-93) alongside Newcomb (DD-586) at Kerama Retto, 6 April 1945. Steve Becker for his father Duane O. Becker EN1 USS Tekesta
    Tekesta 285k Tekesta (ATF-93) moored pierside, (probably) at Shanghai, China, circa late-1945. Ships in the background include Indian River (AG-77) which entered the port of Shanghai only once in late1945 while part of operation "Magic Carpet". Steve Becker for his father Duane O. Becker EN1 USS Tekesta
    Tekesta 77k Tekesta (ATF-93) at anchor, probably somewhere in China, circa late-1945-1946. Note the rice paddies on the hill in the background. Steve Becker for his father Duane O. Becker EN1 USS Tekesta
    Tekesta 54k Tekesta (ATF-93) at anchor, probably somewhere in China, circa late-1945-1946. Steve Becker for his father Duane O. Becker EN1 USS Tekesta
    Tekesta 46k Tekesta (ATF-93) at anchor, probably somewhere in China, circa late-1945-1946. Steve Becker for his father Duane O. Becker EN1 USS Tekesta
    Tekesta 68k View of Tekesta (ATF-93)'s "Jap"kill record painted on the port side bridge wing, circa late 1945-1946. Steve Becker for his father Duane O. Becker EN1 USS Tekesta
    Tekesta 93k Tekesta (ATF-93) passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA. in 1958.
    Photo ©Allied Photographers, San Francisco.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Yelcho (AGS-64)
    Tekesta 73k Ex-Tekesta (ATF-93) in the Republic of Chile service as the Antarctic research and survey ship Yelcho (AGS-64) at anchor, circa 1963, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Tekesta 34k Yelcho (AGS-64) at anchor, date and location unknown. Patricio Villalobos, Captain (R), Chilean Navy.
    Tekesta 126k Yelcho (AGS-64) at anchor, date and location unknown. Patricio Villalobos, Captain (R), Chilean Navy.
    View the Tekesta (AT-93 / ATF-93)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    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
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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 28 September 2007