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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Art Ramierz via NAFTS

AT-96 / ATF-96 Abnaki

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Tango - November
NUTN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2)- China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Service Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (3)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Vietnam, 1-Op. Frequent Wind) - Vietnam Service Medal (10) - Humanitarian Service Medal
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Combat Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

USS Abnaki (ATF-96) was transferred to Mexico, renamed ARM Yaqui (A18)
Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 28 November 1942, as Fleet Tug (AT-96) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 22 April 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Abnaki (AT-96), 15 November 1943, LT. Dewey Walley in command
  • Reclassified as Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-96), 15 May 1944
  • Decommissioned, 30 September 1978
  • Sold under the Security Assistance Program to Mexico, 1 September 1978, renamed ARM Yaqui (A-18), renamed ARM A. H. Ehecatl (A-53), name changed back to ARM Yaqui (ARE-02)
  • Struck from the US Naval Register, 30 September 1978
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • Abnaki earned three battle stars for Korean War service and ten campiagn stars during Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,205 t.(lt) 1,646 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 39'
    Draft 17' (max)
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 8 Officers, 68 Enlisted
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 20mm AAgun mounts
    Propulsion diesel-electric, four ALCO diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three Cooper- Besmear auxiliary services engines, single screw, 3,600shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Abnaki (ATF-96)
    Abnaki 17k Abnaki (ATF-96) underway, circa 1940s Submitted by Carl C. Murdock to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Abnaki 73k Abnaki (ATF-96) underway off the Azores, in December 1944. Abnaki carried salvage divers from Weight (ARS-35) to perform temporary repairs to Fogg (DE-57). (While escorting a homeward bound convoy Fogg was torpedoed, 20 December 1944.) Photo by Frank Kocourek, ME1, USN Salvage Diver, USS Weight 1943-45. Submitted by his son Peter Kocourek
    Weight 54k Torpedoed Fogg (DE-57) with Abnaki (ATF-98) standing by, December 1944. Photo by Frank Kocourek, ME1, USN Salvage Diver, USS Weight 1943-45. Submitted by his son Peter Kocourek
    Weight 85k Weight (ARS-35) salvage crew leaving Abnaki (ATF-96) to assist Fogg (DE-57) Photo by Frank Kocourek, ME1, USN Salvage Diver, USS Weight 1943-45. Submitted by his son Peter Kocourek
    Abnaki 51k Abnaki (ATF-96) steams into Pearl Harbor after months of towing and buoy-planting in the Korean Theater.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, issue dated May 1947    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Abnaki 47k Abnaki (ATF-96) underway, date and place unknown. Submitted by Emmett Firmin to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Abnaki 98k Abnaki (ATF-96) underway, date and place unknown Submitted by Emmett Firmin to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Abnaki 48k Abnaki (ATF-96) underway, at Pearl Harbor, HI, 22 February 1968. Submitted by Emmett Firmin to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Abnaki 41k Abnaki (ATF-96) underway, date and place unknown. Submitted by S. Thomas to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    ARM A.H. Ehecati (A-53)
    Abnaki 25k Ex-Abnaki (ATF-96) in Mexican service
    as ARM A. H. Ehecati (A-53), moored, 1996    		 National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    View the Abnaki (ATF-96)
    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
    ARM Yaqui ARE-02
    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 18 January 2008