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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

AT-106 / ATF-106 Molala

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Zulu - Golf

USS Molala (ATF-106) was transferred to Mexico and renamed ARM Otomi (A-17)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5) - 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) - Vietnam Service Medal (4) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 26 July 1942, at United Engineers Co., Alameda, CA.
  • Launched, 23 December 1942
  • Commissioned USS Molala (AT-106), 29 September 1943, LT. Rudolph L. Ward in command
  • Reclassified Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-106), 15 May 1944
  • During WWII Molala 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 Eniwetok Atoll, February and March 1944     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    5th Fleet raids in support of Okinawa Gunto operation, February 1945
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, June to August 1944     		Iwo Jima operation
    5th Fleet raids against Honshu and the Nansei Shoto, February 1945
    Luzon operation
    3rd Fleet supporting operation, 29 December 1944 to 27 January 1945     		.

  • During the Korean War Molala participated in the following campaigns:
    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    25 to 30 November 1952     		Korean Summer-Fall 1953
    3 to 13 May 1953
    Third Korean Winter
    13 to 14 December 1952
    7 to 30 January 1953
    7 to 23 April 1953     		.

  • During the Vietnam War Molala participated in the following campaigns:
    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Vietnam Defense
    10 November to 24 December 1965     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    11 March to 11 April 1967
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    25 December 1965 to 8 January 1966
    25 January to 28 January 1966     		Vietnam Ceasefire
    17 to 20 April 1972
    23 May to 6 June 1972
    25 July to 1 August 1972

  • Decommissioned, 1 August 1978
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 August 1978
  • Sold to Mexico, 1 August 1978, under the Security Assistance Program, named ARM Otomi (A-17), later renamed ARM Kukulkan (A-52)
  • Current Disposition, still active in the Mexican Navy
  • Molala earned five battle stars for World War II service, three battle stars for Korean War service and four campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,240 t.(lt) 1,589 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 38' 6"
    Draft 15' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 85
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion diesel-electric, four Alco diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines, single screw
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Molala (ATF-106)
    Molala 83k Molala (ATF-106) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Chris Cavas of "The Navy Times"via
    Mike Turner ex RM/2c
    Molala 44k Molala (ATF-106) underway, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Molala 22k Molala (ATF-106) underway, date and location unknown. Submitted by Darold Fenton
    to NAFTS
    (National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors)
    Molala 65k Molala (ATF-106) with an unidentified Italian Motor Minesweeper (AMS) alongside. Molala was escorting Italian and French minesweepers from San Diego, CA to the Panama Canal in November 1954. Photo was taken from the French minesweeper Jacinthe (M 680), ex-AMS-115. Photo courtesy of Quartermaster First Stephan Raymond, French Navy. André Pilon
    Molala 63k Molala (ATF-106) moored outboard of an unidentified ATF, probably in San Diego in 1973. Photo by Bob Dunn ex ETN/2c via
    Mike Turner ex RM2
    ARM Kukulan (A-52)
    Molala 77k Ex-Molala (ATF-106) in Mexican service as ARM Kukulan (A-52), date and location unknown. Photo provided to Mike Turner ex RM/2c
    by Mexican Governments, Secretary of Foreign Relations Office
    Additional Ships Patches
    Molala
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski    		 Molala
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    View the Molala (ATF-106)
    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
    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 11 May 2007