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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Don McGrogan BMCS, USN (Ret.) - Popular Patch

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Tawakoni (ATF-114)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Romeo - Oscar NWRO

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (6 April 1945) - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal (3) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Taiwan Straits, 2-Quemoy-Matsu, 1-Vietnam) - Vietnam Service Medal (3)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

USS Tawakoni (ATF-114) was transferred to Taiwan and renamed ROCS Ta Han (A553)

Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:

Laid down, 19 May 1943 as Fleet Tug (AT-114) at United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA., 8 October 1943.

Launched, 23 October 1943

Reclassified as Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-114), 15 May 1944

Commissioned USS Tawakoni (ATF-114), 15 September 1944, LCDR. Clarence L. Fourshee Sr., USN in command

During World War II USS Tawakoni (ATF-114) assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 10 March 1945	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 April to 30 June 1945

Following World War II USS Tawakoni was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
11 September 1945 to 11 March 1946	11 July to 1 September 1947
28 March to 5 April 1946

During the Korean War USS Tawakoni (ATF-114) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaign
Communist China Aggression 15 November 1950 to 5 January 1951	Communist China Spring Offensive 22 April to 5 May 1951
First UN Counter Offensive 17 to 20 February 1951 31 March 1951 13 to 21 April 1951

During the Vietnam War USS Tawakoni (ATF-114) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnam War Campaign
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 13 November to 23 December 1968 13 to 24 January 1969 8 to 13 February 1969 17 to 22 February 1969	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 21 to 24 March 1970
Tet 69/Counteroffensive 23 February 1969

Decommissioned, date unknown

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1978

USS Tawakoni earned two battle stars for World War II service, three battle stars for Korean War service and three campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Sold, to Taiwan, 1 June 1978, under the Security Assistance Program, renamed ROCS Ta Han (A553)

Decommissioned, 1 November 2020

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 1,205 t.(lt) 1,675 t.(fl)
Length 205'
Beam 38 6"'
Draft 15' 5" (lim)
Speed 16.5 kts.

Complement

5 Officers

80 Enlisted

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts

two single 20mm AA gun mounts

Propulsion

As Built

four Busch-Sulzer (mod 12-278) Diesel-electric engines
Ship's Service Generators
two Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
one Diesel-drive 200Kw 120V/240 D.C.

Modernized

four Alco Diesel engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines

single propeller 3,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Tawakoni (ATF-114)
093911413	289k	*Namesake* Tawakoni - The Tawakoni (also Tahuacano and Tehuacana) are a Southern Plains Native American tribe, closely related to the Wichitas. They historically spoke a Wichita language of the Caddoan language family. Currently, they are enrolled in the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, a federally recognized tribe. Photo - Wichita Indian, Grass House. Near Anadarko, I.T. SMU Libriaies - U.S. West: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints Flickr - U.S. West: Photographs and Images	Tommy Trampp
	860k	*USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114) under construction at United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA., 8 October 1943. USS Watersee (ATF-117)** is on the left. A US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Alan Owens
	850k	Starboard bow view of *USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114) under construction at United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA., 8 October 1943. USS Potawatomi (ATF-109)** is in the background. A US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Alan Owens
	671k	*USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114)** launching, 23 October 1943, at United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA. A US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Alan Owens
	828k	From right to left; *USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114), USS Tenino (ATF-115) and USS Tolova (ATF-116)** moored at the fitting out pier United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA., 6 July 1944 A US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Alan Owens
	73k	*USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114)** probably upon her return to San Francisco from the western Pacific in May 1946. Note the improvised extension to her Diesel exhaust pipe, which had apparently been found to be unsatisfactory as built. US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 80007	Mike Green
	110k	*USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114)** towing the aft-section of the tanker SS Fort Dearborn into Honolulu, T. H., circa March 1947. US Navy photo.	Tommy Trampp
	26k	*USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Naval Sea Systems Command Web Site
	41k	*USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114)** rigging up to lay beach gear, Pearl Harbor, 1958.	Submitted by George Bauer to NAFTS National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
	78k	*USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114) and USS St. Louis (LKA-116)** moored pierside at Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, circa 1972.	Photo by Patrick Doyle, 9th Motor Transport Bn, 4th Marines
	1164k	*USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114)** preparing to get underway at Naval Base Subic Bay, Philippine Islands in 1974.	Photo by Terry Rioux TM2 USS Coucal
ROCS Ta Han (A553)
	46k	Ex-*USS Tawakoni* (ATF-114) in Taiwanese service as ROCS Ta Han (A553)**
093911414	56k	*ROCS Ta Han* (A553)** decommissioning ceremony, 1 November 2020. Young Daily News	Tommy Trampp
093911412	39k	*ROCS Ta Han* (A553)** decommissioning ceremony, 1 November 2020.	Dave Shirlaw, Seawaves Magazine

USS Tawakoni (ATF-114)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Fourshee Sr., Clarence Lucius, USN	15 September 1944 - 13 October 1946
02	LT. Green, Keith 'A'., USN	12 October 1946 - 12 February 1947
03	LT. Oaks, Leslie Charles, USN	12 February 1947 - 21 April 1948
04	LTjg. Block, Claus Arnold, USN	21 April 1948 - 20 November 1948
05	LT. Sherwood, Charles Grady, USN	20 November 1948 - 1 July 1950
06	LT. Scribner, Louis Burton, USN	1 July 1950 - 27 May 1952
07	LT. Mowrer, Robert Acre, USN	27 May 1952 - 15 May 1954
08	LT. Jackson, Earl Alonzo, USN	15 May 1954 - 5 May 1956
09	LT. Weaver, John Clark, USN (USNA 1955)	5 May 1956 - 3 May 1958
10	LT. Schuster, Dale George, USN	3 May 1958 - 4 November 1960
11	LT. Hilder, Frederick Asa, USN	4 November 1960 - 14 July 1962
12	LT. Gandy, John David, USN	14 July 1962 - 26 May 1964
13	LT. Mills, Neal Owen, USN	26 May 1964 - 16 July 1966
14	LT. Patterson, Larry Lenker, USN	16 July 1966 - 18 July 1967
15	LT. Haney, William Clay, USN	18 July 1967 - 26 December 1968
16	LCDR. Mulhearn, Raymond Robert, USN	26 December 1968 - 15 May 1971
17	LT. Heinecke, Walter Richard, USN	15 May 1971 - 28 July 1972
18	LT. Deda, Donald James, USN	28 July 1972 - 1 July 1974
19	LT. O'Donnell, Gerald James, USN (USNA 1969)	1 July 1974 - 15 September 1976
20	LT. Gano, Richard Dale, USN (USNA 1969)	15 September 1976 - 28 April 1978
21	LCDR. Ostertag, James Joseph, USN	28 April 1978 - 1 June 1978


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
ROCS Ta Han (A553)-1
ROCS Ta Han (A553)-2

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Last Updated 6 October 2023