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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Wenatchee (ATF-118)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Foxtrot - Kilo - Quebec
 NFKQ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


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

USS Wenatchee (ATF-118) was transferred to Taiwan and renamed ROCS Ta Fang (555)
Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 12 January 1944, as Wenatchee (AT-118) at United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA.
  • Reclassified as Large Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-118), 15 May 1944
  • Launched, 7 September 1944
  • Commissioned USS Wenatchee (ATF-118), 24 March 1945
  • During WWII USS Wenatchee was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    3rd Fleet operations against Japan, 11 July to 15 August 1945

  • Following World War II USS Wenatchee was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 2 September 1945 to 21 February 1946
  • Decommissioned, 19 March 1947, at Orange, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1962
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Sold, to Taiwan under the Security Assistance Program and renamed ROCS Ta Fang (555)
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
  • USS Wenatchee earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,330 t.(lt) 1,689 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 38' 6"
    Draft 17' (max)
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 85
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    six .50 cal machine guns
    two depth charge tracks
    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
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    USS Wenatchee (ATF-118)
    Wenatchee 805k USS Wenatchee (ATF-118) launching, 7 September 1944, at United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA.
    A US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Alan Owens
    Wenatchee 540k USS Wenatchee (ATF-118) moored at the fitting out pier United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA., 11 January 1945.
    A US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Alan Owens
    Wenatchee 62k USS Wenatchee (ATF-118) underway, date and location unknown. Chuck Spencer for his father Charles Edward Spencer, Cox., V-6 USNR USS Wenatchee
    ROCS Ta Fang (555)
    Wenatchee 30k Ex-USS Wenatchee (ATF-118) in Taiwanese service as ROCS Ta Fang (555). .
    USS Wenatchee (ATF-118)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 1 July 2011