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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AT-153 / ATF-153 Chilula
WAT-153 / WATF-153 / WMEC-153 Chilula

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Papa - India - November
 NPIN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


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

USS Chilula (ATF-153 was transferred to the US Coast Guard and commissioned USCGC Chilula (WAT-153)
Cherokee Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 13 June 1944, as Fleet Tug (AT-153) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Reclassified, Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-153), 15 May 1944
  • Launched, 1 December 1944
  • Commissioned USS Chilula (AT-153), 5 April 1945, LT. O. L. Guinn in command
  • Decommissioned, 8 February 1947, at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange
  • Transferred, on loan, to the Coast Guard, 9 July 1956
  • Commissioned USCGC Chilula (WAT-153), 3 October 1956, CDR Roy M. Hutchins, USCG in command
  • Redesignated Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC-153) (date unknown)
  • Decommissioned, 19 June 1991
  • Returned to US Navy custody (date unknown)
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target in 1997
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,240 t.(lt) 1,646 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 38'6"
    Draft 15' 4"
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 85
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Propulsion four GM 12-278A diesel-electric engines, 750hp each, single screw, 3,000hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Chilula (ATF-153)
    Chilula 41k Chilula (ATF-153) underway, circa 1945 Submitted by Larry Richter to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    USCGC Chilula (WAT / WATF / WMEC-153)
    Chilula 75k Chilula (WAT-153) commissioning ceremony, 3 October 1956, at Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, MD. Bill Gonyo, courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Tug Association
    Chilula 47k Chilula (WMEC-153) underway in Chesapeake Bay, circa 1957-1958 Submitted by Larry Richter to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Chilula 35k Chilula (WMEC-153) underway, date and place unknown Submitted by Jim Perkins to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Chilula 33k Chilula (WMEC-153) moored at Frying Pan Light Tower, off Wilmington, N.C. Submitted by Larry Richter to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Chilula 75k Chilula (WMEC-153) underway, date and location unknown. Photo from "the Towline" the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors magazine, 1 September 1996. Stan Svec
    Chilula 49k Chilula (WMEC-153) underway, circa 1968 Submitted by Max Kearns to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Chilula 34k Chilula (WMEC-153) off to coast of Cuba, 1980 Submitted by John Yoho to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Chilula 39k Chilula (WMEC-153) decommissioning ceremony, 19 June 1991 Submitted by Larry Richter to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    View the Chilula (ATF-153)
    DANFS history entry located on the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    US Coast Guard Historian's Office - Chilula, 1956 ATF / WAT / WATF / WMEC-153
    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
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 24 January 2008