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USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153)
ex
USCGC Chilula (WATF-153) (1956 - 1966)
USCGC Chilula (WAT-153) (1956)
USS Chilula (ATF-153) (1945 - 1956)

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 - 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. Ellsworth C. Avery, USN in command
  • During World War II USS Chilula was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Chilula was assigned to Occupation duty from 19 September 1945 to 4 April 1946
  • 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
  • Designation changed to (WATF-153) in 1956 soon after commissioning
  • Redesignated Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC-153), 1 May 1966
  • 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) 1,675 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 38'6"
    Draft 15' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 5
    Enlisted 80
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel Oil 2,275 Bbls
    Propulsion
    four GM 12-278A 750hp Diesel-electric engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    two Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    one Diesel-drive 200Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    single propeller 3,000shp

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    Size Image Description Contributed
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    USS Chilula (ATF-153)
    Chilula 1611k Overall view of Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Charleston S.C., in January 1945. Six ATF's are visible; three fitting out and three on the ways. Photo was taken from the mainmast of USS Chawasha (ATF-151) which was also fitting out. From front to back they are:
    USS Chilula (ATF-153)
    USS Cahuilla (ATF-152)
    USS Chimariko (ATF-154)
    USS Nipmuc (ATF-157)
    USS Cusabo (ATF-155)
    USS Luiseno (ATF-156).
    US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Alan Owens
    Luiseno 1874k Overall view of Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Charleston S.C., in January 1945. Seven ATF's are visible, three on the ways at right, and four fitting out at left. From front to back they are:
    USS Luiseno (ATF-156)
    USS Cusabo (ATF-155)
    USS Nipmuc (ATF-157)
    USS Chimariko (ATF-154)
    USS Cahuilla (ATF-152)
    USS Chilula (ATF-153) and
    USS Chawasha (ATF-151).
    US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Alan Owens
    Chilula 352k USS Chilula (ATF-153) and USS Chimanko (ATF-154) fitting out in January 1945 at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
    US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Alan Owens
    Chilula 64k USS Chilula (ATF-153) commissioning crew photo, 5 April 1945 at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
    US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Alan Owens
    Chilula 41k USS Chilula (ATF-153) underway, circa 1945 Submitted by Larry Richter to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    USCGC Chilula (WAT / WATF / WMEC-153)
    Chilula 54k Ex-USS Chilula (ATF-153) in tow by USCGC Cherokee (WAT-165) in 1956 on her way to the Coast Guard Yard Curtis Bay , MD. for conversion to Coast Guard service.
    US Coast Guard photo.
    Alan Owens
    Chilula 27k Ex-USS Chilula (ATF-153) ex-USS Avoyel (ATF-150) being towed in 1956 by USCGC Cherokee (WAT-165) to the Coast Guard Yard Curtis Bay , MD. for conversion to Coast Guard service. The harbor tug alongside is unidentified.
    US Coast Guard photo.
    Alan Owens
    Chilula 61k Ex-USS Chilula (ATF-153) be converted for Coast Guard service at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, MD. in 1956. Astern of Chilula is ex-USS Avoyel (ATF-150) also undergoing conversion to Coast Guard service.
    US Coast Guard photo.
    Alan Owens
    Chilula 75k USCGCChilula (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 USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153) under way in Chesapeake Bay, circa 1957-1958 Submitted by Larry Richter to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Chilula 103k USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153) under way 2 July 1960, location unknown. The Coast Guard used her primarily for search and rescue.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command (UA-283), Photo No. None
    Mike Green
    Chilula 77k USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153) fighting fires caused by explosions aboard USNS Potomac (T-AO-150) in the port of Morehead City, N.C., 26 September 1961. Richard Davis
    Chilula 35k USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153) underway, date and place unknown Submitted by Jim Perkins to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Chilula 33k USCGC 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 USCGC 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 USCGC 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 USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153) decommissioning ceremony, 19 June 1991 Submitted by Larry Richter to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors

    USS Chilula (ATF-153)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Avery, Ellsworth Charles, USN5 April 1945 - 8 February 1947USS Chilula (ATF-153)
     Decommissioned8 February 1947 
    01CDR. Hutchins Jr., Roy Methvin USCG (USCGA 1942)5 September 1956 - ?USCGC Chilula (WAT/WATF-153)
    02CDR. Young, Richard W., USCG (USCGA 1943)1962USCGC Chilula (WATF-153)
    03CDR. Muth, Harold D., USCG1965USCGC Chilula (WATF-153)
    04CDR. Randle, James Polk, USCG (USCGA 1951)1966USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153)
    05CDR. Lemos, Lyle W., USCG1968USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153)
    06CDR. Cote, George E., USCGno dateUSCGC Chilula (WMEC-153)
    07CDR. Mitchell, John R., USCG (USCGA 1957)1973USCGC Chilula (WMEC-153)
    08CDR. Overath, John F., USCG1980USCGC Chilula (WNEC-153)
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler

    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

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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 23 April 2021