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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

US Navy photo NH 71928-KN

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Salinan (ATF-161)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Alpha - Sierra
NQAS

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (4) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2) -Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba)

USS Salinan (ATF-161) was transferred to Venezuela and renamed ARBV Contralmirante Miguel Rodriguez (RA-33)

Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:

Laid down, 13 April 1945, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.

Launched, 20 July 1945

Commissioned USS Salinan (ATF-161), 9 November 1945, LCDR. Robert M. Whelpley, USN in command

Decommissioned, struck from the Naval Register, and transferred, cash sale, under the Security Assistance Program, 1 September 1978, to Venezuela, renamed ARBV Contralmirante Miguel Rodriguez (RA-33)

Final Disposition, fate unknown

Specifications:
Displacement 1,330 t.
Length 205'
Beam 38' 7"
Draft 16' 9"
Speed 16 kts.

Complement

Officers 5

Enlisted 80

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 General Motors 12-278A Diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines

single propeller, 3,600shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Salinan (ATF-161)
	90k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** commissioning ceremony, 9 November 1945, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C. A US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Alan Owens
	200k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** underway off the Atlantic coast, mid-1946. A US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Alan Owens
	46k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** underway in Chesapeake Bay, 1954.	Submitted by Tom Lourigan to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
	64k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** crew photo 1954.	Submitted by Tom Lourigan to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
	48k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** crew manning the rail, circa 1950 of 1960. US Navy photo # 83818 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photo courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1975.	US Naval Historical Center
	118k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** underway at sea during the 1960s or early 1970s. US Navy photo # 98659 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	134k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** underway at sea during the 1960s or early 1970s. Note that a target raft may be on her after deck. US Navy photo # 98660 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	480k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** underway at sea in July 1961, location unknown.	Alan Owens
	90k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** underway, circa 1968. The original caption reads: "Salinan (ATF-161) underway, displaying the array of heavy towing and lifting gear which forms her 'main battery'. The basic mission of seagoing tugs such as *Salinan* is to salvage and tow other ships of the fleet that have been damaged in battle or by weather. They can serve as the flagship of a salvage unit assigned to a specific task, and are frequently called on to tow floating drydocks and other non-self-propelled craft long distances." US Navy photo # 98805 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	91k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** underway during a dependent's cruise, 18 May 1968. US Navy photo # 98806 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	108k	View of *USS Salinan* (ATF-161)*'s port bridge while underway during a dependent's cruise, 18 May 1968. US Navy photo # 98807* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	94k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** in port, with an SH-3 "Sea King" helicopter on her deck, June 1976. She had recovered the helicopter from seventy feet of water after it crash landed and sank ten miles off the coast of Ponte Vedra, southeast of Mayport, FL. The aircraft belonged to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron One (HS-1), based at *Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL.* US Navy photo # 98817 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	96k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161) moored pierside at Naval Station Mayport, FL.*, circa mid-1978. US Navy photo # 88036* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	83k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161) moored pierside at Naval Station Mayport, FL.*, circa mid-1978. US Navy photo # 88037* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	86k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161) moored at Naval Station Mayport, FL.*, circa mid-1978. US Navy photo # 88038* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval Historical Center
	74k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161) being released from a tow from USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35)** at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, June 1972. Photo by Greg Bevirty ETN2 USCG.	Terry Wright USCGC Ingham
	82k	*USS Salinan* (ATF-161)** Welcome Aboard brochure cover.	Tom Langford
ARBV Contralmirante Miguel Rodriguez (RA-33)
	93k	*ARBV Contralmirante Miguel Rodriguez* (RA-33), Ex-USS Salinan (ATF-161)** out of commission and moored at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, 20 December 2007.	Alan Owens

USS Salinan (ATF-161)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Whelpley, Robert Marshall, USN	9 November 1945 - 1946
02	LTjg. Sullivan, Woodrow, USN	1946 - September 1948
03	LTjg. Bond William Leslie, USN	September 1948 - ?
04	LCDR. Rule, John Franklin, USN	August 1951 - August 1955
05	LT. Husty, Richard Marshall, USN	August 1955 - April 1957
06	LT. Applegate Jr., Samuel Hubert, USN (USNA 1951)	1959 - 1 October 1961
07	LT. Blundell, Peveril, USN (USNA 1953)	1 October 1961 - 1962
08	LT. Swan, Robert Sheridan, USN	1962 - 29 November 1963
09	LT. Tucker, Roy Ernest, USN	29 November 1963 - 13 October 1965
10	LT. Lewis, Frank Leroy, USN	no dates
11	LCDR. Cote, Roland Francis, USN	1969 - 14 May 1970
12	LT. Kenyon, Morton William, USN	14 May 1970 - 13 June 1970
13	LCDR. Cote, Roland Francis, USN	13 June 1970 - 1971
14	LT. Shade, Robert James, USN	1971 - August 1971
15	LT. Wilbanks, Joe Dan, USN	August 1971 - 21 July 1975
16	LT. Bankert Jr., Harland Roland, USN	21 July 1975 - 7 September 1977
17	LT. Barbero, Mark, USN (USNA 1969)	7 September 1977 - 1978
18	LT. Boyd, William Linwood (Chip), USN	1978 - 1 September 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

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Last Updated 23 April 2021