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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Utina (ATF-163)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Golf - Golf
 NQGG
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


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

USS Utina (ATF-163) was transferred to Venezuela, renamed ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21)
Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 6 June 1945, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 31 August 1945
  • Commissioned USS Utina (ATF-163), 30 January 1946, LT. A. J. Vetro in command
  • Decommissioned, 3 September 1971
  • Loaned to Venezuela, 3 September 1971, renamed ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21)
  • Struck from the Naval Register in December 1977 and sold under the Security Assistance Program to Venezuela, 1 December 1977
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,205 t.(lt) 1,589 t.(fl)
    Length 206'
    Beam 38' 6"
    Draft 17' (max)
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 85
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    four 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 screw, 3,600shp
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    By
    USS Utina ATF-163
    Utina 42k USS Utina (ATF-163) underway, date and location unknown. Submitted by Harry Jaeger to NAFTS
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Utina 506k USS Utina (ATF-163) underway, circa 1955, location unknown. Alan Owens
    Utina 55k USS Utina (ATF-163) in Narraganset Bay, 20 November 1965. © Richard Leonhardt
    ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21)
    Utina 104k Ex-Utina (ATF-163) in Venezuelan service as ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21), at Barcelona, Spain, 7 August 1983. Note the inscription "Guardacostas" (Coast Guard) on her side. Photo by Fabio Peńa
    Utina 84k ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21), at Barcelona, Spain, 7 August 1983. Note the inscription "Guardacostas" (Coast Guard) on her side. Photo by Fabio Peńa
    View the USS Utina (ATF-163)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    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 Ocean Tug (ATF) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 27 June 2008