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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

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. Amande 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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Utina ATF-163
    Utina 566k USS Utina (ATF-163) underway for sea trials in January 1946.
    A US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Alan Owens
    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 Narragansett Bay, 20 November 1965. © Richard Leonhardt
    Utina 109k USS Utina (ATF-163) underway, circa 1950s-60s, location unknown.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command photo (UA-64), number unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Mike Green
    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
    USS Utina (ATF-163)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Vetro, Amande John, USN30 January 1946 - 30 June 1946
    02LT. Nelson, George Irwin, USN30 June 1946 - 20 December 1946
    03LT. Marshall, Joseph, USN20 December 1946 - 3 October 1947
    04LT. Hazelbaker, Bill, USN3 October 1947 - 1949
    05LT. Ashman, Richard Clemens, USN1951 - 1953
    06LT. Calvin, Luther Louis, USN1953 - 1955
    07LT/LCDR. Brown, Robert J. USN1955 - 7 February 1958
    08LT/LCDR. Birch Jr., Stanley Wadsworth, USN7 February 1958 - 7 August 1959
    09LT/LCDR. Knutson Sr., Donald Wayne, USN (USNA 1951)7 August 1959 - 7 August 1961
    10LT/LCDR. Bekkedahl, Clifford Lewis, USN7 August 1961 - 23 June 1963
    11LT. Cannon, James Rowland, USN (USNA 1956)23 June 1963 - 12 April 1965
    12LT/LCDR. Lester, William Edward, USN12 April 1965 - April 1967
    13LT. Hensley, Hershal Wayne, USNApril 1967 - 13 March 1969
    14LT. Callaway, Linnaeus Thomas, USN13 March 1969 - 15 April 1971
    15LT. Malone, Robert Neely, USN15 April 1971 - 23 August 1971
    16LTjg. Fritz, John C.23 August 1971 - 3 September 1971
    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
    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
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    Last Updated 15 March 2024