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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Orvetta (IX-157)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Alpha - Mike
NAAM

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 - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal

Built in 1920 for the United States Shipping Board (USSB) as MV Tampa, at Oscar Daniels Co., Tampa, FL.

Leased by United States Lines, 23 November 1941

Acquired by the Navy, from the Maritime Commission, 4 April 1944

Converted for Naval service as a Barracks Ship at Matson Navigation Co., San Francisco, CA.

Commissioned USS Orvetta (IX-157), 7 June 1944, LCDR. G. L. Armstrong, in command

During World War II USS Orvetta (IX-157) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Following World War II USS Orvetta was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
15 September 1945 to 12 May 1946	15 September 1945 to 12 May 1946

Decommissioned in late 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 10 June 1947

Returned to the Maritime Commission at Subic Bay, P.I., 26 January 1948, name reverted to SS Tampa

Dealt, 3 March 1948 to Asia Development Corp.

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping at Hong Kong, 4th quarter of 1950

Specifications:
Displacement 12,940 t. Length 418'
Beam 54'
Draft 27'
Speed 9.5 kts

Cargo Capacity 9,200 t. total

non-refrigerated 38,000 cu ft

Armament

one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount

one single 40mm AA gun mount

Fuel Capacity

Diesel 14,400 Bbls

Propulsion

one Worthington Diesel engine

Ship's Service Generators

three Diesel-drive 100Kw 120/240V D.C.

three Diesel-drive 75Kw 240V D.C.

single propeller, 2,900shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
RG-19-LCM Photo # unknown	112k	*USS Orvetta* (IX-157)** at anchor near the US Naval Drydocks, Hunters Point, San Francisco, CA., 3 June 1944. US National Archives photos, RG-19-LCM, # unknown and RG-19-LCM Photo # 19-N-76758 US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
RG-19-LCM Photo # 19-N-76758	97k		Mike Green
	33k	*USS Orvetta* (IX-157)** at anchor on Whangpoo River, Shanghai, China, 1945.	David Whitt Dorsey, Sr.
	72k	*USS Orvetta* (IX-157) moored to the buoys in the Whangpoo River below the customs jetty at Shanghai, China, in late 1945 or early 1946. Orvetta** was used as a receiving ship for incoming and outgoing personnel. Note the additional accommodations built on deck forward. US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo NH 68798, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	135k	*USS Orvetta* (IX-157)** moored in the Whangpoo River below the customs jetty at Shanghai, China during her China Service, 15 September 1945 to 12 May 1946. US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 69043. Mrs. William Clark, Thornton, Colorado, 1969..	Mike Green
	47k	*USS Orvetta* (IX-157)** at anchor, date and location unknown.	David Whitt Dorsey, Sr.

USS Orvetta (IX-157)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Site
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Orvetta (IX-157)
MARAD Vessel History Database

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 3 March 2017