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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Lost to enemy action, 24 October 1944

USS Sonoma (ATO-12)
ex
 USS Sonoma (AT-12) (1920 - 1944)
 USS Sonoma (1912 - 1920)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Golf - Tango
 NIGT
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (Lae, New Guinea, Sept. 1943, Leyte, 20 Oct. 1944) - Navy Unit Commendation - Mexican Service Medal
Second Row - World War I Victory Medal (with Minesweeper clasp) - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp) - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal
Sonoma Class Fleet Tug:
  • Laid down, 7 November 1911, at New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, N.J.
  • Launched, 11 May 1912
  • Commissioned USS Sonoma, 6 September 1912, Chief Boatswain William Darrington in command
  • Designated Fleet Tug (AT-12), 17 July 1920
  • Redesignated Fleet Tug Old (ATO-12), 15 May 1944
  • Lost to enemy action, 24 October 1944 at San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf when struck by a Japanese kamikaze bomber
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 27 November 1944
  • USS Sonoma (ATO-12) earned the Navy Unit Commendation for service in Salvage, Fire Fighting, and Rescue Unit, Service Force, 7th Fleet - Philippine Islands area, 20 to 24 October 1944, and five battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,120 t.
    Length 175'
    Beam 34'
    Draft 12' 6" (mean)
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 56
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion system unknown
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Sonoma 102k USS Sonoma launching ceremony, 11 May 1912, at New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, N.J. Ladies Who Launch - Ship Christening Photographs exhibit at Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum
    Sonoma 44k USS Sonoma underway, date and location unknown. Photo by Muller from "Jane's Fighting Ships 1914." Robert Hurst
    Sonoma 211k USS Sonoma entering port at Bermuda, 1919.
    US Navy photo    		 Darryl Baker
    Sonoma 216k USS Sonoma entering port at Bermuda, 1919.
    US Navy photo    		 Darryl Baker
    View the USS Sonoma (AT-12 / ATO-12)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Commanding Officers
    01ChBOSN. Darrington, William6 September 1912 - ~
    .BOSN. Tarbell, G. E,~1923 - ~
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Fleet Tug Photo (AT) Index Back To The Fleet Tug (Old) Photo (ATO) Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 3 July 2009