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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

DE-228 / APD / LPR-89 Ruchamkin

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Alpha - Uniform

USS Ruchamkin (LPR-89) was transferred to Colombia, renamed ARC Cordoba (DT-15)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Expeditionary Medal (2-Cuba) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Dominican Republic)
Crosley Class High-speed Transport:
  • Laid down, 14 February 1944, as (DE-228) a Rudderow Class Destroyer Escort at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Launched, 15 June 1944
  • Reclassified a Crosley Class High-speed Transport while under construction
  • Commissioned USS Ruchamkin (APD-89), 16 September 1945, LCDR. T. O. Weeks in command
  • Decommissioned, 27 February 1946
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 9 March 1951
  • Decommissioned, 13 August 1957
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, South Boston Annex, Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston, MA.
  • Recommissioned, 18 November 1961
  • FRAM II overhaul in November 1963
  • Designation changed to Amphibious Transport, Small (LPR-89), 1 January 1969
  • Decommissioned, 24 November 1969 and transferred to Colombia under the Security Assistance Program, for $156,820, commissioned ARC Cordoba (DT-15)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 31 October 1977
  • Final Disposition, scrapped by Colombia circa 1980, hull and superstructure on display as an exhibit at the Colombian Naval Museum
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,400 t.
    Length 306' ovl.
    Beam 37"
    Draft 12' 7" (limiting)
    Speed 23.6 kts. (trial)
    Range 6,000 nautical miles at 12 kts.
    Complement
    12-15 Officers
    189-192 Enlisted
    Troop Accommodations
    12 Officers
    150 Enlisted
    Boats 4 LCVP landing craft
    Troop Accoutrements
    six 1/4 ton trucks
    two 1 ton trucks
    four ammunition carts
    four pack howitzers
    Storage
    Ammunition 6,000 cu. ft.
    General Cargo 3,500 cu. ft.
    Gasoline 1,000 cu. ft.
    Armament
    one 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    three twin 40 mm gun mounts
    six single 20 mm gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Propulsion
    two Babcox and Wilcox DR boilers
    two GE Turbines, (turbo-electric drive)
    two shafts, shaft horsepower 12,000
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Ruchamkin (APD-89)
    Ruchamkin 50k Ruchamkin (APD-89) at anchor off Cannes, France, in 1952 during the Cannes Film Festival. Don Karr USS Ruchamkin
    Ruchamkin 59k Ruchamkin (APD-89) moored pierside at Bari, Italy, 1952. Don Karr USS Ruchamkin
    Ruchamkin 42k Photo dated, 15 November 1952, one day after Ruchamkin (APD-89) had been rammed by SS Washington, a 10,000 ton tanker. Note major damage as a result of the collision.
    US Navy photo.    		 Eddie (No last name given)
    Ruchamkin 61k Close up photo of Ruchamkin (APD-89) and accompanying ATF after Ruchamkin had been rammed by SS Washington. Scott McCoy
    Ruchamkin 60k Another close up photo of Ruchamkin (APD-89) showing clearly the extent of damage done to Ruchamkin. Scott McCoy
    Bordelon 162k From outboard to inboard; Ruchamkin (APD-89), Bordelon (DD-881), and Eugene A. Greene (DD-711) moored pierside at Brest, France 1957. Marc Piché
    Ruchamkin 49k Ruchamkin (APD-89) in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, South Boston Naval Annex, August 1960 © Richard Leonhardt
    Ruchamkin 223k Ruchamkin (APD-89) coming along side Rigel (AF-58) to receive stores, during Operation Steel Pike I, October 1964. Photo by Jim McCoy
    Ruchamkin 51k Ruchamkin (APD-89) underway, circa 1965, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Ruchamkin 115k Ruchamkin (APD-89) underway, circa 1965, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    ARC Cordoba (DT-15)
    Ruchamkin 53k ex-Ruchamkin (APD-89) in the service of Colombia as ARC Cordoba (DT-15) moored at the Colombian Naval Base ARC Bolivar Sector B 1, at Cartagena , mid-1970s. Photo by LT (r) Luis B. Castro, Colombian Navy
    Ruchamkin 85k Ex-ARC Cordoba (DT-15) on display as a naval exhibit in Jaime Duque Park, near Bogotá, Colombia, 13 September 2003. Photo by LT (r) Luis B. Castro, Colombian Navy
    Ruchamkin 69k Ex-ARC Cordoba (DT-15) on display as a naval exhibit in Jaime Duque Park, near Bogotá, Colombia, 13 September 2003. Photo by LT (r) Luis B. Castro, Colombian Navy
    Ruchamkin 75k Ex-ARC Cordoba (DT-15) on display as a naval exhibit in Jaime Duque Park, near Bogotá, Colombia, 13 September 2003. Photo by LT (r) Luis B. Castro, Colombian Navy
    Ruchamkin 67k Ex-ARC Cordoba (DT-15) on display as a naval exhibit in Jaime Duque Park, near Bogotá, Colombia, 13 September 2003. Photo by LT (r) Luis B. Castro, Colombian Navy
    Ruchamkin 75k Ex-ARC Cordoba (DT-15) on display as a naval exhibit in Jaime Duque Park, near Bogotá, Colombia, 13 September 2003. Photo by LT (r) Luis B. Castro, Colombian Navy
    View the Ruchamkin (APD / LPD-89)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 27 January 2007