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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

LST-1131 / ARL-30 Askari

USS Askari (ARL-30) was transferred to Indonesia and renamed Ri Djaja Widjaja

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Presidential Unit Citation (2) - Navy Unit Commendation (4) - Combat Action Ribbon
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (4) - Vietnam Service Medal (12) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Fourth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Achelous Class Landing Craft Repair Ship:

Laid down as LST-1131 at Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., Seneca, IL.

Launched, 2 March 1945

Placed in reduced commission as USS LST-1131, 15 March 1945 for transit to her conversion yard, Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock and Repair Co., Jacksonville, FL., Lt. Charles L. Haslup, in command

Decommissioned at Jacksonville FL., 9 April 1945

Recommissioned USS Askari (ARL-30), 23 July 1945

During the Korean War Askari (ARL-30) was assigned to the Korean War zone from 15 September 1950 to 31 April 1951 and 15 September 1952 to 6 April 1953 and participated in the following campaigns:

**Korean War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
North Korean Aggression 18 September to 2 November 1950	Inchon Landing 13 to 17 September 1950
Communist China Aggression 3 November to 29 December 1950	First UN Counter Offensive 9 February to 17 April 1951

Decommissioned, 21 March 1956 at Astoria, OR.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group, Astoria

Towed to Pacific Reserve Fleet, Stockton, CA. Group in 1964

Moved to Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island, CA.

Recommissioned, 13 August 1966 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.

During the Vietnam War Askari (ARL-30) participated in the following campaigns:

**Vietnam War Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase II 14 February to 31 March 1967	Tet 69/Counteroffensive 23 February to 8 June 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase III 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 June to 2 September 1969 br>29 October to 31 October 1969
Tet Counteroffensive 30 January to 1 April 1968	Vietnam Winter-Spring1970 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase IV 2 April to 25 June 1968	Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1 May 1970 to 30 June 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase V 24 July to 23 October 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive, Phase VII 1 July 1970 to 31 March 1971 1 May to 30 June 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VI 1 January to 22 February 1969	Consolidation I 1 July to 10 August 1971

Decommissioned, 1 September 1971 at Naval Station Guam, M.I.

Loaned to Indonesia under terms of the Military Assistance Program, Renamed Ri Djaja Widjaja

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1979

Sold to Indonesia 1 February 1979

Askari received four battle stars Korean War service and twelve campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Specifications:
Displacement 2,220 t.(lt) 4,100 t.(fl)
Length 328'
Beam 50'
Speed 11.6 kts.
Complement 253
Armament

2 quad 40mm AA gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors

2 twin 40mm AA gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors

6 twin 20mm AA gun mounts
Propulsion 2 General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders

Size	Image Description	Contributed
23k	Askari (ARL-30) underway on the St. Johns River, Jacksonville, FL, circa 1945.	Tom Willoughby USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc. photo courtesy H. Fredericks
41k	Askari (ARL-30) underway on Lake Union, Seattle, WA., circa 1945.	Tom Willoughby USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc. photo courtesy H. Fredericks
33k	Askari (ARL-30) underway circa 1950s, place unknown.	Tom Willoughby USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc.
57k	Askari (ARL-30) underway, circa 1950s, place unknown.	Tom Willoughby USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc. source Harold Neihart courtesy Cheryl Tesar
74k	Askari (ARL-30) underway, circa 1950s, place unknown.	Tom Willoughby USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc. source Harold Neihart courtesy Cheryl Tesar
82k	Askari (ARL-30) moored date and place unknown US Navy photo from "All Hand" magazine, November 1953.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
61k	Askari (ARL-30) underway off Point Loma, San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Albert Moore Mobile Riverine Force Association
100k	Askari (ARL-30) at anchor in Vietnam, date unknown.	Albert Moore Mobile Riverine Force Association
70k	Askari (ARL-30) at anchor in Vietnam, date unknown.	Albert Moore Mobile Riverine Force Association
21k	Askari (ARL-30) at anchor in Vietnam, date unknown.	Tom Willoughby USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc. courtesy Bill Grammar
48k	Askari (ARL-30) as a member of the River Assault Flotilla, S. Vietnam, May 1967, servicing four armored troop carriers (ATCs) while a fifth ATC clears her side forward. Also moored to the pontoon alongside is one of her LCVPs. The ship is painted green, reflecting her assignment to the "Brown Water Navy." Note the boons forward and the A-frame amidships. Photo by PHC R. Veeder USN. US Navy photo 1123313.	Tom Willoughby USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc. courtesy Dennis Miller
86k	Askari (ARL-30), off Dong Tam, Mekong River, RVN, 24 May 1971	© Richard Leonhardt
82k	Askari (ARL-30) off Dong Tam, Mekong River, RVN, 24 May 1971	© Richard Leonhardt