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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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    Askari 23k Askari (ARL-30) underway on the St. Johns River, Jacksonville, FL, circa 1945. Tom Willoughby
    USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc.
    photo courtesy
    H. Fredericks
    Askari 41k Askari (ARL-30) underway on Lake Union, Seattle, WA., circa 1945. Tom Willoughby
    USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc.
    photo courtesy
    H. Fredericks
    Askari 33k Askari (ARL-30) underway circa 1950s, place unknown. Tom Willoughby
    USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc.
    Askari 57k Askari (ARL-30) underway, circa 1950s, place unknown. Tom Willoughby
    USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc.
    source Harold Neihart
    courtesy Cheryl Tesar
    Askari 74k Askari (ARL-30) underway, circa 1950s, place unknown. Tom Willoughby
    USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc.
    source Harold Neihart
    courtesy Cheryl Tesar
    Askari 82k Askari (ARL-30) moored date and place unknown
    US Navy photo from "All Hand" magazine, November 1953.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Askari 61k Askari (ARL-30) underway off Point Loma, San Diego, CA., date unknown. Albert Moore
    Mobile Riverine Force
    Association
    Askari 100k Askari (ARL-30) at anchor in Vietnam, date unknown. Albert Moore
    Mobile Riverine Force
    Association
    Askari 70k Askari (ARL-30) at anchor in Vietnam, date unknown. Albert Moore
    Mobile Riverine Force
    Association
    Askari 21k Askari (ARL-30) at anchor in Vietnam, date unknown. Tom Willoughby
    USS Askari (ARL30) Assoc.
    courtesy Bill Grammar
    Askari 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
    Askari 86k Askari (ARL-30), off Dong Tam, Mekong River, RVN, 24 May 1971 © Richard Leonhardt
    Askari 82k Askari (ARL-30) off Dong Tam, Mekong River, RVN, 24 May 1971 © Richard Leonhardt

    View the Askari (ARL-30)
    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
    U.S.S. Askari (ARL-30) Association
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 28 April 2006