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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Tolovana (AO-64)
ex
 USNS Tolovana (T-AO-64) (1949 - 1951)
 USS Tolovana (AO-64) (1945 - 1949)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Mike - Oscar
 NYMO
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - John Law (W)hiskey - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Taiwan Straits, Vietnam, Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal (13) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)
Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 6 June 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A3) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract, (MC hull 730) at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.
  • Launched, 6 January 1945
  • Commissioned USS Tolovana (AO-64), 24 February 1945, LCDR. Carleton G. Long, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS Tolovana was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    World War II Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation, 11 to 30 June 1945

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

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 September 1945 to 19 March 194622 to 28 March 1946
    1 April to 6 May 194621 December 1951 to 28 January 1952
     18 November to 14 December 1953

  • Decommissioned in December 1949 and placed in service with the Navy Transportation Service (NTS) as Tolovana (AO-64)
  • Absorbed into the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and placed in service USNS Tolovana (T-AO-64)
  • Placed out of service in February 1951
  • Recommissioned, USS Tolovana (AO-64), 24 May 1951, CAPT. Elwood C. Madsen USN in command
  • During the Korean War USS Tolovana participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    UN Summer-Fall Offensive
    21 September to 4 October 1951
    21 October to 6 November 1951
    16 to 27 November 1951     		Second Korean Winter
    28 to 30 November 1951
    5 to 12 December 1951
    6 to 22 February 1952
    26 February to 2 March 1952
    11 to 15 March 1952

    During the Vietnam War USS Tolovana participated in the following campaigns:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    18 to 22 August 1964
    29 August to 7 September 1964     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    15 to 23 December 1968
    31 December 1968 to 9 January 1969
    13 to 21 January 1969
    28 January to 4 February 1969
    15 to 18 February 1969
    Vietnam Defense Campaign
    4 to 5 and 11 to 21 July 1965
    1 to 14 August 1965
    21 August to 3 September 1965
    17 to 23 September 1965
    7 to 18 October 1965
    30 October to 13 November 1965
    21 to 22 November 1965     		Tet 69/Counteroffensive
    23 February to 3 March 1969
    10 to 18 March 1969
    28 March to 6 April 1969
    9 to 17 and 22 to 29 April 1969
    6 to 14 May 1969
    28 May to 4 June 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    8 to 15 and 21 to 27 June 1966     		Vietnam Winter-Spring
    6 to 14 and 18 to 22 March 1970
    14 to 21 and 24 to 30 April 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    3 to 10 and 23 to 29 July 1966
    8 to 12 and 21 to 28 August 1966
    9 to 16 September 1966
    5 to 20 October 1966
    13 to 16 November 1966     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 May 1970
    13 to 21 May 1970
    29 May to 6 June 1970
    14 to 24 June 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III
    27 November to 7 December 1967
    20 December 1967 to 1 January 1968
    5 to 14 January 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    6 to 14 July 1970
    11 to 21 and 23 to 29 May 1971
    3 to 17 and 30 June 1971
    Tet Counteroffensive
    20 to 29 February 1968
    5 to 14 and 18 to 27 March 1968     		Consolidation I
    1 to 7 July 1971
    1 to 5 and 11 to 21 August 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    4 to 11 and 21 to 28 April 1968     		Vietnam Ceasefire
    11 to 19 October 1972
    26 October to 21 November 1972
    14 to 23 December 1972
    6 to 17 and 24 to 31 January 1973
    10 to 16 March 1973

  • Decommissioned , 15 April 1975, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 April 1975
  • USS Tolovana earned one battle star for World War II service, two battle stars for the Korean War, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with thirteen campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 16 October 1975, to Levin Metals Corp. for $1,500.000.00 (PD-X-1000 dated 4 September 1975). Delivered, 11 November 1975
    Specifications:
    Displacement 7,236 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 75'
    Draft 32'
    Speed 18.3 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 20
    Enlisted 310
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    four twin 20mm AA gun mounts
    Cargo Capacity 16,500 DWT
    Oil 123,700 Bbls
    Gasoline 788,000 Gals
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 15,000 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Bethlehem Shipbuilding geared turbines
    four Foster-Wheeler K-type boilers, 450psi 730°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
     two turbo-drive 400Kw 230V A.C.
     one Diesel-drive 150Kw 230V A.C.
    twin propellers, 13,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Tolovana 25k Invitation to the commissioning of USS Tolovana (AO-64). Note the invitation has been classified confidential and that the place, time and date are not shown. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 100k USS Tolovana (AO-64) probably shown just after her completion in February 1945. Her camouflage scheme is Measure 32 Design 3AO. Note the Baltimore harbor tug assisting.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-79035, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    Tolovana 61k USS Tolovana (AO-64) in the Chesapeake Bay probably soon after her commissioning on, 24 February 1945. She is painted camouflage scheme is Measure 32 Design 3AO, Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 86k USS Tolovana (AO-64) at anchor in the Chesapeake Bay, 13 March 1945. She wears Measure 32 Design 3AO camouflage in this photo. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 37k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, overhead view, March 1945
    US Navy photo    		 Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
    Tolovana 25k USS Tolovana (AO-64) off Okinawa, June 1945. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 20k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way in June 1945. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 47k USS Tolovana (AO-64)'s World War II cruises returning to the US in October 1945 Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 53k Broadside view of USS Tolovana (AO-64) off Mare Island, 19 May 1951 shortly before her commissioning. Tolovana was reactivated at Mare Island, 16 February to 24 May 1951. The stern of the USS Rochester (CA-124) is just visible forward of Tolovana.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 9267-5-51, 5/19/51.    		 Darryl Baker
    Tolovana 142k USS Tolovana (AO-64) refueling Shelton (DD-790) and Antietam (CVA-36), off the coast of Korea, Korea, circa 8 September 1951 to 2 May 1952.
    US Navy photo    		  
    Tolovana 69k USS Tolovana (AO-64) officers, December 1954 at Sasebo, Japan. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 63k USS Tolovana (AO-64)'s Executive Officer LCDR Goodin and Commanding Officer CAPT. Crowley, Subic Bay, 1954. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 23k USS Tolovana (AO-64) anchored at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 1954. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 78k USS Tolovana (AO-64) moored to a buoy at Sasebo, Japan in 1954. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 180k USS Tolovana (AO-64) off San Francisco Naval Shipyard, 20 June 1957, following a regular overhaul.
    US National Archives Photo # 19-NN-AO-64 Tolovana-157845, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. This photo is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 7573652.    		 Robert Hurst
    Tolovana 46k USS Tolovana (AO-64) entering San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point, June 1957. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 70k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Jim Dull MM2 USS Tolovana 1957-59
    Tolovana 44k USS Tolovana (AO-64) taking fueling station alongside USS Essex (CVA-9), Taiwan Straits 1958. Bow of Chevalier (DD-805) is just visible beyond Tolovana Jim Dull MM2 USS Tolovana 1957-59
    Tolovana 61k USS Tolovana (AO-64) pulling away from USS Essex (CVA-9) after fueling evolution has been completed. Taiwan Straits 1958 Jim Dull MM2 USS Tolovana 1957-59
    Tolovana 78k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way heading out to sea from San Diego, CA., circa post 1958. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 68k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, date and location unknown. Note the absence of 3" guns. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 67k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, date and location unknown. Note the absence of 3" guns. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 62k USS Tolovana (AO-64) at anchor, in 1963, location unknown. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 45k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, location unknown, circa post 1964. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 45k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way heading out to sea from San Diego, CA., circa post 1964. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Fletcher 142k USS Tolovana (AO-64) conducts a replenishment at sea (RAS), 19 December 1965, simultaneously with USS Hornet (CVS-12) and USS Fletcher (DD445) in the Sea of Japan. Hornet and Fletcher were engaged in anti-submarine warfare exercises.
    US Navy Photograph from US Naval Photographic Center, Naval Station Anacostia, Washington DC. by JO1 J. F. Falk, USN.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Tolovana 78k USS Tolovana (AO-64) refueling USS Oriskany (CVA-34) and USS John A. Bole (DD-755), South China Sea, 3 July 1966
    Photo taken from USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858).    		 © Richard Leonhardt
    Tolovana 1574k USS Tolovana (AO-64) refueling USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) and USS Black (DD-666), in the Gulf of Tonkin, 12 September 1966. Photos were taken from the carrier's rescue helicopter, a Kaman UH-2 Seasprite, from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron TWO (HC-2) Det. 42 based at NAS Lakehurst, N.J., flown by Mr. Smith during operations in the Tonkin Gulf
    		Photos by Michael O. Smith
    Tolovana 1207k
    Tolovana 1925k
    Tolovana 1590k
    Tolovana 1485k
    CVS-20 Bennington 238k USS Tolovana (AO-64) during an UNREP with USS Bennington (CVS-20), circa November-December 1966.US Navy photo appeared in Bennington 1966-67 WESTPAC Cruise Book. From the collection of CDR Thomas B. Ray (USS Essex CV-9),
    via Chris Stanley
    Tolovana 40k USS Tolovana (AO-64) moored pierside, Pier 9 Long Beach Naval Station, June 1968 Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 69k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way during Refresher Training prior to deployment, October 1968. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 78k USS Tolovana (AO-64) departing for a WESTPAC deployment, 6 November 1968 Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 104k USS Tolovana (AO-64) at anchor in Hong Kong harbor, circa 1968-69. Photo by Erich Utecht SN USN USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 48k USS Tolovana (AO-64) entering Long Beach harbor while returning from a WESTPAC deployment, 6 July 1969. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 31k USS Tolovana (AO-64) drydocked, date and location unknown. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 121k USS Tolovana (AO-64) refueling USS Floyd B. Parks (DD-884) to starboard and USS John R. Craig (DD-885) to port, date and place unknown. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 97k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, 30 May 1971, location unknown. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 9k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way in June 1971, location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    Tolovana 88k USS Tolovana (AO-64) refueling an Aircraft Carrier, date and location unknown. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 41k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, stern view, date and location unknown. Photo taken from USS Floyd B. Parks (DD884) Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 40k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, starboard bow view, date and location unknown.Photo taken from USS Floyd B. Parks (DD884) Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 44k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, date and location unknown. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 78k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way in Subic Bay, P.I. in 1971. Erich Utecht USS Tolovana 1968-70
    Tolovana 103k USS Tolovana (AO-64) under way, 24 February 1975 (Celebrating 30 years of continuous active service), location unknown.
    US Navy photo from Tolovana PAO.    		 Robert M. Cieri

    For more photos and information about USS Tolovana, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • MARAD Vessel History Database
  • USS Tolovana AO-64
  • USS Tolovana Foundation
    • Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Long, Carleton Grim, USNR24 February 1945 - 1946
    02CAPT. Brady, Parke Howie, USN (USNA 1930)1946 -
    03LT. Shrode, Raymond S., USNRno dates
     DecommissionedDecember 1949 - 24 May 1951
    04CAPT. Madsen, Elwood Christian, USN (1928)24 May 1951 - January 1952
    05CAPT. Carlson, Daniel :RADMJanuary 1952 - 22 March 1952
    06CAPT. Chase, Jay Valentine, USN (USNA 1933)22 March 1952 - 11 July 1953
    07CDR. McLaren, Earle Kenneth USN (USNA 1934)11 July 1953 - 20 July 1954
    08CAPT. Crowley, John Daniel, USN (USNA 1931) 20 July 1954 - 3 September 1955
    09CAPT. Scanland Jr., Francis Worth, USN (USNA 1934)3 September 1955 - 1 February 1956
    10CAPT. Bailey, Claude Fenn1 February 1956 - 13 February 1957
    11CAPT. McLaren, William Fleming USN (USNA 1935)13 February 1957 - 9 April 1958
    12CAPT. Bulkeley, John Duncan, USN (USNA 1933) :VADM9 April 1958 - 8 August 1958
    13CAPT. Edwards Jr., David Shelton8 August 1958 - 11 February 1959
    14CAPT. Hughson, Robert Marshall11 February 1959 - 4 March 1959
    15CAPT. Michaelis, Frederick Hayes (Mike), USN (USNA 1940) :ADM4 March 1959 - 26 October 1959
    16LCDR. McCabe, Robert Emmett L., USN26 October 1959 - 28 October 1960
    17CAPT. Worthington, Robert Kemble Rittenhouse, USN (USNA 1938)28 October 1960 - 2 December 1961
    18CAPT. Sweeney Sr., John Richard, USN (USNA 1938)2 December 1961 - 11 December 1962
    19CAPT. Sotos, George Peter11 December 1962 - 15 October 1963
    20CAPT. Sessums, Walter Maurice15 October 1963 - 9 October 1964
    21CAPT. Clarke III, Jared Ellison, USN (USNA 1942)9 October 1964 - 2 October 1965
    22CAPT. Coogan, Robert Paul (Bob) :VADM2 October 1965 - 30 September 1966
    23CAPT. Gronemann Jr., Carl William, USN (USNA 1945)30 September 1966 - 11 December 1967
    24CAPT. Gorsline Jr., Samuel Gilbert, USN (USNA 1944)11 December 1967 - 20 February 1969
    25CAPT. Kulik, Adam Peter, USN (USNA 1946)20 February 1969 - 27 May 1970
    26CAPT. Corner, Sheldon Larry27 May 1970 - 28 January 1971
    27CAPT. Howard, Donnell28 January 1971 - 19 May 1972
    28CDR. McDermitt, Carrol19 May 1972 - 23 October 1973
    29CDR. Lund, John Robert23 October 1973 - 15 April 1975
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Fleet Tankers Association
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 26 July 2019