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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Kawishiwi (T-AO-146)
ex
USS Kawishiwi (AO-146) (1955 - 1978)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - November - Quebec - Delta NNQD
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Richard (L)ima - 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 Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam, Korea, Op Frequent Wind)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (8) - Humanitarian Service Medal (1-Frequent Wind) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Neosho Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, 5 October 1953, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.

Launched, 11 December 1954

Commissioned USS Kawishiwi (AO-146), 6 July 1955, CAPT. Joseph B. Swain in command

During the Vietnam War USS Kawishiwi (AO-146) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 29 December 1964 - 11 January 1965	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 1 to 3 November 1969 9 to 14 November 1969 4 to 19 December 1969 23 December 1969 to 5 January 1970
Vietnam Defense 21 to 24 December 1965	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 10 to 22 September 1970 28 September to 11 October 1970 18 to 24 October 1970 2 to 3 November 1970 15 to 29 November 1970 1 to 3 January 1971 7 to 14 January 1971 20 to 27 January 1971 10 to 13 February 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive 25 December 1965 to 2 January 1966 13 to 27 January 1966 14 to 15 February 1966 2 to 9 April 1966 14 to 24 April 1966 7 to 19 May 1966 15 to 21 June 1966	Consolidation II 11 to 15 February 1972 23 February 1 March 1972 7 to 16 March 1972 27 to 29 March 1972
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 1 to 6 June 1967 17 to 30 June 1967 11 to 18 July 1967 5 to 11 August 1967 25 August to 4 September 1967 26 September to 10 October 1967 6 to 9 October 1968	Vietnam Ceasefire 30 March to 3 April 1972 17 April to 1 May 1972 19 to 31 May 1972 10 to 17 June 1972 26 June to 6 July 1972 14 to 25 July 1972 9 to 21 August 1972 5 to 9 September 1972
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 18 July to 4 August 1969 10 to 24 August 1969 25 September to 10 October 1969 19 to 28 October 1969

Decommissioned, 10 October 1979, at Oakland, CA.,

Assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) and placed in service as USNS Kawishiwi (T-AO-146)

Placed out of service, 15 September 1992, for lay up at the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 7 November 1994

USS Kawishiwi earned eight campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Title transfer to MARAD, 1 May 1999, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Cleared for Disposal, 21 June 2005

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in April 2014 to International Shipbreaking LTD. (ESCO), Brownsville, TX.

Removed to Mare Island for cleaning in May 2014

Removed from Mare Island, 27 June 2014, for towing by M/V Capt. Latham

Arrived, 6 August 2014, International Shipbreaking LTD. (ESCO), Brownsville, TX. Dismantling completed, 28 March 2015

Specifications:
Displacement 11,600 t.(lt), 38,000 t.(fl)
Length 655'
Beam 86'
Draft 35'
Speed 20 kts.
Cargo Capacity 180,000 bbls

Complement

Commissioned USS 324

In Service USNS 106 Civilian Mariners, 21 Navy

Armament

two single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts

six twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts

Propulsion

two geared turbines

two boilers

two propellers, 28,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Kawishiwi (AO-146)
	165k	*USS Rochester* (CA-124) moving in to refuel from USS Kawishiwi (AO-146)**, August 1956	Dale C. Haskin
	34k	*USS Taluga* (AO-62), bottom USS Kawishiwi (AO-146), center, and USS Hassayampa (AO-145)** top, underway off the Philippines in 1957. US Navy photo # 80-G-1013403	Robert Hurst
	1050k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) underway off Oahu, T.H., 29 October 1958 while refueling USS Fessenden (DER-142)**. US Navy BuAer photo # 039077, Altitude 50', Date 10-28-58, Camera F56, 8.25 F.L. Time 2200z.	David Buell
	165k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) conducting an underway replenishment (UNREP) with USSRogers (DD-876) and USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14)**	Robert M. Cieri
	88k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) at Naval Station Subic Bay, PI, January 1965. USS Archerfish (AGSS-311)** is in the foreground	Allen R. Vaughan QM2(SS) USS Archerfish (SS-AGSS-311)
09100105	474k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) moored astern of USCGSS Pathfinder (OSS-30) at Pearl Harbor in April 1962. In the foreground Pathfinder**'s crew is standing in formation. NOAA Image pers0245, April 1962, by Bernard Mayo Rivera, Credit the Family of Captain David M. Whipp, C&GS.	Bill Gonyo
	122k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146)** near NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, 29 July 1963. US Navy photo	Tommy Trampp
	266k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146)refueling USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) and USS Hollister (DD-788)*, 5 December 1963. Courtesy US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.488.038.050*	Mike Green
	83k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) refueling USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and USS Turner Joy (DD-951)*, 23 April 1964. US Navy photo USN 1097351* from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center	US Naval Historical Center
	1238k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) refueling USS Floyd B. Parks (DD-884) and USS Orleck (DD-886)*, date and location unknown. US Navy photo USN 1039817*.	David Buell
	268k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) drops away after refueling USS Evans (DE-1023)** during a WESTPAC deployment in July 1967. Photo taken from USS Evans.	Photo by Darryl Baker
	82k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146)** at Pearl Harbor, HI, October 1968	© Richard Leonhardt
	359k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) simultaneously servicing USS America (CVA-66) from her port side and USS England (DLG-22)** from her starboard side in the Gulf of Tonkin, late summer 1968, after the bombing halt.	John Spivey
	148k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) refueling USS Bennington (CVS-20)**, circa 1960s, location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.<
	83k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146)** at Pier H, Pearl Harbor, HI, 17 May 1969.	© Richard Leonhardt
	116k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146)** underway, in 1971, off Pearl Harbor, HI..	Robert M. Cieri in honor of his brother CWO3 Harry Michael Cieri, USN Ret. USS Kawishiwi December 1968 to January 1972
DNSN9304062	63k	*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146)** refueling a Missouri class battleship, date and location unknown. DOD photos # DNSN9304062 and DNSN9304061	Defense News Service
DNSN9304061	93k		Defense News Service
	178k	*USS Kawishiwi* (T-AO-146)** refueling an unidentified aircraft carrier during an underway replenishment, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Tommy Trampp
	111k	*USS Kawishiwi* (T-AO-146) refueling either USS Bon Homme Richard, (CVA-31) or USS Oriskany (CVA-34)** during an underway replenishment in the Tonkin Gulf, date unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
USNS Kawishiwi (T-AO-146)
	66k	*USNS Kawishiwi* (T-AO-146)** underway, date and location unknown.	Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USN Ret.
	70k	*USNS Kawishiwi* (T-AO-146)** stern fueling station hose rig.	Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USN Ret.
	89k	*USNS Kawishiwi* (T-AO-146)** in bound from sea in San Diego Bay, looking forward from the bridge, date unknown.	Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USN Ret.
	1635k	A port bow view of *USNS Kawishiwi* (T-AO-146) with fuel lines extended to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) during underway replenishment (UNREP), 1 October 1986. The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Lewis B. Puller (FFG-23)** can be seen outboard. DOD photo # DN-SC-85-06871 PACIFIC OCEAN (1 October 1983) a US Navy photo by PHAN B. Collins. now in the collections of Defense Imagery.mil.	Robert M. Cieri
	1446k	An aerial view of *USNS Kawishiwi* (T-AO-146), center, the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63), left, and the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) participating in an underway replenishment (UNREP), 25 July 1986. The guided missile frigate USS Ramsey (FFG-2)** is in the background. DOD photo # DN-SC-87-09275 PACIFIC OCEAN (25 July 1986) a US Navy photo by PH3 Hensley now in the collections of Defense Imagery.mil.	Robert M. Cieri
DN-SC-93-05045	1968k	Overhead and surface views of *USNS Kawishiwi* (AO-146) refueling USS Ranger (CV-61)*, 19 July 1990, off the coast of California DOD photos, # DN-SC-93-05045, DN-SC-93-05042, DN-SC-93-05047* and DN-SC-93-05048, US Navy photos by PH3 Bos, now in the collections of Defense Imagery.com	Defense News Service
DN-SC-93-05042	1495k
DN-SC-93-05047	1854k
DN-SC-93-05048	1755k
	272k	Pilot house *USNS Kawishiwi* (AO-146)**, date unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR (Ret)
MARAD Suisun Bay Group Reserve Fleet
	174k	Ex-*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146)** laid up in reserve in the Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. US Maritime Administration photos	Ron Reeves
	305k		Ron Reeves
	208k	Ex-*USS Kawishiwi* (AO-146)** being towed as a dead ship from the Suisun Bay bound for sea rounding Pt. Blunt, San Francisco Bay, 27 June 2012.	Photos by CAPT. Jack C. Goldthorpe, USCG Ret.
	207k
	187k

For more photos and information about USS / USNS Kawishiwi, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
MARAD Vessel History Database
USS Kawishiwi AO-146
USS Kawishiwi AO-146 Memorial Page
Welcome Aboard Pamphlet
Cold War Neosho Class Oilers

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Swain, Joseph Blount, USN (USNA 1931)	6 July 1955 - 31 August 1956
02	CAPT. Hydeman, Earl Twining, USN (USNA 1932)	31 August 1956 - 24 August 1957
03	CAPT. Gebelin, Albert Louis, USN (USNA 1934)	24 August 1957 - 21 August 1958
04	CAPT. Gardner Jr., Earle Grace, USN (USNA 1935)	21 August 1958 - 1959
05	CDR. Evans Jr., Griffith Conrad, USN	1959 - 11 June 1959
06	CAPT. Joyce, Gerald Patrick (Gerry), USN (USNA 1937)	11 June 1959 - 11 July 1960
07	CAPT. Seymour, Harry Augustus, USN (USNA 1939)	11 July 1960 - 19 July 1961
08	CAPT. Vasey, Lloyd Roland (Joe), USN (USNA 1939) :RADM	19 July 1961 - 9 August 1962
09	CAPT. Cooper, Francis Taylor, USN (USNA 1939)	9 August 1962 - 14 December 1963
10	CAPT. Pitts, Raymond Leslie, USN	14 December 1963 - 10 November 1964
11	CAPT. Tanner, Charles Sayers, USN	10 November 1964 - 28 November 1965
12	CAPT. Carpenter, Melvin James, USN	28 November 1965 - 27 January 1967
13	CAPT. Edge, Donald Brown, USN (USNA 1944)	27 January 1967 - 19 February 1968
14	CAPT. Cady, Joseph, USN	19 February 1968 - 6 May 1969
15	CAPT. Meyer Jr., Joseph John, USN	6 May 1969 - 28 May 1970
16	CAPT. Wyand, Donald McKay, USN	28 May 1970 - 8 September 1971
17	CAPT. Bilderback, Oral John, USN (USNA 1948-B)	8 September 1971 - 10 August 1973
18	CAPT. Nicholson Jr., John Lewis, USN	10 August 1973 - 23 September 1974
19	CAPT. Hogan Jr., Edward Joseph (Ned), USN (USNA 1954) :RADM	23 September 1974 - 23 January 1976
20	CAPT. Teague, Foster Schuler (Tooter), USN	23 January 1976 - 16 April 1977
21	CAPT. Finley, John Lawrence, USN (USNA 1957)	16 April 1977 - 10 April 1979
22	CAPT. Presley, Jack Cole	10 April 1979 - 7 September 1979


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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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 26 June 2020

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Kawishiwi (T-AO-146)ex USS Kawishiwi (AO-146) (1955 - 1978)

USNS Kawishiwi (T-AO-146)
ex
USS Kawishiwi (AO-146) (1955 - 1978)