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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Korean Service Medal (3) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal

Luzon Class Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship:

Laid down, 30 August 1944, as SS Deal Island, a Maritime Commission type (EC-2-S-C1) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCE 2680) at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard Inc., Baltimore, MD.

Renamed Kermit Roosevelt, 29 September 1944

Launched, 5 October 1944

Acquired by the US Navy, 21 October 1944

Converted to an Internal Combustion Engine Repair Ship

Commissioned USS Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16), 31 May 1945, CDR. Charles William Scribner, USNR in command

During World War II USS Kermit Roosevelt was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Following World War II USS Kermit Roosevelt was assigned to China service for the following periods:

China Service Medal (extended)
21 September 1945 to 27 August 1946
25 September 1947 to 2 February 1949
25 March to 3 May 1949

During the Korean War USS Kermit Roosevelt participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
North Korean Aggression 9 October to 2 November 1950	Korean Summer-Fall 1953 20 to 22 May 1953 20 June 1953
Communist China Aggression 3 November to 24 December 1950

In a dual ceremony at Bremerton Naval Shipyard on 31 October 1959 USS Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16) was decommissioned, as her crew simultaneously recommissioned USS Delta (AR-9)

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 January 1960

USS Kermit Roosevelt earned three battle stars for Korean War Service

Returned to Maritime Administration, 23 June 1960

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 25 August 1960, to Zidell Exploration, Inc., Portland, OR. (PD-X-383) for $51,883.91

Specifications:
Displacement 4,023 t.(lt) 14,350 t.(fl)
Length 441' 6"
Beam 56' 11"
Draft 23'
Speed 12.5 kts.

Complement

30 Officers

471 Enlisted

Largest Boom Capacity 22 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount

one 3"/50 gun mount

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts

twelve single 20mm AA gun mounts

Ship's Service Generators

three 350Kw 450V A.C.

two 60Kw 120V D.C.

Fuel Oil Capacity 20,690 Bbls

Propulsion

one General Machine Corp. vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engine

two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers 220psi 450°

single propeller, 2,500shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
	13k	*Namesake* Kermit Roosevelt, MC (October 10, 1889 – June 4, 1943) was an American businessman, soldier, explorer, and writer. The son of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, Kermit was a graduate of Harvard University, served in both World Wars (in World War I with both the British and American armies), and explored two continents with his brother. He fought a lifelong battle with depression ultimately leading to suicide while serving in the U.S. Army in Alaska during World War II.	Wikipedia
	130k	Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16) with tug *Justine* of Wilmington, Delaware alongside in May 1945. Note the propeller splash of this single-screw, Liberty ship. US National Archives photo # 19-N-84527, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	208k	Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16) with tugs *Justine* and *Carolyn* of Wilmington, Delaware alongside in May 1945. US National Archives photo # 19-N-84525, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	106k	Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16) with tug *Carolyn* of Wilmington, Delaware alongside in May 1945. US National Archives photo # 19-N-84526, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
19-N-84523	126k	*USS Kermit Roosevelt* (ARG-16)** underway in June 1945 off Baltimore, MD. US National Archives photo # 19-N-84523 and 19-N-84524,US Navy Bureau of Ships photos now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
19-N-84524	184k		US Naval History and Heritage Command
	33k	Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16) at anchor, circa 1945, location unknown. US Navy photo by S. C. Heal, Esq.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
	140k	Admiral Charles M. Cooke., Jr., Commander Seventh Fleet, talks with Chief Carpenter's Mate Thurman T. Wooten in the ship's Carpenter's Shop, at Tsingtao, China, 25 February 1946. USS Kermit Roosevelt's Commanding Officer, Commander Charles W. Scribner, USNR, is looking on at left. US National Archives photo # 80-G-365509, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	130k	*USS Kermit Roosevelt* (ARG-16)** underway. location unknown, 11 March 1952. US National Archives photo # 80-G-440475, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	135k	*USS Kermit Roosevelt* (ARG-16)** underway in January 1953, location unknown. US National Archives photo # 80-G-633142, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	142k	*USS Kermit Roosevelt* (ARG-16)** underway at Pearl Harbor, 13 October 1953. US National Archives photo # 80-G-630854, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
	349k	*USS Kermit Roosevelt* (ARG-16) moored inboard of USS Seminole (AKA-104)**, date and location unknown. Photo by Ronald Roy SMC USN Ret.	Scott Nelson for his Grandfather Ronald Roy SMC USN Ret. USS Atlas
	51k	*USS Kermit Roosevelt* (ARG-16)** underway, December 1959, location unknown.	US Naval Historical Center

Kermit Roosevelt (ARG-16)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Scribner, Charles William, USNR	31 May 1945 - 11 March 1946
02	LCDR. Boarman, Charles Samuel, USN (Ret)	11 March 1946 - 3 July 1946
03	CAPT. Clark, Robert Stewart, USN (USNA 1925)	3 July 1946 - 1948
04	CDR. Conwell, Lester Cameron	1950 - ?
05	CDR. Moffatt, George Galbraith	? - June 1954
06	CDR. Petty, Robert McNaghten	June 1954 - 1955
07	CDR. Buckley, Walter James, USN	1955 - 17 September 1956
08	CDR. Cameron, Gerald Leo, USN	17 September 1956 - December 1957
09	CDR. Cain Jr., Mat Murray	December 1957 - 14 August 1959
10	CDR. Olson, Carl Elliott	14 August 1959 - 31 October 1959


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
MARAD Vessel History Database

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 19 March 2021