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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Atakapa (T-ATF-149)
ex
 USS Atakapa (ATF-149) (1944 - 1970)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Golf - Oscar - Victor
 NGOV
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (3-Cuba)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Lebanon)
Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 17 February 1944, as Fleet Tug (AT-149) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Redesignated Fleet Ocean Tug, (ATF-149), 15 May 1944
  • Launched, 11 July 1944
  • Commissioned USS Atakapa (ATF-149), 8 December 1944, LT George I. Nelson, USN in command
  • During World War II USS Atakapa was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Following World War II USS Atakapa was assigned to Occupation service from 13 September 1945 to 15 April 1946
  • Decommissioned, 8 November 1946, at Orange, TX.
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Texas Group, Orange
  • Recommissioned, 9 August 1951
  • Decommissioned, 1 July 1974, and placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) as USNS Atakapa (T-ATF-149)
  • Placed out of service in summer of 1981
  • Transferred to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Portsmouth, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 21 February 1992
  • Custody transferred in September 1981 to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 25 August 2000
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,240 t.(lt) 1,675 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 38'6"
    Draft 15' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 5
    Enlisted 80
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    two depth charge tracks
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel Oil 2,275 Bbls
    Propulsion
    four GM 12-278A 750hp Diesel-electric engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
     two Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
     one Diesel-drive 200Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    single propeller 3,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Atakapa (ATF-149)
    Atakapa 19k USS Atakapa (ATF-149) underway, date and location unknown. Submitted by John Wilson to National
    Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Atakapa 57k USS Atakapa (ATF-149) underway, at sea detail, off Norfolk, VA., 1953 Submitted by Conley Branham to National
    Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Atakapa 86k USS Atakapa (ATF-149) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, February 1955    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Atakapa 98k USS Atakapa (ATF-149) moored pierside at Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA., 25 January 1962.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command (UA-164), Photo No. Unknown    		 Mike Green
    Atakapa 86k USS Atakapa (ATF-149) brings Oak Ridge (ARDM-1) safely into Naval Station Rota, Spain, 26 June 1964, after a 22 day tow that originated in Norfolk, VA. on 4 June 1964.
    US Navy photo # USN 1104547 by PH1 J.A. Herry USN    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Atakapa 106k USS Atakapa (ATF-149) under way probably in a Mediterranean port, date unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Atakapa 185k USS Atakapa (ATF 149) under way in 1967, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Atakapa 378k USS Atakapa (ATF-149) plaque Tommy Trampp
    USNS Atakapa (T-ATF-149)
    Atakapa 288k USNS Atakapa (T-ATF-149) under way, date and location unknown. William Zarkas, Retired MSC Boatswain
    President, MSC Retiree Association
    Atakapa 54k USNS Atakapa (T-ATF-149) under way, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Atakapa 84k Ex-USNS Atakapa (T-ATF-149) under tow by USNS Apache (T ATF 172) for use in a SINKEX, 25 Aug 2000. Alan Owens
    USS Atakapa (ATF-149)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Nelson, George Irwin, USN8 December 1944 - June 1945
    02LT. Doty, Edmund S. USNRJune 1945 - September 1945
    03LT. McCammond, Earle Allen USNSeptember 1945 - 8 November 1946
     Decommissioned8 November 1946 - 9 August 1951
    04LCDR. Hall, William Clayton, USN9 August 1951 - 1954
    05LCDR. Tucker, Edwardean Andrew, USN 1954 - 1956
    06LCDR. Gordon, Joseph, USN 1956 - 13 May 1957
    07LT. Askin Jr., Thomas Barwise Hagston, USN13 May 1957 - 24 August 1959
    08LT. Pinning, Joseph Edward, USN24 August 1959 - 1961
    09LCDR. Rowland, James Charles, USN1961 - 1963
    10LT. Anderson, C. R.1963 - 1964
    11LCDR Gott, William Berlin, USN1964 - 1966
    12LT. Curtiss, Daniel James, USN1966 - 26 January 1968
    13LCDR. Cullipher, John Oscar, USN26 January 1968 - 1970
    14LT. Sears, Fred Dowd, USN1970 - 1972
    15LCDR. McGrath, John Michael, USN (USNA 1962)1972 - 1 July 1974
    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
    U.S.S. Atakapa ATF-149
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Fleet Tug (AT) Photo Index Back To The Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 21 April 2021