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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Prairie (AD-15)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Delta - Whiskey NEDW

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (4)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Defense Service Medal (with "A" device) - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp)
Fourth Row - National Defense Service Medal (3) - Korea Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2-Persian Gulf)
Fifth Row - Vietnam Service Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Sixth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) - Republic of Korean War Service Medal (retroactive)

Dixie Class Destroyer Tender:

Laid down, 7 December 1938, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.

Launched, 9 December 1939

Commissioned USS Prairie (AD-15), 5 August 1940, CAPT. John B. W. Waller in command

During World War II Prairie was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 26 March 1993

Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.

Title transfer to MARAD, 1 April 1993

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 2 April 1993 (some sources indicate 6 April 1993) to "Nishant Import & Export" of the United Arab Emirates for $960,000. Towed to India in April 1993 and scrapped

Specifications:
Displacement 18,000 t. (lim)
Length 530' 6"
Beam 73' 4"
Draft 24' 5"
Speed 19.6 kts (trial)

Complement

officer 123

enlisted 1,576

Armament

four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts

four single 40mm AA gun mounts

two 3pdr gun mounts

Aft two 5"/38 mounts and all 40mm gun mounts later removed, and helicopter platform added

Largest boom capacity 20 t.

Ship's Service Generators four 750Kw 450V A.C.

Fuel Capacity

NSFO 24,555 Bbls.

Diesel 2,705 Bbls.

Propulsion

two New York Shipbuilding Parsons-design steam turbines

four Babcock & Wilcox "A" (three drum expansion type) boilers 485psi 720°.

double De Laval Main Reduction Gear

two propellers, 11,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	68k	Broadside view of Prairie (AD-15) after launching at New York Shipbuilding Corp, Camden, N.J., 9 December 1939. The ship beyond *Prairie* is probably *USS Dixie* (AD-14)** fitting out at the yard. New York Shipbuilding Corp photo.	David Buell
	121k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** bow view, port side, Philadelphia Navy Yard, 27 January 1940 US Navy photo	Capt. Jerry Mason USN
	167k	Oil on canvas “A Time and a Place, Argentia Bay, Newfoundland, 1941, by artist Tom Lea. *USS Prairie* (AD-15)** with three destroyers moored alongside. Published in LIFE in May 1942, captioned "Like a fierce mother with three children sits the big supply ship, blinking a message to the newcomers with her high starboard light ..." Life Collection of Art WWII, U.S. Army Center of Military History, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.	Christopher L. Eger
09031541	185k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** with three destroyers alongside at Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada, early 1942. US National Archives Photo # 80-G-7425, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives	Rick Davis
	101k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** at the Boston Navy Yard. 17 October 1943, preparing to transfer to the Pacific. The ship was commissioned in 1940 with open mounts in number 2 and 3 positions, and splinter protection was soon fitted around all four 5"/38 mounts. Enclosed mounts were substituted and then protective tubs removed after the ship was damaged by a pier fire at Argentia, Newfoundland in May 1942. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 94747 from the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command, courtesy Shipscribe.com	Robert Hurst
	48k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** at anchor, circa 1943, location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1960.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	463k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)*, middle distant, anchored with destroyers alongside in the harbor at the Japanese Naval Base in Yokosuka harbor, 1 November 1945. Also identifiable are many other US Navy ships, Japanese Navy ships and shoreside points of interest, some of them are identified as follows: USS LST-672* moored, foreground Numbered items include: #1 drydock with *USS Patroclus* (ARL-19) in the dock being repaired after being rammed by USS Dauphin (APA-97)** #2 Port Director's office #3 Japanese ships...Possibly destroyers #4 Man made defensive caves #5 Battleship HIMJS Nagato #6 Battleship *USS New Jersey* (BB-62) #7 USS Patroclus (ARL-19)**'s normal berth #8 railway station US Navy photo.	Tommy Browning, for his father James Browning SF3/c USS Patroclus Christina Cole for her grandfather Leonard Malewicz TM3/c USS Prairie 1945-46
	36k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)**, underway, date and location unknown.	Hyperwar US Navy in WWII
	51k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown. ©Marine Photos, San Diego, CA.	Mike Smolinski
	49k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown.	Louis Drinovsky
AD 15 750-46, Navy Photo, 2/15/46	226k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) at Mare Island on 15 February 1946. The photo was taken from the USS General G. M. Randall (AP-115) Note YD-33 forward of Prairie**.	Darryl Baker
AD 15 747-46, Navy Photo, 2/15/46	221k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) and the USS Haven (AH-12) at Mare Island on 19 February 1946. The photo was taken from the USS General G. M. Randall (AP-115)**.	Darryl Baker
	89k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) at anchor tending five destroyers alongside. From inboard to outboard: USS O'Hare (DD-889) USS John R. Craig (DD-885) USS Perkins (DD-877) USS Floyd B. Parks (DD-884) and USS Ross (DD-563)** US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, March 1954	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	106k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** entering Pearl Harbor in 1955.	Mike Smolinski
	117k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) with destroyers alongside on both her starboard and port sides, while moored in the harbor at Yokosuka, Japan, circa July-August 1959. USS Fletcher (DD-445) is the outboard ship on Prairie**'s port side.	Photo by Derick S. Hartshorn
	101k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) moored at Naval Base Yokosuka, Japan, fall 1959 with: USS Southerland (DDR-743), USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747), USS Rowan (DD-782), and USS Gurke (DD-783)** alongside.	Photo by Derick S. Hartshorn
	60k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) moored to a buoy at San Diego, CA., with USS Wiltsie (DD-716) and USS Morton (DD-948)** alongside, November 1960.	Robert Schultz ETC(SW) USN Ret.
	88k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, 25 April 1962, location unknown, Note the private automobiles on the helicopter flight deck. US Navy photo	Robert M. Cieri
09031547	206k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio
	270k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) with USS Shields (DD-596), USS Agerholm (DD-826), USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786)** and an unidentified destroyer alongside, 20 August 1962, location unknown. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # 94750.	Ed Zajkowski
	67k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1967	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
09031548	228k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway off San Diego, date unknown. ©George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
	47k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown. ©Marine Photos, San Diego CA.	Mike Smolinski
	53k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway off Point Loma as she exits San Diego Bay, date unknown. ©Marine Photos, San Diego CA.	Mike Smolinski
	70k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** moored pierside at Pearl Harbor, 1967.	Photo by Ramon Jackson
	181k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** outbound from San Diego, 1971.	Mike Smolinski
09031550	239k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio
09031549	175k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio
	197k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown. Photo caption reads: "Destroyer tender USS Prairie (AD 15) is still going strong after nearly a half-century of distinguished service to the fleet. Commissioned in 1940, Prairie celebrates its 48th birthday in August. It is the oldest Navy ship on continuous active duty." US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July 1988	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	205k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** departing Pearl Harbor during her 1979 deployment.	Mike Smolinski
	73k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** moored pierside at NAS Alameda in April 1980.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	68k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** moored pierside at NAS Alameda in April 1980.	Photo by Robert M. Cieri
	130k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) moored pierside at NavSta San Diego, CA. with USS Hull (DD-945)** on the opposite side of the pier, probably in February 1982.	Larry Lee
	81k		Larry Lee
	53k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1984	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
09031551	283k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) in dry dock No.1, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, cA., in February 1965. In front are the destroyers USS Turner Joy (DD-951)** and USS Shields (DD-596). U.S. Navy photo from the USS Prairie (AD-15) 1988-89 cruise book	Robert Hurst
	66k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** at anchor, date and location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, November 1989	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	239k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** under way off San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Mike Smolinski
	60k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** underway, date and location unknown.	Richard Mill BMCS USN Ret.
09031552	286k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15) underway off the coast of Southern California. As the oldest U.S Navy ship in commission, Prairie** is flying the "Don't Tread on Me" jack, the first navy jack. All ships of the U.S. Navy flew the jack in place of the traditional union jack during the Global War On Terrorism. Normaly the jack is only flown by the oldest ship in commission in the U.S. Navy.	Nicholas Tiberio
	57k	*USS Prairie* (AD-15)** moored at Naval Station Long Beach, 26 March 1993, decked out in red white and blue bunting ready for decommissioning after 50 years of service. The "Don`t Tread on Me" flag flying from the vessel`s starboard yardarm signifies that USS Prairie was the oldest ship in naval service at that time.	Mike Smolinski

For more photos and information about USS Prairie, see:
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
Memorabilia
Welcome Aboard Pamphlet - 1983
Thanksgiving Day Menu - 1945

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Waller, John Beresford Wynn, USN (USNA 1914) :RADM	5 August 1940 - 5 October 1941
02	CAPT. Flemming, Robert Walton, USN (USNA 1917)	5 October 1941 - 27 November 1942
03	CAPT. Old, Francis Paxton, USN (USNA 1920) :VADM	27 November 1942 - 5 July 1944
04	CAPT. Kneeland, Omer Archibald, USN (USNA 1922)	5 July 1944 - 19 June 1945
05	CAPT. Gibson, Francis Stephenson, USN	19 June 1945 - 7 October 1945
06	CAPT. Fenn, Herbert Keeney, USN (USNA 1913)	7 October 1945 - 21 February 1946
07	CAPT. McDowell, Lewis Richard, USN :RADM	21 February 1946 - 15 November 1947
08	CAPT. Close, Forrest, USN (USNA 1924)	15 November 1947 - 27 November 1948
09	CAPT. Kelly, Thomas Eugene, USN (USNA 1923)	27 November 1948 - 29 October 1949
10	CAPT. Renn, Joseph Bryan, USN :RADM	29 October 1949 - 3 November 1950
11	CAPT. Price, Kenton Edson, USN (USNA 1927)	3 November 1950 - 14 March 1952
12	CAPT. McKnight Jr., John Rowland, USN (USNA 1930) :RADM	14 March 1952 - 28 February 1953
13	CAPT. Newsome, James Hillman, USN (USNA 1930)	28 February 1953 - 15 August 1953
14	CAPT. Kelsye, P.	15 August 1953 - 24 September 1953
15	CAPT. Warburton, Audley Lyne, USN (USNA 1924) :RADM	24 September 1953 - 12 March 1955
16	CAPT. Fahle, Robert Schley, USN (USNA 1931)	12 March 1955 - 30 November 1956
17	CAPT. Sugarman, Charles Maurice, USN (USNA 1932)	30 November 1956 - 25 October 1957
18	CAPT. Ovrom, Robert Johnston, USN (USNA 1934)	25 October 1957 - 27 September 1958
19	CAPT. Gallaher, Anton Renkl, USN (USNA 1933)	27 September 1958 - 24 October 1959
20	CAPT. Moody, Dwight Lyman, USN (USNA 1935)	24 October 1959 - 28 September 1960
21	CAPT. Finn, William Stephen, USN (USNA 1938)	28 September 1960 - 3 May 1962
22	CAPT. Brown, Kenneth Barth, USN (USNA 1942)	3 May 1962 - 14 June 1963
23	CAPT. Steen, Kenneth, USN (USNA 1941)	14 June 1963 - 11 July 1964
24	CAPT. Davis Jr., John Blount, USN (USNA 1942) :RADM	11 July 1964 - 5 March 1965
25	CAPT. Petitt, Robert Buel, USN (USNA 1944)	5 March 1965 - 30 June 1966
26	CAPT. Risch Jr., Harry, USN	30 June 1966 - 1 April 1967
27	CAPT. Dittler Jr., Harry Cline, USN	1 April 1967 - 18 July 1968
28	CDR. Nellis, Donald Patrick, USN	18 July 1968 - 7 October 1968
29	LCDR. Bates, Glenn Dale, USN (USNA 1955)	7 October 1968 - 22 October 1968
30	CAPT. Vollertsen, Russell Armin, USN (USNA 1948-A)	22 October 1968 - 10 December 1968
31	CAPT. Sante, Robert Donald, USN	10 December 1968 - 8 January 1970
32	CDR. Cooper, Robert George, USN	8 January 1970 - 27 January 1970
33	CAPT. Soper, Malvern Eugene, USN	27 January 1970 - 31 July 1971
34	CAPT. Lyon, James Owen, USN (USNA 1946)	31 July 1971 - 25 January 1973
35	CAPT. Vollertsen, Russell Armin, USN (USNA 1948-A)	25 January 1973 - 13 September 1974
36	CAPT. Muck, Floyd Robert, USN (USNA 1950)	13 September 1974 - 17 December 1976
37	CAPT. Miller, William Anthony, USN (USNA 1950)	17 December 1976 - 9 December 1978
38	CAPT. Helms Jr., Raymond Earl, USN	9 December 1978 - 22 November 1980
39	CAPT. Archambault, Guy Andre, USN	22 November 1980 - 24 November 1982
40	CAPT. Duich, Steven James, USN (USNA 1961)	24 November 1982 - 28 June 1985
41	CAPT. Althouse, Thomas Stephenson, USN (USNA 1963)	28 June 1985 - 24 June 1987
42	CAPT. Landers, Michael Francis, USN	24 June 1987 - 7 July 1989
43	CAPT. Hattan, Robert Leland, USN	7 July 1989 - 26 July 1991
44	CAPT. Stewart, Wilton Robert, USN	26 July 1991 - 26 March 1993


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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Last Updated 10 November 2023