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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Yosemite (AD-19)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Romeo - Victor
 NARV
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Assort (Q)uebec
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation (2)
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (6)- Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 3JAN61-3OCT62)
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 (3)- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 24OCT62-31DEC62)
Fourth Row - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - Philippines Liberation Medal
Dixie Class Destroyer Tender:
  • Laid down, 19 January 1942, at Tampa Shipbuilding Co., Inc., Tampa, FL.
  • Launched, 16 May 1943
  • Commissioned USS Yosemite (AD-19), 26 March 1944, CAPT. George C. Towner Sr. USN in command
  • Decommissioned, 27 January 1994, at US Naval Station Mayport, FL., and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James, River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 18 November 2003 at location 35-54N7 070-04W, at a depth of 2340 fathoms
    Specifications:
    Displacement 14,037 t.(lt) 17,176 t.(fl)
    Length 530' 6"
    Beam 73' 4"
    Draft 25' 6" (lim)
    Speed 19.6kts. (trial), 12kts (econ)
    Complement
    Officers 73
    Enlisted 1,003
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    Armament
    WWII configuration
    four single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    four twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    twenty-three single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO 24,555Bbls
    Diesel 2,705Bbls
    Propulsion
    two Allis-Chalmer geared turbines
    four Babcock and Wilcox A-type boilers, 403psi 720°
    double Falk Main Reduction Gears
    four 750Kw 450V A.C. Ships Service Generators
    two propellers, 11.000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Yosemite
    09031976    		 250k
    Namesake
    Yosemite - Yosemite Valley from Wawona Tunnel vista point.
    Photo - ©Mark J. MillerCC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Map - 1931 pictorial map by Jo Mora - Public Domain, vis Wikimedia Commons     		Tommy Trampp
    Yosemite 50k USS Yosemite (AD-19) under way, 23 July 1944, location unknown. Note USS Yosemite is painted Camouflage Measure 32, Design 3Ax..
    US Navy photo    		  
    Yosemite 164k USS Yosemite (AD-19), moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Mike Smolinski
    Yosemite 71k USS Yosemite (AD-19) entering Havana Harbor, Cuba, circa 1950s Vince Banks R4-Div. USS Yosemite
    Yosemite 27k USS Yosemite (AD-19) at Melville. R.I., with (from inboard to outboard); USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858),
    USS Harwood (DD-861),
    USS McCaffery (DD-860),
    USS Norris (DD-859)     and
    USS Keppler (DD-765) alongside, circa 1953-1956    		 Vince Banks R4-Div. USS Yosemite
    Yosemite 93k USS Yosemite (AD-19) R4 Division, circa 1953-1956 Vince Banks R4-Div. USS Yosemite
    Yosemite 79k USS Yosemite (AD-19) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "Our Navy" Magazine, First of November 1954.    		 Stanley Svec
    Yosemite 44k USS Yosemite (AD-19), date and location unknown. USS Yosemite AD-19 Association
    Yosemite 33k USS Yosemite (AD-19) at New York, circa post 1954-1955. Vince Banks, R4-Div. USS Yosemite
    Yosemite 35k USS Yosemite (AD-19) under way in the Amsterdam Ship Canal (which runs from Ijmuiden to Amsterdam), 30 June 1958. Note the Hembrug railroad bridge in the open position in the background. The bridge is half way between Ijmuiden (on the North Sea) and Port of Amsterdam. USS Yosemite was in port in the city of Amsterdam for a routine port visit from 30 June to 5 July 1958. USS Yosemite AD-19 Association
    Thor 264k Aerial view of Boston Navy Yard, looking Southwest, 1 April 1960. Photo taken by a helicopter from Naval Air Station South Weymouth. Ships and Craft present:
    LocationShip (Hull No.)Ship Type
    Pier 11USS Wasp (CVS-18)Aircraft Carrier
    Dry Dock 5ARD-16Floating Dry Dock
    In ARD-16YFND-23Dry Dock Companion Craft
    Pier 10Empty 
    Pier 9EUSS Macon (CA-132)
    YD-196    		Heavy Cruiser
    Floating Crane
    Pier 9WUSS Hugh Purvis (DD-709)Destroyer
    Pier 8EUSS Thor (ARC-4)
    YPD-24    		 Cable Layer
    Floating Pile Driver
    Pier 7EUSS Springfield (CLG-7)Guided Missile Light Cruiser
    Pier 7WEmpty 
    Pier 6EUSS Perry (DD-844)Destroyer
    Pier 6WUSS Mitscher (DL-2)Destroyer Leader
    Pier 5EUSS Albany (CG-10)Guided Missile Heavy Cruiser
    Pier 5WUSS Yosemite (AD-19)Destroyer Tender
    Pier 4EEmpty 
    Pier 4WUSS Skywatcher (AGR-3)Radar Picket Ship
    U.S. Navy photo, Boston NHP Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-10111)     		Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA 02129
    Yosemite 220k USS Yosemite (AD-19) R5 division, 1957-1958. Repair Division 5 (R5 Div.) was responsible for fire control, torpedo and gun mount repairs on destroyers. Second from the left, front row is FT2 George Wilkinson. George Wilkinson
    Yosemite 435k USS Yosemite (AD-19) under way, circa 1964-65, location unknown.
    US Navy photo by PH3 Henry Craig Hensel.    		 Henry Craig Hensel PHCS (AC/AW) Ret. USN.
    Yosemite 2140k USS Yosemite (AD-19) with
    USS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708),
    USS William R. Rush (DD-714) and
    USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858) alongside, at Naval Base Newport, R.I., 22 September 1965.    		 ©Richard Leonhardt
    Yosemite 75k USS Yosemite (AD-19) moored port side to, Pier One Naval Station Newport, R.I., 1966. Steve Hessman R-5 Div. USS Yosemite
    Yosemite
    09031975    		 127k Destroyer Pier No.1, U.S. Naval Station Newport, R.I., 1966. Visible are the destroyer tenders USS Yosemite (AD-19) and USS Arcadia (AD-23) the Fletcher-class destroyer U.S.S. Charles J. Badger (DD-657) and one unidentified Fletcher-class destroyer.
    U.S. Navy photo from the USS Newport News (CA-148) 1965-1966 cruise book    		 Robert Hurst
    Yosemite 73k USS Yosemite (AD-19) moored in her homeport berth at Pier One Naval Station Newport R.I., circa mid 1960s. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Yosemite 186k Post card of USS Yosemite (AD-19) with
    USS Julius A. Furer (DEG-6) and
    USS Voge (DE-1047) alongside and USS Dealey (DE-1006), USS Cromwell (DE-1014) and USS Compton (DD-705) astern and alongside USS Cascade (AD-16) at Naval Base Newport, R.I., circa 1967-1972.
    (Photo ŠThe John Twomey Distributing Co., Newport, R.I.)    		 Tommy Trampp
    Yosemite 519k USS Yosemite (AD-19) at anchor, St Thomas, USVI, 1968. ©Dan Owens USS Yosemite
    Yosemite 133k USS Yosemite (AD-19) under way in 1968, location unknown.
    US Navy photos    		 Robert Hurst
    Yosemite 84k
    Yosemite 81k USS Yosemite (AD-19) at Valletta, Malta, 10 July 1969.
    Photo by Jim Isgro.    		 USS Yosemite AD-19 Association
    Yosemite 69k USS Yosemite (AD-19) at Valletta, Malta, 10 July 1969.
    Photo by Jim Isgro.    		 USS Yosemite AD-19 Association
    Yosemite 146k USS Yosemite (AD-19) moored, probably at Naples, circa 1969-1970. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Yosemite 206k USS Yosemite (AD-19) moored, probably at Naples, circa 1969-1970 with USS Brumby (DE-1044) USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) and USS Barney (DDG-6) alongside. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Yosemite 36k USS Yosemite (AD-19) with USS Cassin Young (DD-793) alongside, Melville, R.I., date unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Vince Banks R4-Div. USS Yosemite
    Yosemite 176k USS Yosemite (AD-19) at Naples, Italy upon relieving USS Tidewater (AD-31), 19 April 1969. Robert Hall USS Tidewater
    Accohanoc 352k USS Yosemite (AD-19) at Naval Station Mayport, Fl. in 1973 with tugs Accohanoc (YTM-545), Tomahawk (YTB-789) and Migadan (YTM-549) alongside. Kenneth Wendall Jackson IM2 USS Yosemite
    Accohanoc 499k
    Migadan 401k
    Yosemite 36k USS Yosemite (AD-19) with USS Luce (DDG-38) and USS Donald B. Beary (DE-1085) alongside, Naples, Italy, circa 4 July 1975. USS Yosemite AD-19 Association
    Yosemite 130k USS Yosemite (AD-19) underway off Mayport, FL, circa 1977.
    US Navy photo.    		 Mike Smolinski
    Yosemite 760k USS Yosemite (AD-19) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Harold Weinbaum courtesy David A Downey BM2 (DV) USN USS Yosemite 1960-64
    Yosemite
    09031973    		 449k USS Yosemite (AD-19) decorated with lights during the holiday season while moored pierside at her homeport, US Naval Station Newport, R.I., year unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Yosemite
    09031974    		 209k USS Yosemite (AD-19) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Yosemite 237k USS Yosemite (AD-19) underway off Newport, R.I., date unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Mike Smolinski
    Yosemite 70k USS Yosemite (AD-19) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
    Yosemite
    09031977    		 4206k USS Yosemite (AD-19) moored pierside Naval Station Mayprot, FL., July 1982 Photo by CAPT. Mark Heilenday, USN Ret.
    Yosemite 395k USS Yosemite (AD-19) moored pierside at Barcelona, Spain, 1 September 1986. Photo by Carol Martinelli
    Yosemite 798k USS Yosemite (AD-19) moored pierside at Marseille, France, circa 1987-88, with USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) and USS Vreeland (FF-1068) alongside. Photo by Philippe Gonzales
    Yosemite 352k USS Yosemite (AD-19) under way, 12 March 1988, location unknown.
    US DefesneImagery photo VIRN: DN-SC-88-95451 A US Navy photo by PH2 Jones.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mount Baker 422k USS Mount Baker (AE-34) under way with USS Yosemite (AD-19) and the fleet oiler USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) in the background, 12 March 1988.
    US Navy photo.    		  
    Yosemite 66k USS Yosemite (AD-19) under way, date and location unknown.
    ©Atlantic Fleet Sales, Norfolk, VA.    		 Mike Smolinski
    Yosemite 116k USS Yosemite (AD-19) under way, circa 1992, place unknown. USS Yosemite AD-19 Association
    Courtesy Tom Keown ET2 USS Yosemite, 1991-93
    Yosemite 77k ex-USS Yosemite (AD-19) on the Elizabeth River while passing through Hampton Roads from the James River Reserve Fleet while enroute to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA., 19 February 2003. Photo by Mable Clark
    Yosemite 68k Ex-USS Yosemite (AD-19) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA., being prepared for use as a target, 22 August 2003. Photo by Jerry McWaters USS Yosemite
    Yosemite 85k Ex-USS Yosemite (AD-19) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA., being prepared for use as a target, 22 August 2003. Photo by Jerry McWaters USS Yosemite

    For more photos and information about USS Yosemite see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • MARAD Vessel History Database
  • Factual History of U.S.S. Yosemite (AD-19), 6 October 1945
  • USS Yosemite AD-19 Association
  • Memorabilia and Photo Collections
  • USS Yosemite AD-19 Association 31 December 2021 Newsletter
  • USS Yosemite AD-19 Association 1 January 2022 Newsletter
  • USS Yosemite AD-19 Association 22 May 2023 Reunion Newsletter
  • USS Yosemite AD-19 Association 16 October 2024 Reunion Newsletter
  • USS Yosemite AD-19 Association 24 April 2024 Reunion Newsletter
  • USS Yosemite AD-19 Association 23 April 2025 Reunion Newsletter
    • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Towner Sr., George Crosby, USN (USNA 1924) :VADM26 March 1944 - 22 August 1945
    02CAPT. Gibbs, Robert Henry, USN (USNA 1925) :RADM22 August 1945 - 8 December 1946
    03CAPT. Benson, James Francis, USN (USNA 1927)8 December 1946 - 12 November 1948
    04CAPT. Longfellow, William Jenkins, USN (USNA 1924)12 November 1948 - 14 September 1949
    05CAPT. Templeton, Thomas Harry, USN (USNA 1924)14 September 1949 - 16 September 1950
    06CAPT. Larkin, Richard Alexander, USN (USNA 1925) :RADM15 September 1950 - 19 January 1951
    07CAPT. Stott, George Winfield, USN (USNA 1924)19 January 1951 - 16 June 1952
    08CAPT. Baldauf, Laurence Charles, USN (USNA 1929) :RADM16 June 1952 - 17 June 1953
    09CAPT. Olsen, Eliot USN (USNA 1927)17 June 1953 - 9 June 1954
    10CAPT. Mitchell Jr., Frank Paull, USN (USNA 1929) :RADM9 June 1954 - 9 July 1955
    11CAPT. Spahr Jr., Otto William, USN (USNA 1932)9 July 1955 - 7 July 1956
    12CAPT. Moore, Harry Grimshaw, USN (USNA 1932) 7 July 1956 - 24 May 1957
    13CDR. Metzger, Robert Michael, USN 24 May 1957 - 1 August 1957
    14CAPT. Merrill, Sidney Douglas Buxton, USN (USNA 1934)1 August 1957 - 1 November 1958
    16CAPT. Willman, Donald Erzinger, USN (USNA 1936)26 August 1959 - 3 August 1960
    17CAPT. Alford, Lodwick Huston, USN (USNA 1938)3 August 1960 - 7 July 1961
    18CAPT. Hubbell, Lester Earle, USN :RADM7 July 1961 - 13 July 1962
    19CAPT. Gaddis, Walter Donald, USN (USNA 1941) :VADM13 July 1962 - 7 July 1963
    20CAPT. White, Robert Hastings, USN (USNA 1940) 7 July 1963 - 2 July 1964
    21CAPT. Smith, James Woodward, USN2 July 1964 - 28 July 1965
    22CAPT. Cruser III, Hanford Thornton, USN (USNA 1942)28 July 1965 - 30 August 1966
    23CAPT. Redgrave III, DeWitt Clinton, USN 30 August 1966 - 26 June 1967
    24CAPT. Shrake, Francis Bernard, USN 26 June 1967 - 16 December 1968
    25CAPT. Morgiewicz, Daniel Joseph, USN 16 December 1968 - 13 July 1970
    26CAPT. Fitzgerald, Jean, USN13 July 1970 - 10 August 1972
    27CDR. Boyles, Harlan Henley, USN10 August 1972 - 4 October 1972
    28CAPT. Brunson, James Sylvester, USN (USNA 1948-B)4 October 1972 - 24 April 1974
    29CAPT. Yetman, William Raymond, USN24 April 1974 - 25 August 1975
    30CAPT. Hannegan, Frank Nebeker, USN (USNA 1952)25 August 1975 - 7 March 1977
    31CAPT. Donnelly, Richard Finlay, USN :RADM7 March 1977 - 17 April 1979
    32CAPT. Velazquez-Suarez, Francisco Antonio, USN (USNA 1953) 17 April 1979 - 10 July 1981
    33CAPT. Roberts, Tim Hal, USN 10 July 1981 - 23 July 1983
    34CAPT. Boyle, Francis Joseph, USN July 1983 - 3 June 1985
    35CAPT. Horn, Frank Gordon, USN3 June 1985 - 31 July 1987
    36CAPT. Weeks, Floyston Allan, USN31 July 1987 - 11 July 1989
    37CAPT. Bankert Jr., Harland Roland, USN 11 July 1989 - 2 August 1991
    38CAPT. Tuck, Charles Marion, USN 2 August 1991 - 7 July 1993
    39LCDR. Salfer, Deborah Lynn, USN 7 July 1993 - 27 January 1994
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 20 December 2024