Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.


NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Alstede (AF-48)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Yankee - Victor
NCYV
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Abate (U)niform - 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 - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (4)
Bottom Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Dominican Republic) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal


Alstede Class Stores Ship:
  • Laid down, 30 September 1944, as SS Ocean Chief, a Maritime Commission type (R2-S-BV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1206), at Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, CA.
  • Launched, 28 November 1944
  • Delivered to the War Shipping Administration, 4 May 1945
  • Operated by United Fruit Co. under contract to the WSA for one year
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission and acquired by the US Navy, 10 May 1946
  • Commissioned USS Alstede (AF-48), 17 May 1946, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., CDR. Alexander Kusebach, USNR, in command
  • During the Korean War USS Alstede (AF-48) participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Second Korean Winter
    26 to 28 January 1952
    12 to 15 February 1952
    28 February to 3 March 1952
    8 to 12 March 1952
    14 to 17 and 27 to 30 April 1952
    Third Korean Winter 20 to 22 April 1953
    Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    17 to 20 June 1952
    5 to 7 and 13 to 14 July 1952
    18 to 21 September 1952
    Korean Summer-Fall 1953
    27 June to 1 July 1953
    10 to 13 July 1953

  • Decommissioned, 31 October 1969
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 31 October 1969
  • USS Alstede earned four battle stars for Korean War service
  • Laid up at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Norfolk, VA., for non-industrial stripping
  • Custody transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 17 June 1970, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Final Disposition, sold by MARAD for scrapping, 24 July 1970, to Desguaces Maritimos c/o Boston Metals, for $223,724
    Specifications:
    Displacement 15,500 t.(fl)
    Length 459' 2"
    Beam 63'
    Draft 28'
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement 292
    Armament two 40mm double-barreled guns in bow
    Propulsion
    one cross-compound turbine engine
    single propeller

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Alstede 105k Forward plan view of USS Alstede (AF-48) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 18 May 1946. USS Birmingham (CL-62) is to the left.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 1826-46, 5/18/46
    Darryl Baker
    Alstede 101k Amidships looking aft plan view of USS Alstede (AF-48) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 18 May 1946. Alstede was undergoing conversion for naval service and repairs at Mare Island from 10 to 18 May 1946.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 1830-46, 5/18/46
    Darryl Baker
    Alstede
    09064817
    755k USS Alstede (AF-48) in bound passing under the Golden Gate Bridge returning to Mare Island Navy Yard after completing sea trials in May 1946. Note she dosen't yet have her guns installed at this point in the conversion process. Photo is looking North at Marin County and Angela Island to the right.
    U.S. Navy photo from the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum
    Darryl Baker
    Alstede 121k Change of Command ceremonies aboard USS Alstede (AF-48) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 28 October 1953. Alstede was undergoing repairs at Mare Island from 11 September to 11 November 1953.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 19160-10-53, 10/28/53
    Darryl Baker
    Alstede
    09064808
    NY9 19306-11-53
    95k Broadside and stern views of USS Alstede (AF-48) off the south end of Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 10 November 1953. Alstede's overhaul period at Mare Island was from 11 September to 16 November 1953, including a dry dock period from 13 October to 26 October 1953.
    Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo #'s NY9 19306-11-53, 11/10/53 and NY9 19308-11-53, 11/10/53
    Darryl Baker and
    Robert Hurst
    Alstede
    09064816
    NY9 19308-11-53
    181k
    Alstede 200k USS Alstede (AF-48) at anchor, date and location unknown. Jim McCoy
    Alstede 285k USS Alstede (AF-48) at anchor, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Alstede 168k USS Alstede (AF-48) moored pierside at Naval Station Rota, Spain, 28 May 1962.
    US Navy photo
    Mike Smolinski
    Alstede 408k USS Alstede (AF-48) moored pierside at Genoa, Italy, 1 October 1968. Photo by Carlo Martinelli, Genoa, Italy
    Alstede 65k USS Alstede (AF-48) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Alstede 137k USS Alstede (AF-48) moored in the harbor at Valletta, Malta, date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR ret.
    Alstede 91k USS Alstede (AF-48) under way, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR ret.
    Telfair 21k USS Alstede (AF-48) and USS Telfair (APA-210) moored pierside at Norfolk, VA., October 1964. Photo by Jim McCoy
    Alstede 84k USS Alstede (AF-48) and USS Northampton (CC-1) conduct an underway replenishment at sea as they steam side by side, date unknown.
    US Navy photo # 1103939 by C.F. Knapp PH1 USN, released 6-4-64,. from the archives of the US Naval Photographic Center Naval Station, Anacostia, Washington, D.C.
    David Buell
    Alstede 107k USS Alstede (AF-48) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, January 1969.
    Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Alstede 123k USS Alstede (AF-48) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.

    USS Alstede (AF-48)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

    Commanding Officers
    01CDR. Kusebach, Alexander, USNR17 May 1946 - ?
    02CDR. Lank, Theodore Small, USN1950 - 21 January 1952
    03LCDR. Frey, Saleem DeWitt, USN21 January 1952 - 10 October 1952
    04LCDR. Mabus, Howard William, USN10 October 1952 - 1954
    05CDR. Little, Edward Neal, USN (USNA 1930)1954 - 11 May 1955
    06CAPT. Ryan, Paul Brennan, USN (USNA 1935)11 May 1955 - 8 June 1956
    07CDR. Wilson Jr., Frederick Charles, USN8 June 1956 - 6 November 1957
    08CDR. Marcy, Lincoln, USN (USNA 1939)6 November 1957 - 22 October 1958
    09CDR. Mulderrig Jr., Martin Joseph, USN (USNA 1940)22 October 1958 - 20 November 1959
    10CDR. Sanders, Charles Clifton (C Square), USN20 November 1959 - 16 March 1961
    11CDR. Baker, Howard Jefferson, USN16 March 1961 - 22 March 1962
    12CAPT. Fickenscher Jr., Edward Robinson, USN (USNA 1940)22 March 1962 - May 1963
    13CAPT. Hazapis, Thomas, USNMay 1963 - 1 May 1964
    14CAPT. Beling, John Kingsman USN :VADM1 May 1964 - 6 May 1965
    15CAPT. Robison, Roy Joseph, USN (USNA 1942)6 May 1965 - 1966
    14CAPT. Cogswell, George Walker, USN (USNA 1945)1966 - 3 November 1967
    16CAPT. Shelton, John Presley, USN (USNA 1947)3 November 1967 - January 1969
    17CAPT. Ray, Charles Edwin, USNJanuary 1969 - 31 October 1969
    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
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Stores Ship (AF) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 9 February 2024