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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Patch at left contributed by Mike Smolinski, patch at right by Tommy Trampp

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Chemung (AO-30)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Foxtrot - Alpha - Quebec
NFAQ
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Imperial (G)olf - 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 - China Service Medal (extended) - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Fourth Row - Korean Service Medal (4) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam, Taiwan Straits, Quemoy-Matsu, Korea) - Vietnam Service Medal (7) Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down (date unknown) as SS Esso Annapolis, a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A1) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 9) at Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrows Point, MD.

Launched, 9 September 1939

Acquired by the Maritime Commission, 5 June 1941 from Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey

Commissioned USS Chemung (AO-30), 3 July 1941, CDR. E. T. Spellman in command

During World War II USS Chemung participated in the following campaigns

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
North African occupation Algeria-Morocco landings, 8 to 11 November 1942	Invasion of Southern France 15 August to 25 September 1944

Following World War II USS Chemung was assigned to Occupation duty and China service for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
Asia - 15 September to 16 October 1945	23 November to 27 December 1951
Europe - 30 April to 18 June 1948	21 to 28 October 1952
Europe - 24 November 1948 to 23 March 1949	31 October to 23 November 1952
	13 February to 11 March 1954
	14 November to 3 December 1954
	20 January to 10 February 1955

Decommissioned, 3 July 1950, at San Diego, CA.

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group

Recommissioned, 1 December 1950

During the Korean War USS Chemung participated in the following campaigns

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaigns
UN Summer-Fall Offensive 23 August to 1 September 1951 12 to 21 September 1951 27 September to 7 October 1951 17 to 28 October 1951 2 to 11 November 1951	Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952 15 to 27 July 1952 8 and 10 to 25 August 1952 31 August to 12 September 1952 20 September to 3 October 1952
Second Korean Winter 30 to 31 December 1951 3 to 12 January 1952	Third Korean Winter 8 to 15 December 1952 27 December 1952 to 6 January 1953 16 to 28 January 1953

During the Vietnam War USS Chemung participated in the following campaigns

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Advisory Campaign 21 to 23 August 1958 10 to 12 September 1958 21-to 24 December 1960 4 to 8 January 1961 1 to 7 September 1964 14 to 27 September 1964 30 September to 29 October 1964 11 to 24 November 1964 2 to 7 December 1964	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase III 15 to 23 June 1967 27 June to 24 July 1967 11 to 22 July 1967 27 July to 4 August 1967 10 to 18 August 1967 23 August to 1 September 1967 7 to 15 and 22 to 28-September 1967 30 October to 7 November 1967 13 to 24 November 1967 7 to 17 December 1967 26 December to 3 January 1968
Vietnam Defense 24 December 1965	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 28 July to 3 August 1968 14 to 21 August 1968 26 August to 2 September 1968 27 September to 5 October 1968 10 to 17 October 1968 24 October to 1 November 1968
Vietnamese Counteroffensive 25 December 1965 to 2 January 1966 29 January to 2 February 1966 22 to 27 February 1966 9 to 15 and 20 to 24 March1966 17 to 18 May 1966 10 to 12, 18 to 21 and 29 to 30 June 1966	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 20 to 27 November 1968 1 to 12 December 1968 4 to 11 January 1969
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 1 to 5 and 9 to 15 July 1966	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 12 to 20 and 27 to 31 October 1969

Decommissioned, 18 September 1970, at San Diego, CA.

Struck from the Naval Register in May 1971

USS Chemung earned two battle stars for World War II service, four battle stars for Korean War service, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Transferred to the Maritime Administration,31 March 1971, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 14 May 1971, to Levin Metals Corp. (PD-X-905 dated 20 April 1971) for $103,372.00, delivered 16 June 1971

Specifications:
Displacement 7,470 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
Length 553'
Beam 68'
Draft 32' 4"
Speed 15.1 kts (trial)

Complement

Officers 20

Enlisted 255

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four single 3'/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts

four twin 40mm AA gun mounts

four twin 20mm AA gun mounts

Cargo Capacity 16,500DWT

Oil 123,700 Bbls

Gasoline 788,000 Gals

Fuel Capacity NSFO 15,000 Bbls

Propulsion

two Bethlehem-Curtiss geared turbines

four Foster and Wheeler K-type boilers, 450psi 750°

double De Laval Main Reduction Gears

Ship's Service Generators

two turbo-drive 400Kw, 230V A.C.

one Diesel-drive 150Kw 230V A.C.

twin propellers, 13,500shp

Size	Image Description	Source
58k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30)**, date and location unknown.	Auke Visser´s ESSO Tanker web site
107k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) preparing to refuel USS Ranger (CV-4)** in November 1942, prior to Operation Torch. US National Archives photo # 80-G-30275 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, College Park, MD.	Tracy White
122k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) refueling USS Alaska (CB-1)**, date and location unknown.	courtesy Auke Visser´s T2 Tanker web site
205k	*USS Jeffers* (DD-621) refueling from USS Chemung (AO-30) 23 February 1943, in convoy UGS5A**. This convoy originated in Hampton Roads, 18 February 1943 and arrive at Oran, 6 March 1943. Photos by Life Magazine's J R Eyerman, used for educational and non-commercial purpose.	John Chiquoine
227k
206k
239k
274k
118k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) near Norfolk Navy Yard, 30 April 1943. This ship and one sister USS Sabine (AO-25) received what became the standard wartime armament for large auxiliaries, one 5" gun aft and 4-3"/50 guns, two forward and two aft. This view was taken after Chemung** had exchanged her initial 5"/51 gun aft for a 5"/38. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-47642, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
58k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) refueling USS Steinaker (DD-863) and USS Princeton (CV-37)**, April 1946	.
88k	Broadside view of *USS Chemung* (AO-30) off Mare Island, 26 July 1957. Chemung** undergoing repairs at Mare Island from 30 April until 31 July 1957. Mare Island Naval Shipyard photo # 35825-7-57, 7/26/57.	Darryl Baker
105k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30)** underway refueling a carrier and destroyer. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, August 1946	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
72k	CDR George G. Molumphy speaking, during ceremonies recommissioning *USS Chemung* (AO-30)** for Korean War service, 1 December 1950, at San Diego, CA. Standing behind the speaker are (from left to right): Unidentified CDR, RADM Francis X McInerney, CAPT Frank T Sloat, CAPT Elmer P Abernethy, and RADM Wilder D Baker. US National Archives photo # 80-G-427320, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	US Naval Historical Center
139k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30)** aground near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, 3 July 1958.	Ron Reeves
56k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30)** underway off the entrance to Long Beach Naval Shipyard, 1959-60	Photo by Capt. Don Bodron, USCG, Ret.
75k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30)** underway off Vietnam, mid-1960.	Robert Hurst
104k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) refuels USS Boyd (DD-544)** in the Pacific Ocean, 11 April 1962. US Navy photo # USN 1060497, by Ph1 Bundy, USN.	David Buell
625k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30)** Change of Command. Capt. Frank B. Stone relieving Capt. Walter M. Ousey, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 26 June 1963. File name: AO 30 17908-6-53.	Darryl Baker
154k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) refueling USS Bennington (CVS-20)**, WestPac, mid-July 1964.	Joseph Pires, USS Bennington Association & Web Site Historian).
75k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30)** underway during replenishment of an aircraft carrier, 1966	© Richard Leonhardt
118k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) completes refueling HMAS Yarra (DE-455)** off the Philippines during the SEATO Exercise SEA IMP in late May 1966. Photos by Bob Westthorp RAN 1964-1988	Bob Canchola
130k		Bob Canchola
17k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30)**, off Danang, Vietnam, date unknown.	Lynn Pickeral Brown Water LST USS Washtenaw County (LST-1166) web site
110k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) refueling USS Hooper (DE-1026)** in rough seas, date unknown	Don Scott, YNCS(SS), USN, Ret
62k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30)** underway, date and location unknown.	Tommy Trampp
250k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) refueling USS Hancock (CVA-19)*, 2 July 1969, off the coast of California. Courtesy US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, photo # 1996.488.05*.	Mike Green
160k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) refueling USS Midway (CVA-41)**, circa 1970, location unknown. US Navy photo by PH3 A. N. Williams.	Robert Hurst
83k	*USS Chemung* (AO-30) decommissioning ceremony, San Diego, CA., 18 September 1970. The man at the far right in civilian clothing, wearing sunglasses was Mr. Butler's father, and a plank owner of the Chemung** US Navy photo.	Jack Butler

USS Chemung,
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Spellman, Francis Thomas	3 July 1941 - 10 July 1942
02	LCDR. Marts Jr., John William	10 July 1942 - 1 August 1942
03	CDR. Twomey, John Joseph	1 August 1942 - 29 June 1944
04	LCDR. Wingler, Ray E.	29 June 1944 - 16 June 1945
05	LCDR. Holzer, Charles Koll	16 June 1945 - 23 February 1946
06	CAPT. Ross, Philip Harold	23 February 1946 - 2 July 1946
07	CAPT. Haurihan, John Joseph :RADM	2 July 1946 - 5 August 1946
08	CDR. Holdings, Harry J.	5 August 1946 - 23 August 1946
09	CAPT. Wolverton, Thomas Michael :RADM	23 August 1946 - 29 July 1947
10	CAPT. Bowers, William Alger	29 July 1947 - 20 July 1948
11	CAPT. Willcox, George Washington	20 July 1948 - 4 April 1949
12	CAPT. Hawk, Earle Clifford :RADM	4 April 1949 - 8 April 1950
13	LCDR. Stephens, James Marion	8 April 1950 - 3 July 1950
	Decommissioned,	3 July 1950 - 1 December 1950
14	CDR. Molumphy, George Garvie	1 December 1950 - 26 December 1951
15	CDR. Henriques, Charles Buck	26 December 1951 - 26 June 1953
16	CDR. Geist, John Willard	26 June 1953 - 17 November 1954
17	CAPT. Bjarnason, Paul Henrik	17 November 1954 - 13 January 1955
18	CDR. DeLauréal, Henry Howard	13 January 1955 - 7 December 1956
19	CAPT. Lavery, Richard John	7 December 1956 - 2 June 1958
20	CAPT. Stevens, William Randolph	2 June 1958 - 3 July 1959
21	CAPT. Frauenhiem, Gilbert Joseph	3 July 1959 - 1 August 1960
22	CAPT. Sharp, George Field	1 August 1960 - 10 July 1961
23	CAPT. Fisher, Ellis, Jay	10 July 1961 - 18 August 1962
24	CAPT. Ousey, Walter Miller	18 August 1962 - 17 August 1963
25	CAPT. Stone, Frank Bradford :RADM	17 August 1963 - 19 August 1964
26	CAPT. Cummerson, Kenneth C.	19 August 1964 - 7 August 1965
27	CAPT. Graning, Leonard, George, USN (USNA 1944)	7 August 1965 - 13 August 1966
28	CAPT. Montgomery, John Alva	13 August 1966 - 4 December 1967
29	CAPT. Carter, Harry Eugene	4 December 1967 - 15 May 1969
30	CAPT. Worrall Jr., Alton Hamilton	15 May 1969 - 18 September 1970


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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Last Updated 24 January 2020