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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Patch at left contributed by Paul W. Croeber, USS Chikaskia Assoc. and patch at right by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Chikaskia (AO-54)

International Radio Call Sign
November - Zulu - India - November NZIN
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Discount (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 - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Expeditionary Medal (2-Cuba) - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - National Defense Service Medal - Korean Service Medal (1)
Fourth Row- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

Cimarron Class Fleet Oiler:

Laid down, date unknown, as a Maritime Commission type (T3-S2-A3) tanker hull under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 720) at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Point, MD.

Launched, 2 October 1942

Acquired by the Navy, 10 January 1943

Commissioned USS Chikaskia (AO-54), 10 November 1943, CDR. L. J. Hasse, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Chikaskia (AO-54) was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater where she re-supplied the fast-carrier task forces and participated in the following campaigns:

Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Marshall Islands operation Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 29 January to 8 February 1944	Luzon operation Formosa Attacks, 15 and 21 January 1945 China Coast Attacks, 16 January 1945 Nansei Shoto Attack, 22 January 1945
Western Caroline Islands operation Assault on the Philippine Islands, 9 to 24 September 1944	Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 15 February to 5 March 1945
Leyte operations Luzon Attacks, 14 to 16 December 1944	Okinawa Gunto operation 5th & 3rd Fleet raids in support of Okinawa Gunto operation, 16 March to 17 April 1945

Following World War II USS Chikaskia (AO-54) was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
2 September 1945 to 8 April 1946	13 August to 14 September 1953
8 to 12 May 1948

USS Chikaskia (AO-54) was assigned to Joint Task Force 1, Task Unit 1.8.1 Service Group - Repair and Service Unit for Operation Crossroads the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946

Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), 1 October 1949

Returned to the Service Force, Pacific Fleet, 28 February 1953

During the Korean War USS Chikaskia (AO-54) participated in the following campaign:

Campaign and Dates
Korean War Campaign
Korea, Summer-Fall 1953 Campaign 30 May to 9 June 53 30 June to 11 July 1953 19 to 27 July 1953

Decommissioned, 7 November 1955

Recommissioned, 12 December 1956

Decommissioned and transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD), 9 December 1957, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.

Transferred from MARAD to the US Navy, 12 August 1960

Recommissioned, 17 December 1960

Decommissioned, 18 December 1969, at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. and transferred to MARAD for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 1 December 1976

USS Chikaskia earned six battle stars for World War II service and one battle star for Korean war service

Returned to the US Navy from MARAD for stripping, 29 January 1981

Sold 26 May 1982, to Keystone Shipping Co. with 5 others in a swap out for M/V Chancellorsville

Delivered, 4 June 1982, to Eastern Overseas Inc. via C. W. Enterprises & Investment, Inc., of California w/right to resell for scrapping in 24 months

Final Disposition, scrapped at Avilés, Spain in 1982

Specifications:
Displacement 7,236 t.(lt) 25,440 t.(fl)
Length 553'
Beam 75'
Draft 32'
Speed 18.3 kts (trial)

Complement

Officers 23

Enlisted 287

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

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 Shipbuilding geared turbines

four Foster-Wheeler K-type boilers, 450psi 730°

double Falk 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

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
	650k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** at anchor in 1943, location unknown. Photo from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	41k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54) refueling USS Hank (DD-702)**, February 1945, location unknown.	©Richard Leonhardt
	298k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54) shifting personnel with USS Massachusetts (BB-59), 11 April 1945 in TG58.1. Note USS Sigsbee (DD-502)** in an unrep activity beyond. From the USS Massachusetts 1945 cruisebook, Tin Can Sailors archive, Somerset MA.	John Chiquoine and Dave Schroeder.
091905434	212k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** entering San Francisco Bay, post WWII. US Navy photo from the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum	Darryl Baker
	86k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** under way circa 1949. Much of her antiaircraft battery, including all of the guns and gun platforms on the bow, have been removed. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo, courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Mike Green
	1319k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** under way in Hampton Roads in 1953. Photo from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	539k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** recommissioning ceremony at US Naval Shipyard Mare Island, 12 December 1956. CDR. CDR. Spalding Jr. William Aaron USN assuming command. US Navy photo.	Darryl Baker
091905430	267k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** underway, circa 1959, location unknown. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 1045723.	USNH&HC
091905431	63k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** at anchor in a Mediterranean port, date unknown. US Navy photo from Auke Visser's Famous T-Tankers Pages.	Robert Hurst
091905432	54k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54) conducting an underway replenishment (UNREP) evolution with USS Higbee (DD-806)** and an unidentified aircraft carrier, date and location unknown. Time-Life Magazine photo from Auke Visser's Famous T-Tankers Pages	Robert Hurst
091905433	85k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** at anchor date and location unknown. US Navy photo from Auke Visser's Famous T-Tankers Pages	Robert Hurst
	360k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** change of command; CAPT. E. L. Feightner relieved CAPT. R. B. Terrell in November 1964. Also present, CAPT. Refo and RADM Ailes. Photos from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	84k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** moored pierside at NOB Norfolk, VA., circa 1957-1963.	Courtesy of the family of Richard V. Murdoch SN USS Chikaskia
	2610k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54) alongside USS Randolph (CVS-15)** during an underway replenishment off Norfolk in February 1965. Photo from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	898k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** at anchor off St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, February 1965. Photo from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	120k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Tommy Trampp
	42k	View from *USS Tidewater* (AD-31) while refueling from USS Chikaskia (AO-54) while enroute from a Mediterranean deployment back to the US in 1965. USS Stribling (DD-867)** is off the starboard quarter of USS Chikaskia. Photo ©William D. Cook.	Robert Hall USS Tidewater 1968-71
	872k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** at anchor in the Mediterranean Sea, 1965. Photo from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	1090k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54) alongside USS Forrestal (CVA-59)** during an underway replenishment in the Mediterranean Sea, 1965. Photos from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	1164k
	668k
	1114k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** at anchor in the harbor at Naples, Italy, 1965. Photos from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	1006k		Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	726k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** ship's officers during command inspection in 1965 while deployed to the Mediterranean. Photos from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	2890k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54) during an underway replenishment with USS Waldron (DD-699) and USS Shangri La (CVA-38)** in the Mediterranean, August 1965. Photos from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	1004k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** signal bridge, 1965. Photos from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	49k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** at anchor in the harbor at Naples, Italy, 1967. Note Mt. Vesuvius in the background. Photo from the collections of HM1 John Wagner, RADM E. L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon, compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.	Al Gordon, Secretary USS Chikaskia Reunion Organization
	270k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** at anchor in a Mediterranean port, date unknown. US Navy photo.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	93k	USS Chikaskia under way in the Mediterranean, August 1967	©Richard Leonhardt
	55k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54) refueling USS Little Rock (CLG-4) and USS Springfield (CLG-7)** in the Mediterranean Sea, Southeast of Palma de Majorca, Spain in 1967. Photo from the collection of Clarence Wolfe.	EM2 Terry D. Gann USNR(R) Ret.
091905428	94k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** moored pierside, date and location unknown.	Tommy Trampp
091905429	177k	Ex-*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** being scrapped at Avilés, Spain in 1982	Ricardo Garcia
	123k	*USS Chikaskia* (AO-54)** plaque.	Tommy Trampp

For more photos and information about USS Chikaskia, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
MARAD Vessel History Database
USS Chikaskia Association

Commanding Officers
01	CDR. Hasse, Lawrence John	10 November 1943 - 3 June 1944
02	LCDR. Zimmerman, George	3 June 1944 - 4 February 1945
03	LCDR. Boyd, Gillespie Godfrey	4 February 1945 - 9 December 1945
04	LCDR. McLaughlin, John	9 December 1945 - 18 March 1946
05	CAPT. Searles, William Marvin, USN (USNA 1928)	18 March 1946 - 25 March 1947
06	CAPT. Collis, John Leon USN (USNA 1928)	25 March 1947 - 11 June 1948
07	CDR. Zern, Richard Dewey	11 June 1948 - 1949
08	CDR. Burns, Edward Stitt USN	1950 - 1952
09	CDR. Yost, Allan Daniel	1952
10	CAPT. DuBois, Thomas Hodgskin :RADM	September 1953 - September 1954
11	CAPT. Allen, Charles Vern	September 1954 - 7 November 1955
	Decommissioned	7 November 1955 - 12 December 1956
12	CDR. Spalding Jr. William Aaron	12 December 1956 - 9 December 1957
	Decommissioned	9 December 1957 - 17 December 1960
13	CAPT. Mather, Lee Wilson	17 December 1960 - 17 December 1961
14	CAPT. Siegmund, Theodore Charles, USN (USNA 1939)	17 December 1961 - 11 January 1963
15	CAPT. Peters, Irving George (Ike), USN (USNA 1940)	11 January 1963 - 1963
16	CAPT. Terrell, Ralph B.	1963 - November 1964
17	CAPT. Feightner, Edward Lewis (Whitey) :RADM (Photo as RADM)	November 1964 - November 1965
19	CAPT. Carpenter, Albert Pinson, USN (USNA 1944)	November 1965 - 25 November 1966
20	CAPT. Stewart, Jack Collins, USN (USNA 1943)	25 November 1966 - 9 November 1967
21	CAPT. Hughes Jr., Thomas Joseph, USN :VADM	9 November 1967 - June 1969
22	CAPT. Corner, Sheldon Larry	June 1969 - 18 December 1969


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves. photos courtesy Bill Gonyo and Ron Reeves

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

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Last Updated 17 July 2024