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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Roanoke (AOR-7)

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November - Alpha - Mike - Uniform
 NAMU
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Wichita Class Replenishment Oiler:
  • Laid down, 19 January 1974, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA.
  • Launched, 7 December 1974
  • Commissioned USS Roanoke (AOR-7), 30 October 1976
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 6 October 1995
  • Laid up, 12 October 1995, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA. Row G Berth 9
  • Title transfer to MARAD, 18 December 1998
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, for $1,926,726, 1 October 2012, to ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX.
  • Removed to Mare Island for cleaning, 29 November 2012
  • Departed Mare Island, 18 December 2012, under tow by M/V Elsbeth III
  • Arrived, 20 January 2013, at ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 14,048 t.(lt) 39,790 t.(fl)
    Length 659'
    Beam 96'
    Draft 37' (max.)
    Speed 20 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 34
    Enlisted 463
    Armament
    two Phalanx Close-In-Weapons System (CIWS)
    Sparrow Missile System (NSSMS)
    Aircraft two CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters
    Propulsion
    two steam turbines
    three boilers
    twin propellers, 32,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Roanoke
    98219736    		 145k The ship's sponsor, Mrs. Norma Weisner, wife of ADM Maurice Weisner, USN, Commander, U. S. Pacific Fleet, christens Roanoke (AOR-7) during launching ceremonies, 7 December 1974, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA. Dale Hargrave
    Roanoke
    98219737    		 112k Roanoke (AOR-7) underway off San Diego, CA., en-route to Long Beach, CA. for commissioning. Note that radars and armament are still missing. Roanoke was commissioned, 30 October 1976.
    U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SN-85-06130, a U.S Navy photo by PH3 Howard Burgess, USN.    		 Robert Hurst
    Roanoke 415k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) refueling USS Gridley (CG-21) and an unidentified destroyer, circa April-May 1978 . Note two other ships trailing while waiting their turn to come alongside Roanoke. Photo was taken during the ships WESTPAC 78 deployment (January to July 1978), probably in the either the Philippine Sea or South China Sea. Bruce McDermid MM2 USS Roanoke
    Roanoke
    09210741    		 162k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) and the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Tautog (SSN-639) tied up side by side, 2 August 1982, at NAS Alameda.
    Defense Visual Infrormation Center photo # DN-ST-82-10436 a U.s. Navy photo by PHAN Kathy Moss         		Robert Hurst
    Roanoke
    98219738
    NARA 6382473    		 498k Aerial starboard bow and quarter views of USS Roanoke (AOR-7) at anchor, 16 July 1984, location unknown.
    U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD. Archives Identifier 6382473 and U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SN-85-06130, U.S. Navy photos by PH3 Howard Burgess, USN     		Robert Hurst
    Roanoke
    98219739
    DN-SN-85-06130    		 456k
    Roanoke
    09210740    		 224k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) conducting an underway replenishment with the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-61) and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Terra Nova (DDE-259), 26 June 1986, during exercise "RimPac '86". The Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Darwin (FFG-04) is in the background.
    U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-94-00452, a U.S. Navy photo by PH2 Lenardson, USN.         		Robert Hurst
    Roanoke 57k USS Roanoke (AOR-7), from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), mid-Pacific, 1991. Photo by AMS3 Rowan
    Roanoke 79k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) moored, Naval Station Pearl Harbor, date unknown. Photo Dr. Keneth Hartman
    Roanoke 91k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) main deck, date and location unknown Photo Dr. Keneth Hartman
    Roanoke 73k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) main deck, looking forward, date and location unknown Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Roanoke 76k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) main deck, looking aft, date and location unknown Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Roanoke 51k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) moored pierside at Long Beach, CA., date unknown Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Roanoke 71k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) at anchor, date and location unknown. Photo Dr. Keneth Hartman
    Roanoke 71k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) at anchor, date and location unknown. Photo Dr. Keneth Hartman
    Roanoke 116k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) passing under the Golden Gate Bridge as she enters San Francisco Bay, date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Roanoke 140k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from the collections of the US Navy Memorial.    		 Stan Svec
    Roanoke
    98219734    		 216k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Roanoke
    98219735    		 216k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) underway, off San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Roanoke 79k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) at anchor in Long Beach harbor, CA., date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Roanoke 89k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) under way, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Roanoke 219k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) drydocked at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, date unknown. Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    CVN-72 Abrahm Lincoln
    NS0272bd    		 510k

    The ships of Battle Group Foxtrot steam in formation, circa June 1991. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is at center. The other ships are, clockwise from left: the guided missile frigates USS Ingraham (FFG-61) and USS Gary (FFG-51), the destroyer USS Merrill (DD-976), the replenishment oiler USS Roanoke (AOR-7), the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN-9) and the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG-57). Pacific Ocean.

    US Navy photo by PH2 Tracy Lee Didas. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), identifier 6475470; Agency-assigned identifier DNSC9204516; local identifier 330-CFD-DN-SC-92-04516.jpeg.

    		 Robert Hurst
    Roanoke 435k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) under way off the coast of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 1 May 1993.
    US Navy photo # DN-SC-95-00948 by LT. Don Biadog Jr., CHC USN.    		 Robert Hurst
    Roanoke 90k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) outbound to sea passing Point Loma on exiting San Diego Bay, date unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Roanoke 156k USS Roanoke (AOR-7) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Tom Armstrong
    MARAD Suisun Bay Group Reserve Fleet
    Roanoke 212k Ex-USS Roanoke (AOR-7) laid up in reserve in the Maritime Administration National Defense Reserve Fleet Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
    US Maritime Administration photos    		 Ron Reeves
    Roanoke 306k
    Roanoke 110k Ex-USS Roanoke (AOR-7) view of main deck while laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA., May 2008. Michael McDermott
    Roanoke 274k Ex-USS Roanoke (AOR-7) in Mare Island's dry dock #2, 24 December 2012, for hull cleaning before being towed to Brownsville for scrapping. Photos by Darryl Baker
    Roanoke 280k
    Roanoke 218k
    Roanoke 241k
    Roanoke 272k
    Roanoke 216k
    USS Roanoke (AOR-7) Memorabilia
    Roanoke
    Welcome Aboard pamphlet cover
    Contributed by
    Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.     		Roanoke
    Welcome Aboard pamphlet cover
    w/postmarks
    Contributed by
    Tom Armstrong     		Roanoke
    Change of Command Ceremony Invitation

    Contributed by
    Tom Armstrong     		Roanoke
    Decommissioning Ceremony Invitation

    Contributed by
    Tom Armstrong     		Roanoke
    Decommissioning program cover
    w/postmarks
    Contributed by
    Tom Armstrong

    For more photos and information about USS Roanoke, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
  • MARAD Vessel History Data Base
  • USS Roanoke Launching Program - contributed by Darryl Baker
  • Suisun Reserve Fleet photos by Michael McDermott
  • USS Roanoke (AOR-7) Postal Covers
    • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Asmus, Paul Allen, USN30 October 1976 - 7 February 1979
    02CAPT. Johns, Clifford Murdock, USN7 February 1979 - 25 July 1980
    03CAPT. Mixson, Riley Dewitt, USN :RADM25 July 1980 - 20 February 1982
    04CAPT. Reed Jr., William Henry, USN20 February 1982 - 5 August 1983
    05CAPT. Toney, Robert Lee, USN :RADM5 August 1983 - 26 July 1984
    06CAPT. Holly, Richard Warren, USN (USNA 1961)26 July 1984 - 11 July 1986
    07CAPT. Hickey Jr., Robert Philip (Burner Bob), USN :RADM11 July 1986 - 29 April 1988
    08CAPT. Johnson Jr., Robert Lawrence (Bunky), USN29 April 1988 - 27 October 1989
    09CAPT. Junek, John Filip, USN (USNA 1967)27 October 1989 - 26 April 1991
    10CAPT. Weber, Ronald Bailey, USN 26 April 1991 - 13 November 1992
    11CAPT. Cook, Larry Earl, USN13 November 1992 - 19 April 1994
    12CAPT. Barrow, Ronnie Lee, USN (USNA 1969)19 April 1994 - 6 October 1995
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 21 July 2023