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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Arapaho (ATF-68)
ex
USS Arapaho (AT-68) (1943 - 1944)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Foxtrot - Oscar
NUFO

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)

USS Arapaho (ATF-68) was transferred to Argentina and renamed ARA Comandante General Zapiola (R-41)

Navajo Class Fleet Ocean Tug:

Laid down, 8 November 1941, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Charleston, S.C.

Launched, 22 June 1942

Commissioned, USS Arapaho (AT-68), 20 January 1943, LT. E. H. Wootan in command

During World War II USS Arapaho was assigned to the Asiatic Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaign**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Gilbert Islands operation 20 November to 4 December 1943	Tinian Capture and Occupation 24 to 28 July 1944
Marshall Islands operation Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 3 to 8 February 1944	5th and 3rd Fleet raids in support of the Okinawa Gunto operation 20 to 23 March 1945

Reclassified as Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-68), 15 May 1944

Following World War II USS Arapaho was assigned to Occupation service in the Far East from 7 September to 9 November 1945

Decommissioned, 15 January 1947

Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, San Diego Group

Struck from the Naval Register, 10 July 1961

Transferred under the Security Assistance Program to Argentina, the same day and renamed ARA Comandante General Zapiola (R-41)

Re-rated as a Patrol Craft with side number change to (A-2), date unknown

Final Disposition, ran aground 10 January 1976 and declared a total loss

USS Arapaho (ATF-68) earned four battle stars during World War II

Specifications:
Displacement 1,235 t.(lt) 1,674 t.(fl)
Length 205'
Beam 38' 6"
Draft 15' 4"
Speed 16k.5kts.

Complement

Officers 5

Enlisted 80

Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.

Armament

one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts two single 20mm AA gun mounts

Propulsion

four General Motors 12-278A Diesel-electric main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines

single Fairbanks-Morse Main Reduction Gear

Ship's Service Generators
two 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
one 60Kw 120V/240V D.C.

single propeller, 3,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Arapaho (AT-68)
	453k	*USS Arapaho* (AT-68)** launching, 22 June 1942, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C. US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Alan Owens
	1208k	*USS Arapaho* (AT-68) (left) and USS Apache (AT-67)** (right) fitting out at Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, Charleston S.C., July 1942. US National Archives photo # 19-N-55163 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.	Alan Owens
	38k	Starboard quarter view of *USS Arapaho* (AT-68)** underway on the Cooper River off Navy Yard Charleston, S. C., 5 February 1943. US Navy Yard Charleston, S.C. photo # 246-43	Robert Hall
	55k	Starboard broadside view of *USS Arapaho* (AT-68)** underway while passing under the Cooper River Bridge off Navy Yard Charleston, S. C., 5 February 1943. US Navy Yard Charleston, S.C. photo # 249-43	Robert Hall
	72k	Stern down view of *USS Arapaho* (AT-68)** underway on the Cooper River off Navy Yard Charleston, S. C., 5 February 1943. US Navy Yard Charleston, S.C. photo # 251-43	Robert Hall
ARA Comandante General Zapiola (R-41) (A-2)
	50k	*Namesake* José Matías Zapiola (Buenos Aires, 1780 - Buenos Aires, 1874) was an Argentinean sailor, military man and politician, who took part in the war for independence. He was commander of the Mounted Grenadiers Regiment at the Battle of Chacabuco	Francisco Javier Santos Vazquez
	63k	Hand over and commissioning ceremony (inboard to outboard) *ARA Comandante General Zapiola* (R-41) (ex-USS Arapaho (ATF-68) and ARA Comandante General Irigoyen (R-40) (ex-USS Cahuilla (ATF-152) at Naval Station San Diego, CA., 9 July 1961. Photo courtesy of Ignacio Amendolara and National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors**.	Robert Hurst
	36k	Ex-*USS Arapaho* (ATF-68) seen here in Argentine service as ARA Comandante General Zapiola (R-41)**, date and location unknown.s	Submitted by Ignacio Amendolara to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
	43k	*ARA Comandante General Zapiola* (A-2)** at sea, circa early 1970s	Submitted by Ignacio Amendolara to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
	57k	*ARA Comandante General Zapiola* (A-2), at Antarctica. Note the crew gathered at the stern. Zapiola** sunk on 10 January 1976. The crew was rescued by the Chilean ship Piloto Pardo (AP-45). Photo taken 11 January 1976.	Eduardo Rivera
	114k	*ARA Comandante General Zapiola* (A-2), at Antarctica after running aground while doing hydrographic research in Morton Strait. After several attempts to pull her off with another ship she was abandoned, 1 January 1976. (06) - Photo Casa Amarilla Library, Buenos Aires, courtesy of Ignacio Amendolara and National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors** and (11) - Armada Argentina website.	Robert Hurst
	167k		Robert Hurst