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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Don Becke via NAFTS

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Catawba (ATA-210)
ex
 USS ATA-210 (1945 - 1948)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - November - Echo
 NINE
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic -Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal

USS Catawba was transferred to Argentina and renamed ARA Comodoro Somellera (A10)
Sotoyomo Class Auxiliary Fleet Tug:
  • Laid down, 5 January 1945, as ATR-137 by Gulfport Boiler and Welding Works, Port Arthur, TX., under a Maritime Commission contract
  • Reclassified ATA-210, 15 May 1944
  • Launched, 15 February 1945
  • Commissioned, USS ATA-210, 18 April 1945, LTjg. R. W. Standart, USNR, in command
  • During World War II USS ATA-210 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Named, USS Catawba (ATA-210), 16 January 1948
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 February 1975
  • Sold, 1 October 1975, to Argentina under the Security Assistance Program and renamed ARA Comodoro Somellera (A10)
  • Final Disposition, sunk in 1998
    Specifications:
    Displacement 835 t.(lt) 1,360 t.(fl)
    Length 143'
    Beam 33' 10"
    Draft 13' 2" (limiting)
    Speed 12 kts.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Largest Boom Capacity 5 t.
    Complement
    Officers 5
    Enlisted 40
    Fuel Capacity
    Diesel 1,200 Bbls
    Propulsion
    two GM 12-278A Diesel-electric engines
    single Fairbanks-Morse Main Reduction Gears
    two 60Kw 120V. D.C. Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 1,200shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Catawba (ATA-210)
    ATR-210 294k ATA-210 underway on builder's trials near Port Arthur, Texas, circa April 1945.
    Photos from Gulfport Boiler and Welding Works, Port Arthur, TX.    		 James Swank
    Catawba 41k USS Catawba (ATA-210 underway, date and location unknown. Submitted by Don Becke to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Catawba 74k USS Catawba (ATA-210 underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "NAVSEA Journal."    		 Bob Bush
    Catawba 214k USS Catawba (ATA-210 underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 David Buell
    ARA Comodoro Somellera (A10)
    Salish 89k
    Namesake
    Antonio Somellera was an outstanding - 19th-century Argentine sailor and painter, who fought in the war with the Empire of Brazil, the Argentine civil wars and the conflict with Paraguay. Contribution of Francisco Javier Santos Vázquez.    		 Fabio Pena
    Catawba 56k Ex-USS Catawba (ATA-210 in Argentine naval service as ARA Comodoro Somellera (A10) underway, date and location unknown.
    Photo courtesy of Ignacio Amendolara and National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors.    		 Robert Hurst
    Catawba 75k ARA Comodoro Somellera (A10) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    Official Argentine Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    USS Catawba (ATA-210)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Standart III, Richard W., USNR18 April 1945 - 21 February 1946
    02LT. Thomas, John Hugo, USNR21 February 1946 - ?
    03LT. Gunther, Howard Philip, USN1958 - June 1960
    04LT. Kesteloot, Robert Warren, USNJune 1960 - ?
    05LT. Hamrick, James Murchison, USN (USNA 1958)May 1962 - June 1964
    06LCDR. Gann, Dewey Leslie, USNJune 1965 - ?
    07LCDR. Lister, Charles M.1970 - ?
    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
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Rescue Ocean Tug (ATR) Photo Index Back To The Auxiliary Fleet Tug 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 26 March 2021