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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Chickasaw (ATF-83)
ex
 USS Chickasaw (AT-83) (1943 - 1944)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Whiskey - Lima - Foxtrot
 NWLF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation - China Service Medal (extended)
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (6) - World War II Victory Medal
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (2) - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
Fourth Row - Philippines Liberation Medal (2) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) was transferred to the Republic of China and renamed ROCS Ta Tung (A-548)
Navajo Class Fleet Tug:
  • Laid down, 14 February 1942, at United Engineering Co., Alameda, CA.
  • Launched, 23 July 1942
  • Commissioned USS Chickasaw (AT-83), 4 February 1943, LTjg. John F. King USN, in command
  • Redesignated Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-83), 15 May 1944
  • During WWII USS Chickasaw was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Marshall Islands operation
    Occupation of Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls, 31 January to 8 February 1944
    Occupation of Eniwetok Atoll, 17 February to 2 March 1944     		Leyte operation
    Leyte landings, 17 October to 22 November 1944
    Marianas operation
    Capture and occupation of Saipan, 16 June to 10 August 1944     		Luzon operation
    Lingayen Gulf landings, 9 to 18 January 1945
    Tinian capture and occupation, 24 July to 1 August 1944 Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 10 to 22 June 1945

  • Following World War II Chickasaw performed China Service from 31 October 1947 to 14 March 1948
  • USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) was assigned to Joint Task Force 1, Task Unit 1.2.7 Target Vessel Group - Salvage Units for Operation Crossroads the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946
  • During the Korean War USS Chickasaw participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Third Korean Winter
    4 to 30 April 1953     		Korean, Summer-Fall 1953 Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    1 to 3 May 1953
    26 June to 25 July 1953

  • Decommissioned, 30 June 1965, at Mare Island Naval Ship Yard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Transferred, loaned, to Taiwan, 5 January 1966 and renamed ROCS Ta Tung (A-548)
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 April 1976
  • USS Chickasaw earned the Navy Unit Commendation for service in Salvage, Fire Fighting, and Rescue Unit, Service Force, 7th Fleet - Philippine Islands area, 6 January to 15 February 1945, and six battle stars for World War II service, and two battle stars for Korean war service
  • Sold to the Republic of China under the Security Assistance Program, 1 May 1976
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,235 t.(lt) 1,675 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 38' 6"
    Draft 15' 4"
    Speed 16.5 kts (trial)
    Complement
    Officers 5
    Enlisted 80
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacity Diesel 2,265 Bbls
    Propulsion
    four General Motors 12-278 Diesel-electric main engines
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    two 100Kw 120V D.C.
    one 60Kw 120V D.C.
    three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines
    single propeller, 3,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS Chickasaw (ATF-83)
    Chickasaw
    093908309    		 284k USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) passing under the Golden Gate Bridge while entering San Francsico Bay, circa 1942-43.
    US Navy negative. A cropped version of this image is available on the USH&HC website (NH 83815)    		 Darryl Baker
    Chickasaw 237k USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) covering USS Ross (DD-563) and USS Fremont (APA-44) with smoke on one of many air raid occasions between 21 October and 18 November 1944. Ross is seen with low freeboard and anchored in San Pedro Bay, Philippines, after mine damage from 19 Oct 1944. Chickasaw obscured the area with smoke on several occasions in addition to alongside salvage efforts. Ross' batteries were still used to repel attacks.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-319420, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 John Chiquoine
    Sonoma 142k USS Sonoma (ATO-12) on fire after being hit by a Japanese kamikaze bomber, 24 October 1944, at San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf. USS Chicksaw (ATF-83) and USS LCI(L)-72 are assisting in the fire fighting futile effort while USS LCI(L)-337 is coming alongside to help evacuate casualties.
    US National Archives, Photo No. 80-G-325818, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Mike Green
    Chickasaw 41k USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) under way, date and location unknown. Submitted by Charles Tousley to
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Chickasaw 157k Aerial view of USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) passing under the Golden Gate Bridge while entering San Francisco Bay in 1947. Alan Owen
    Chickasaw
    093908306    		 404k USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) under way off San Diego, circa 1940-50s.
    ©Morper Photo Service, San Diego CA., from the photo collection of ENC James Center, USS Chickasaw late 40s-early 50s.     		Jason Post
    Chickasaw
    093908307    		 431k
    Chickasaw
    093908308    		 387k
    Chickasaw 139k USS Chickasaw (ATF-83) under way, circa 1963. location unknown.
    US Navy "All Hands" magazine April 1963, p.39.    		 Robert Hurst
    ROCS Ta Tung (A-548)
    Chickasaw 17k Ex Chickasaw (ATF-83) in Taiwan service as ROCS Ta Tung (A-548) .

    For more photos and information about USS Chickasaw, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • USS Chickasaw Reunion Banner
  • USS Chickasaw ATF Reunion Association Logo
  • USS Chickasaw Operation Schedule Summary for 1965
    • Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. King John Francis USN4 February 1943 - 30 October 1943
    02LTjg. McClead, Glenn Willard USN30 October 1943 - 27 April 1944
    03LT. Olson, Louis Charles USNR27 April 1944 - 1 September 1945
    04LT. Matthews, Floyd Huston, USN1 September 1945 - 31 January 1947
    05LTjg Frey, Herman S. USN.31 January 1947 - 3 April 1948
    06LT. Baker, Walter Edmund3 April 1948 - 1949
    07LT. HarrisonJanuary 1949 - 1950
    08LT. Cross, Lloyd George, USN1950 - 1951
    09LT. Belcher1951 - 1952
    10LT. Bell1952 - 1953
    11LT. Sawin, Maurice Llewellen, USN1953 - 1954
    12LCDR. Kuhne, Cecil C., USNR1954 - October 1956
    13LCDR. Wooten, William Benson, USNOctober 1956 - November 1958
    14LCDR. Looney, Francis Leroy, USNNovember 1958 - 23 March 1961
    15LT. Lamm, William Arthur, USN23 March 1961 - January 1963
    16LCDR. Smith, Charles Lewis, USNJanuary 1963 - 10 November 1964
    17LT. Curlee, John Lee, USN10 November 1964 30 June 1965
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 17 July 2024