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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Left patch contributed by NAFTS - Right Decal contributed by Wolfgang Hechler

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Cree (ATF-84)
ex
 USS Cree (AT-84) (1943 - 1944)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Alpha - Oscar - Romeo
 NAOR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (4)
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Vietnam) - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korean War Service Medal
Navajo Class Fleet Tug:
  • Laid down, 31 March 1942, at United Engineering Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Launched, 17 August 1942
  • Commissioned USS Cree (AT-84), 28 March 1943, LT. Percy Bond, USN in command
  • Redesignated Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-84), 15 May 1944
  • During World War II USS Cree was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, February 1945     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 17 March 1945

  • During the Korean War USS Cree participated in the following campaigns:

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    17 July to 2 September 1950
    16 September to 26 October 1950     		Inchon landing
    14 to 15 September 1950
    Communist China Aggression
    8 November 1950 to 14 January 1951     		First UN Counter Offensive
    20 March to 4 April 1951

  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 21 April 1978
  • USS Cree earned two battle stars for World War II service and four battle stars for Korean War service
  • Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 27 August 1978
    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
    Cree 103k Aerial view of USS Cree (ATF-84) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Cree 551k USS Cree (ATF-84) outbound to sea from San Diego, CA. circa 1956. Alan Owen
    Fort Marion 86k USS Cree (ATF-84), with USS Comstock (LSD-19), and USS Fort Marion (LSD-22) moored at Naval Station San Diego, circa 6 June to 7 December 1969. © Richard Leonhardt
    Cree 41k USS Cree (ATF-84) at anchor, Bangkok, Thailand, 1970 Submitted by Bob Meckley to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Cree 44k USS Cree (ATF-84) moored at NavSta San Diego, circa 1970 Submitted by Bob Meckley to National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Cree 200k USS Cree (ATF-84) under way in the Pacific Ocean, circa 1970.
    US Navy "All Hands" magazine September 1970, p. 62.    		 Robert Hurst
    Cree 37k USS Cree (ATF-84), underway, date and location unknown. National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Cree
    093908408    		 154k USS Cree (ATF-84), underway, date and location unknown. William Toohey
    USS Cree (AT-84 / ATF-84)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    .
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Bond, Percy, USN28 March 1943 - 22 March 1944
    02LCDR. Johnston, Russell Charles USNR22 March 1944 - 8 June 1944
    03CDR. Howard, Donald Baker USNR8 June 1944 - 20 August 1946
    04ENS. Janicki, Joseph John USNR20 August 1946 - 30 August 1946
    05LT. Evans, Paul Vincent USN30 August 1946 - 25 March 1947
    06ENS. Cassidy, John James, USN25 March 1947 - 18 April 1947
    07LT. Smith, James Alfred USN18 April 1947 - 13 May 1947
    08LTjg. Sommers, Clarence George, USN13 May 1947 - 14 May 1947
    09LT. Evans, Paul Vincent, USN14 May 1947 - 13 October 1947
    10LCDR. Caney, Lawrence Davidson, USN (USNA 1943)13 October 1947 - 13 March 1948
    11LT. Schwenneker, Felton Bonepart, USN13 March 1948 - 8 July 1949
    12LT. Poore, George Edward, USN8 July 1949 - 19 August 1951
    13LT. O'Neill, Roscoe, USN19 August 1951 - 8 September 1953
    14LT. Bailey, Ira Vann, USN8 September 1953 - 22 October 1955
    15LCDR. Colley, Edward Louis, USN22 October 1955 - 6 March 1958
    16LT. Reid, Jack Moody, USN6 March 1958 - 15 August 1960
    17LCDR. Leverone, Robert Michael, USN15 August 1960 - 8 December 1962
    18LCDR. Fend Jr., Clarence Edwin, USN 8 December 1962 - 30 November 1964
    19LCDR. Aydt, Roger Dewitt, USN30 November 1964 - 2 August 1966
    20LT. Fisher, Charles William, USN2 August 1966 - 3 May 1968
    21LCDR. Owens, Robert Harper, USN3 May 1968 - 26 October 1970
    22LT. Gill, Daniel Joseph, USN26 October 1970 - 4 August 1972
    23LT. Lopacinski, James Michael, USN (USNA 1966)4 August 1972 - 8 February 1974
    24LCDR. Smith Jr., Donald Lloyd, USN8 February 1974 - 25 November 1975
    25LT. Hilton, Jarvis Gene, USN (USNA 1969)25 November 1975 - 1 March 1977
    26LT. Irlam, Ross Edward, USN1 March 1977 - 7 March 1977
    27LT. Merrow, Richard Alan, USN7 March 1977 - 13 March 1978
    28LT. Irlam, Ross Edward, USN13 March 1978 - 21 April 1978
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Wikipedia - See "Friendly Fire Incident"
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 18 March 2022