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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Patch at left contributed by Mike Smolinski, patch at right contributed by Jack Zoulek courtesy NAFTS

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Arikara (ATF-98)
ex
 USS Arikara (AT-98) (1944)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Yankee - Zulu
 NUYZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive Invasion of Normandy) - Naval Unit Commendation 7 to 12 June 1944)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended_ - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (2)
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia Clasp)
Fourth Row - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Korean Service Medal (5) - Vietnam Service Medal (4)
Fifth Row - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Republic of Korea War Service Medal (retroactive)

USS Arikara (ATF-98) was transferred to Chile renamed Sargento Aldea (ATF-63)
Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down as Fleet Tug (AT-98) at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 22 June 1943
  • Commissioned, USS Arikara (AT-98), 5 January 1944, LT. John Aitken, USN, in command
  • Reclassified Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-98), 15 May 1944
  • During World War II USS Arikara was first assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater participating in the following campaigns:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
    Task Group 122.3 - Salvage and Fire Fighting Group (Wreck Dispersal Vessel)     		Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 1 to 21 April 1945
    Invasion of southern France, 15 August to 25 September 1944  

  • Following World War II USS Arikara was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 to 15 September 194529 December 1945 to 22 February 1946
    25 to 27 February 1946 
    24 January to 26 June 1950 

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

    Korean War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    North Korean Aggression
    2 July to 12 September 1950
    18 September to 2 November 1950     		Second Korean Winter
    4 to 24 February 1952
    14 March to 3 April 1952
    15 to 17 April 1952
    Communist China Aggression
    3 November to 30 December 1950     		Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952
    7 May to 6 June 1952
    26 June to 12 July 1952
    20 July to 7 August 1952
    Inchon Landing
    13 to 17 September 1950     		 

  • During the Vietnam War USS Arikara participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II
    28 August to 3 September1966
    18 September to 24 October 1966
    31 October 1966
    18 November to 31 December 1966     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970I
    1 November to 7 December 1969
    Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    17 August to 22 September 1969
    9 to 14 and 17 to 31 October 1969     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII
    31 December 1970

  • Decommissioned, 27 July 1971 and transferred under the Security Assistance Program to Chile, renamed, Sargento Aldea (ATF-63)
  • USS Arikara earned a Navy Unit Commendation and three battle stars for World War II service, five battle stars for the Korean War service and four campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Current Disposition, serving in the Chilean Navy
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,205 t.(lt) 1,646 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 39'
    Draft 17' (max)
    Speed 16 kts.
    Complement
    8 Officers
    68 Enlisted
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion
    Diesel-electric - four ALCO Diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three Cooper- Besmear auxiliary services engines
    single propeller, 3,600shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Arikara (ATF-98)
    Arikara 71k USS Arikara (ATF-98) moored, circa 1957, location unknown Photo by James Bellew, Submitted by Carl C Murdock to the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Arikara 55k USS Arikara (ATF-98) exchanging movies at sea by highline with USS Lipan (ATF-85). Note Arikara is pulling a tow Submitted by Bill Derouin to the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Arikara 36k USS Arikara (ATF-98) and USS Bolster (ARS-38) moored, location unknown, circa 1957 Submitted by Bob Hall to the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Arikara 31k USS Arikara (ATF-98) underway, date and location unknown. Photo by Elsirac Enterprises, Submitted by Emmett Firmin to the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Arikara 76k USS Arikara (ATF-98) underway, location unknown, circa 1954. Ed Middleton USS Arikara 1946
    Arikara 138k USS Arikara (ATF-98) underway near Oahu, Hawaii, 3 June 1964.
    US Navy photo # KN-9513, courtesy Shipscribe    		 Mike Green
    Arikara
    093909808    		 129k A Soviet spy trawler shadowing 7th Fleet ships on Yankee Station in October 1966. The photo was taken from the fleet ocean tug USS Arikara (ATF-98). Soviet trawlers were a common sight for the fleet during the Cold War, but the trawlers that garnered more attention in Vietnam seem to have been the North Vietnamese ones trying to infiltrate supplies to the VC.
    U.S. Navy photo # USN 1119316    		 Chin Yu Chu
    Arikara
    093909809    		 234k USS Arikara (ATF-98), underway date and location unknown.
    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. Catalog #: L45-11.03.03.    		  
    Arikara
    093909810    		 835k USS Arikara (ATF-98) Domain of the Golden Dragon Certificate issued to August Dean Phillips upon crossing the 180th meridian, 14 June 1968. August Phillips grandson of August Dean Phillips.
    Sargento Aldea (ATF-63)
    Arikara 40k Ex-USS Arikara (ATF-98) in Chilean service as Sargento Aldea (ATF-63), date and location unknown. Thomas Lawson
    USS Arikara (AT-98 / ATF-98)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Aitken, John, USN5 January 1944 - 19 July 1945
    02LT. Jensen, Carl Norman, USNR19 July 1945 - 12 December 1945
    03LT. Smith James Alfred, USN19 December 1945 - 18 April 1947
    04LT. Heath, Milton Alexander, USN18 April 1947 - 11 August 1947
    05LCDR. Calloway, James Edward, USN11 August 1947 - 15 November 1947
    06ENS. Alexander, Clifford Fielding, USN15 November 1947 - 29 January 1948
    07LT. Racette, William Anthony, USN (USNA 1943)29 January 1948 - 16 March 1948
    08LT. Gregory, Robert Tuner, USN (USNA 1944)16 March 1948 - 2 May 1948
    09LCDR. Mundy, Kenneth Albert, USN2 May 1948 - 13 September 1951
    10LT. Story, Lester Thomas, USN13 September 1951 - 29 June 1953
    11LCDR. Such, Maxwell, USN29 June 1953 - 1 August 1955
    12LCDR. Camblin, Wilbur James, USN1 August 1955 - 13 February 1958
    13LT. Epps, Edward Wells (Ned), USN13 February 1958 - 9 January 1960
    14LCDR. Barbee, Delbert Forrest, USN9 January 1960 - 14 August 1962
    15LCDR. Olson, Robert Miller, USN (USNA 1954)14 August 1962 - 10 June 1964
    16LCDR. Ruhle, Robert Carl, USN10 June 1964 - 29 June 1966
    17LT. Stith, Charles Edwin, USN29 June 1966 - 8 August 1968
    18LT. Sydow, Kenneth Robert, USN (USNA 1961)8 August 1968 - 26 September 1969
    19LT. Tucker, Duane Ernest, USN26 September 1969 - 27 July 1971
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Ocean Tug Photo (AT) Index Back To The Fleet Ocean Tug Photo (ATF) Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 1 March 2024