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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Tolowa (ATF-116)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Delta - Romeo - Quebec
 NDRQ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal

USS Tolowa (ATF-116) was transferred to Venezuela, renamed ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-11)
Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 28 July 1943, as Fleet Tug (AT-116) at United Engineering Co., San Francisco, CA.
  • Redesignated Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF-116), 16 May 1944
  • Launched, 17 May 1944
  • Commissioned USS Tolowa (ATF-116), 29 December 1944, LT. Eugene G. Sheasby, USNR in command
  • During World War II USS Tolowa was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 12 to 30 June 1945

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

    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    China Service Medal (extended)
    1 to 7 April 194616 October 1945 to 28 March 1946
  • Decommissioned, 27 January 1947
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 11 November 1970
  • USS Tolowa earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Transferred to Venezuela, 1 February 1962, ("Navy Times" 28 Feb 1962)
  • Commissioned ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-11)
  • Decommissioned and struck from the Venezuelan Navy, dates unknown
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,330 t.(lt) 1,689 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 38' 6"
    Draft 17' (max)
    Speed 16.6 kts.
    Complement
    8 Officers
    68 Enlisted
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 gun mount
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    two single 40mm AA gun mounts
    six .50 cal machine guns
    two depth charge tracks
    Propulsion
    Diesel-electric, four Alco Diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines
    single propeller, 3,600shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Tolowa (ATF-116)
    Tolowa 469k USS Tolowa (ATF-116) moored, date and location unknown. Submitted by CWO3 Kenneth J. Seaman, USN Ret. for Harvey Peck (i>USS Tolowa
    ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21)
    Tolowa 57k Ex-USS Tolowa (ATF-116) in Venezuelan service as ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-11) underway, circa 1962, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    USS Tolowa (ATF-116)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LT. Sheasby, Eugene Guilmette, USNR29 December 1944 - February 1946
    02LT. Sokulski, Stanley Albert, USNFebruary 1946 - 22 January 1947
    03LT. Duke, Louie Carl, USNJanuary 1962 - 1 February 1962
    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 Fleet Tug (AT) Photo Index Back To The Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 21 April 2021