Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Charlie Greene

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3)
ex
USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) (1967 - 1994)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Echo - Kilo - Juliet NEKJ
JANAP Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Nevada (B)ravo - Section 6A of JANAP 119(F) 1968

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (17 January 1991 to 28 February 1991) - Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (5) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (3-Iran/Indian Ocean)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (10) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Korea, 4-Persian Gulf, 2-Op. Restore Hope Somalia)
Fourth Row - Southwest Asia Campaign Medal - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (14) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Mars Class Combat Stores Ship:

Laid down, 22 May 1965, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA.

Launched, 26 March 1966

Commissioned, USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3), 29 April 1967, CAPT. Horace C. Holley USN, in command

During the Vietnam War USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV 20 April to 4 May 1968 16 to 23 June 1968 30 June 1968	Vietnamese Winter-Spring 1970 21 November to 3 December 1969 12 to 29 January 1970 3 to 15 April 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V 1 to 16 July 1968 26 July to 1 August 1968 22 to 28 August 1968 3 to 16 Septmeber1968	Sanctuary Counteroffensive 3 to 15 May 1970 2 to 13 June 1970
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI 4 to 11 February 1969 18 to 22 February 1969	Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VII 3 to 15 July 1970 20 to 30 June 1971
Tet69/Counteroffensive 23 February to 3 March 1969 9 to 19 March 1969 21 April to 5 May 1969 11 to 22 May 1969 28 to 29 May 1969	Consolidation I 1 to 7 July 1971 19 to 29 July 1971 11 to 19 August 1971 2 to 10 September 1971 19 to 28 September 1971 17 to 27 October 1971 19 to 20 November 1971
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 25 June to 8 July 1969 13 to 22 July 1969 28 to 30 July 1969 29 August to 6 September 1969 9 to 21 September 1969	Vietnam Ceasefire 6 to 19 July 1972 2 to 15 August 1972 26 to 27 August 1972 3 to 15 September 1972 22 September to 1 October 1972 18 October to 1 November 1972 23 November to 3 December 1972 13 to 26 December 1972 4 to 23 January 1973 22 to 27 February 1973 11 to 19 March 1973

Decommissioned, September 1994

Assigned to the Military Sealift Command and placed in service, 23 September 1994 as USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3), assigned to the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (PM1) MSC Far East

Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 30 September 2008

Final Disposition, towed out of Pearl Harbor, 12 July 2012, by USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52), and as a RIMPAC 2012 target in position 23-00 N 159-55W (60 miles NNW of Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii) on the morning of 14 July 2012

Niagara Falls earned ten campaign stars during the Vietnam War

Specifications:
Displacement 9,200 t.(lt) 15,900-18,663 t.(fl)
Length 581'
Beam 79'
Draft 27' (max.)
Speed 20 kts.
Complement (MSC) 49 Navy, 125 civilian merchant seamen
Aircraft two UH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
Armament USS two twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
Armament USNS none
Propulsion three 580 psi Babcock and Wilcox boilers, one De Laval Turbine, single propeller

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)
	61k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) during VERTREP of USS Boston (CAG-1)**, on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	57k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) during VERTREP of USS Boston (CAG-1)**, on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	57k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) during VERTREP of USS Boston (CAG-1)**, on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	50k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) and USS Edson (DD-946) during VERTREP of USS Boston (CAG-1)**, on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968.	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	70k	One of *HC-3* *USS Niagara Falls* Det, helicopters during VERTREP of USS Boston (CAG-1)**, on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	51k	One of *HC-3* *USS Niagara Falls* Det*, Helicopters over USS Boston (CAG-1)*'s bow during VERTREP, on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	79k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** moored at India Basin, Naval Station, Sasebo, Japan in 1969.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	67k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) in support of Marine Amphibious operations near the DMZ in Vietnam, 1969. Photo from the USS Repose (AH-16)**.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	300k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) breaks off from USS Repose (AH-16)** after completing an UNREP during operations in the area near the DMZ in 1969.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	577k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** underway in the Gulf of Tonkin near Yankee Station conducting a VERTREP during replenishment operations in 1969.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	287k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** bridge while underway off the coast of Vietnam in 1969.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	400k	A "Seadevils" *Helicopter Composite Squadron Seven (HC-7)* H-46 Sea Knight assigned to *USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** conducting VERTREP operations with units of Task Force 77.7, off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1969-70.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	1861k
	1817k
	1791k	Gunnery practice (Mount 32) aboard *USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)**, off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1969-70.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	2656k
	1808k
	39k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) underway in the South China Sea, April 1969. Photo taken from USS Winston (AKA-94)**.	Masao Aochi BT2 USS Winston 1968-69
	897k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** at Naval Station Subic Bay, date unknown. Photo was taken from B/N seat of an A-6 Intruder in the take off roll out from NAS Cubi Point.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	50k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) moored at India Basin, Naval Station, Sasebo, Japan circa 1970. In the foreground is USS Hanson (DD-832)**.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	106k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** on station, South China Sea, 1970	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	38k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** moored to a buoy at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1970.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	197k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** at anchor in 1970, location unknown. US Navy photo.	David Buell
	71k	View looking aft during VERTREP by one of *HC-3 (Det 106)* helicopters assigned to *USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) of the attack aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19)** off the coast of Vietnam in 1972.	Al Cusak
	67k	View looking across the harbor at Danang, South Vietnam in 1972 from one of *USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** twin 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts.	Al Cusak
	101k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** underway, date and location unknown.	William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	113k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** underway, circa 1975, location unknown. US Navy photo.	Tommy Trampp
	213k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** foc'sle while mooring at Singapore in 1982.	HS1 Steve Martin, USCG, Ret (at the time of the photo HM2, USN)
	150k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** in dry dock at Todd Shipyard, San Francisco, CA., prior to her home port change to Guam. US Navy photo by JO2 Russell L. Coons from "All Hands" magazine, November 1983	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	106k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3), alongside USS Constellation (CV-64) and USS Leahy (CG-16)**, underway in the South China Sea whilst part of Carrier Task Force 77.7.	Robert Hurst
	109k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** underway, date and location unknown. US Navy photo by JO2 Russell L. Coons, from "All Hands" magazine, June 1984	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	66k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	CWO3 Kenneth J Seaman USN Ret
	80k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	American Federation of Scientists Web Site
	57k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)**, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	American Federation of Scientists Web Site
	43k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** moored pierside, Naval Station Long Beach, CA., date unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	58k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** sits in the harbor in Bahrain on April 1, 1991 in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm. Department of Defense Visual Imaging Center photo	Fred Weiss
	62k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3) in the Persian Gulf, 8 August 1991 The British destroyer HMS Gloucester (D-96)*, foreground, comes alongside USS Niagara Falls* for underway replenishment as the destroyer *USS Fife* (DD-991)** steams nearby during Operation Desert Storm. Department of Defense Visual Imaging Center photo	Fred Weiss
	131k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	88k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** underway passing Orote Point while entering the outer harbor, Naval Station Guam, Marianas Islands, date unknown. US Navy photo.	Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr
	86k	*USS Niagara Falls* (AFS-3)** outbound to sea from San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3)
	59k	A port bow view of *USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3) as seen from a lower deck of USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)** during an Underway Replenishment at sea (UNREP), 1 November 2001. Department of Defense Visual Imaging Center photo	Fred Weiss
	44k	Aerial view of *USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3)** approaching East Timor, June 2002	Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	70k	*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3)** at anchor off Dili, East Timor, June 2002	Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
	75k	*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3)** at sea in the Middle East, 29 April 2003 to support multiple strike forces deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.US Navy photo # 030429-N-4441P-020 by PH2 Michael J. Pusnik, Jr.	US Navy Newsstand
	326k	*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS 3) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65)** prepare for an early morning replenishment at sea (RAS), 9 December 2004. Benfold, part of the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group was on a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean. US Navy photo # 041209-N-8539M-039 Pacific Ocean (Dec. 9, 2004) by PHAN Nicholas B. Morton..	Robert M. Cieri
	44k	*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3)** underway off the coast of Indonesia, 18 January 2005, in support of Operation Unified Assistance, the humanitarian operation effort in the wake of the Tsunami that struck South East Asia, 26 December 2004. US Navy photo # 050118-N-4336M-088 by PHAN Cristina R. Morrison.	Jack Treutle
	403k	*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3) underway off the coast of Madang, Papua New Guinea, 17 May 2005, with an active volcano in the background, as it transports medical personnel from the MSC hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) to the local village to provide health care and community relations (COMREL). Mercy and Niagara Falls** are currently on station off the coast of Papua New Guinea to provide humanitarian assistance and focused medical care to the residents affected by a volcano eruption in the area. US Navy photo # 050517-N-1485H-003 by PH3 Lamel J. Hinton.	Robert Hurst
	120k	*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3) delivers cargo to the hanger bay of USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)** during a replenishment at sea (RAS) in the Pacific Ocean, 23 July 2006. RAS is the on and off-loading of stores and equipment while ships are underway. US Navy photo # 060723-N-3946H-028.by MCSN Patrick L. Heil	Chester Morris
	1522k	*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3) conducts an underway replenishment with the guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53). John Paul Jones** is deployed with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG). The Nimitz CSG is operating as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility operating off the western Pacific and Indian oceans. US Navy photo # 080414-N-8421M-003 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 14, 2008) by MC1 David Mercil.	Lee Wahler
	1353k	*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3) conducts an underway replenishment with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68), 3 May 2008. Nimitz** is operating as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. US Navy photo # 080503-N-1276B-005 PACIFIC OCEAN (May 3, 2008) by MC2 Orrin Batiste.	Lee Wahler
	1436k	Super PUMA helicopters fly much needed bottled water to Kalibo, Republic of the Philippines from the deck of *USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3) in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. At the request of the government of the Republic of the Philippines, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)** and elements of her Carrier Strike Group (CSG) were off the coast of Panay Island providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. US Navy photo # 080629-N-5961C-008 PACIFIC (June 29, 2008) by MCCS Spike Call.	Lee Wahler
	351k	*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3) being relieved by USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE-4)** while underway in WestPac, date unknown. US Navy photo from the Military Sealift Command collections.	TJ Tropia
	2817k	Ex-*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3)** moored at the Navy Inactive Ship Facility, Pearl Harbor, HI., 6 April 2011	Photo by Michael Goughan
	104k	Ex-*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3) under tow by USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52), outbound from Pearl Harbor, 12 July 2012. Niagara Falls** was sunk as a RIMPAC 2012 target in position 23-00 N 159-55W (60 miles NNW of Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii) on the morning of 14 July 2012.	Photo by Ray Edwards
	111k	Ex-*USNS Niagara Falls* (T-AFS-3)** sinking, 14 July 2012, after being expended as a target during a SINKEX as part of the annual RIMPAC 2012 exercise. US Navy photo # 120714-0-ZZ999-001.	Ron Reeves

For more photos and information about USS / USNS Niagara Falls, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Navy Fact File - Combat Stores Ships - T-AFS

USS Niagara 1982 Cruisebook contributed by Steve Martin
Commanding Officers

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Crew Contact

Name: William "Bill" John Rigney Jr.
Address: 13581 Texas Hwy 22, Cranfills Gap, Texas 76637-4019
Home Phone: 254-597-1240
Cell Phones: 254-978-1918 or 254-978-1498
E-mail:midwayairdale@gmail.com

Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Combat Stores Ship (AFS) Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 14 August 2015

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3)ex USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) (1967 - 1994)

USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3)
ex
USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3) (1967 - 1994)