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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Sacramento (AOE-1)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Mike - Delta - Foxtrot
 NMDF
Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - Imperial (Q)uebec
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Unit Commendation (2)
Second Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran/Indian Ocean, Lebanon)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea, Vietnam, Operation Restore Hope Somalia, Bosnia) - Vietnam Service Medal (13)
Fourth Row - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Sacramento Class Fast Combat Support Ship:
  • Laid down, 30 June 1961, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.
  • Launched, 14 September 1963
  • Commissioned USS Sacramento (AOE-1), 14 March 1964, CAPT. Martin M. Gantar USN in command
    Sacramento and her sister USS Camden (AOE-2), were unique in that their propulsion systems were originally installed in the uncompleted sister to the two Iowa class battleships, USS Kentucky (BB-66). When it was decided to scrap Kentucky, the Navy split the propulsion system and installed it in Sacramento and Camden
  • Sacramento was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, and homeported at Bremerton, WA.
  • During the Vietnam War USS Sacramento (AOE-1) participated in the following campaigns:

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
    Campaigns and Dates Campaigns and Dates
    Vietnam Advisory Campaign
    7 to 15 January 1965
    17 to 27 January 1965
    5 February to 4 March 1965
    20 March 1965 to 10 April 1965
    16 to 18 April 1965     		Tet 69/ Counteroffensive
    8 to 31 March 1969
    14 to 18 April 1969
    18 May to 5 June 1969
    Vietnam Defense
    6 to 17 November 1965
    25 November to 9 December 1965
    19 to 24 December 1965     		Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
    21 to 30 June 1969
    26 to 27 July 1969
    3 to 23 August 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive
    25 to 29 December 1965
    12 to 23 January 1966
    31 January to 12 February 1966
    21 February to 1 March 1966
    7 to 20 March 1966
    3 to 14 April 1966
    23 April to 6 May 1966
    14 to 15 May 1966
    22 May to 6 June 1966     		Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
    22 March to 13 April 1970
    19 to 30 April 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase II
    12 to 15 December 1966
    24 December 1966 to 13 January 1967
    22 January to 12 February 1967
    26 February to 11 March 1967
    20 March to 2 April 1967
    12 to 16 April 1967
    21 to 31 May 1967     		Sanctuary Counteroffensive
    1 to 8 May 1970
    14 to 15 and 20 to 25 May 1970
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase III
    1 to 4 June 1967
    12 to 18 June 1967     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII
    20 July to 22 August 1970
    25 March to 20 April 1971
    29 April to 19 May 1971
    19 to 30 June 1971
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 March to 1 April 1968     		Consolidation I
    1 to 8 July 1971
    20 July to 1 August 1971
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase IV
    2 to 14-April 1968
    22 April to 1 May 1968
    10 to 19 May 1968
    3 to 15 June 1968     		Vietnam Ceasefire
    1 to 13 September 1972
    22 September to 7 October 1972
    23-October to 9 November 1972
    16 November to 21 December 1972
    27 December 1972 to 13 January 1973
    4 to 22 February 1973
    2 to 13 March 1973

  • Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 1 October 2004, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.
  • Laid up at the NAVSEA Inactive Ships On-site Maintenance Office, Bremerton, WA., to be disposed of in support of fleet training exercises
  • USS Sacramento earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal with thirteen campaign stars for Vietnam War service
  • Contact awarded to ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., for scrapping, in lieu of use as a target for fleet training, 13 April 2007, scrapping completed, 11 July 2008
    Specifications:
    Displacement 18,884 t.(lt) 49,956 t.(fl);
    Length 793'
    Beam 107'
    Draft 38' (max.)
    Speed 26 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 22
    Enlisted 530
    Aircraft two CH46E Sea Knight helicopters
    Armament
    eight 3"/50 dual purpose guns (as built)
    3"/50 aft gun mounts aft replaced by CIWS
    3"/50 forward gun mounts replaced by NATO Sea Sparrow missiles
    Propulsion
    four boilers
    two geared steam turbines
    two propellers, 100,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Sacramento 198k Sacramento (AOE-1) christening ceremony, 14 September 1961, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. Dale Hargrave
    Sacramento
    095901186    		 275k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) standing out to sea as she passes Point Loma at the entrance to San Diego Bay, date unknown.
    ©George Barber    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Walke 167k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) refuels the combat stores ship USS Mars (AFS-1) and the Destroyer USS Walke (DD-723) during a Western Pacific deployment, circa 1964.
    US Navy photo.    		 Mike Green and
    Robert Hurst
    Sacramento 72k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		  
    Sacramento 80k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Sacramento
    095901183    		 207k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) conducting a replenishment at sea with USS Ranger (CVA-61) during Rangers 1964-65 Westpac tour
    Photos by PH3 P.W. Harrison    		 Bob Canchola
    Sacramento
    095901184    		 279k
    Sacramento
    095901185    		 306k
    Sacramento 68k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) under way, circa 1965, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Sacramento
    095901179    		 334k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) conducting an underway replenishment (UNREP/VERTREP) with USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) in the Gulf of Tonkin during 1965. The Boeing Vertol UH-46A Sea Knight Buno. 151903, assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 1 (HC-1) conducts the VERTREP portion of the replenishment at sea operation moving material from Sacramento to Kitty Hawk.
    Photos, used with permission of ADJ3 David Elfver, were posted on the USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 Veterans Club Face Book Page.    		 Bob Canchola
    Sacramento
    095901178    		 294k
    Sacramento
    095901177    		 273k
    Sacramento
    095901176    		 295k
    Sacramento
    095901175    		 334k
    Sacramento
    095901181    		 270k
    Sacramento
    095901180    		 350k
    DD-824 110k USS Sacramento (AOE-1), center, replenishing the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14), right, and the destroyer USS Basilone (DD-824) in the South China Sea, 13 April 1966.
    US Navy Photograph # USN 111706 by PH2 J.L. Rivera, USN.    		 Tony Cowart
    Sacramento 96k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) alongside USS Enterprise (CVAN-65),Tonkin Gulf, June 1966 © Richard Leonhardt
    Sacramento 92k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) under way in the South China Sea in 1966. Photo taken from USS Bausell (DD-845) by Lee Noland STGC USN Ret. during breakaway from refueling ops. Lee Noland STGC USN Ret. USS Bausell
    Sacramento 110k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) alongside USS Enterprise (CVAN-65),Tonkin Gulf in 1966.
    US navy photo.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Sacramento 88k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) alongside USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), Tonkin Gulf, June 1966 © Richard Leonhardt
    Sacramento 50k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) alongside USS Enterprise (CVN-65) off the coast of North Vietnam on Yankee Station in 1966. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Sacramento 62k View from USS Sacramento (AOE-1) while alongside USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), probably, off the coast of North Vietnam on Yankee Station in 1966. Tommy Trampp
    Sacramento 224k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) off the coast of in 1966. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Sacramento 140k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		  
    Sacramento 135k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) coming alongside USS Caliente off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1966-1969. Photo by Bill Dougherty USS Caliente
    Sacramento 205k USS Caliente taking on oil for USS Sacramento (AOE-1) off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1966-1969. Photo by Bill Dougherty USS Caliente
    Cacapon 79k USS Cacapon (AO-52) (right) rides high in the water while transferring her remaining fuel oil to USS Sacramento (AOE-1) off the coast of South Vietnam, 1 August 1966.
    US Navy photo # USN 1117156 from the Naval Historical Center collection.    		 Edward Rochefort
    Sacramento
    095901190    		 222k An HC-1 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter (BuNo 152495) from USS Sacramento (AOE-1) sling loading supplies to the flight deck of USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) during a replenishment evolution, 3 January 1967, on Yankee Station during 1st line period of 1966 - 1967 Kitty Hawk cruise.
    Photo by Don Fitzgerald AG3 USS Kitty Hawk    		 Bob Canchola
    Sacramento
    095901191    		 206k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) sling loading supplies to USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) running on Sacramento's port station as USS Stoddard (DD-566) moves into position to begin an unrep from Sacramento's starboard station, 3 January 1967, Gulf of Tonkin.
    Photo by Don Fitzgerald AG3 USS Kitty Hawk    		 Bob Canchola
    Sacramento 133k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) conducting an underway replenishment while alongside USS Hancock (CVA-19) off the coast of Vietnam in April 1967. Photo by Charles "Bud" Dehnert USS Hancock
    Sacramento 140k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) conducting an underway replenishment while alongside USS Hancock (CVA-19) off the coast of Vietnam in April 1967. Photo by Charles "Bud" Dehnert USS Hancock
    Sacramento 281k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) conducting an underway replenishment, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Sacramento
    095901192    		 166k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) refuels the amphibious assault ship USS Valley Forge (LPH-8) and the attack transport USS Montrose (APA-212), circa 1966.
    U.S. Navy photo from the USS Valley Forge (LPH-8) 1965-1966 cruise book.    		 Robert Hurst
    CVS-12 Hornet 165k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) transfers fuel and ordnance to USS Hornet (CVS-12) during replenishment operations in the South China Sea in June 1967. Photographed by JOC R.D. Moeser.
    US Navy photo # USN 1142142    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Sacramento 1018k An H-46 Sea Knight helicopter picks up a pallet of provisions from USS Sacramento (AOE-1) for transfer to the attack aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) during underway replenishment off the coast of Vietnam in June 1967.
    US Navy photo # USN 1124568 by JOC R.D. Moeser.    		 Chris Stanley from the collection of CDR Thomas B. Ray USS Essex
    Sacramento 62k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) resupplying USS Boston (CA-69) on station off the coast of Vietnam. June 1968 John Jazdzewski, USS Boston
    Sacramento 99k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) resupplying USS Boston (CA-69) on station off the coast of Vietnam. June 1968 John Jazdzewski, USS Boston
    Sacramento 119k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) resupplying USS Boston (CA-69) on station off the coast of Vietnam. June 1968 John Jazdzewski, USS Boston
    Sacramento 91k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) resupplying USS Boston (CA-69) on station off the coast of Vietnam. June 1968 John Jazdzewski, USS Boston
    Sacramento 80k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) resupplying USS Boston (CA-69) on station off the coast of Vietnam. June 1968 John Jazdzewski, USS Boston
    Sacramento 51k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) resupplying USS Boston (CA-69) on station off the coast of Vietnam. June 1968 John Jazdzewski, USS Boston
    Sacramento 176k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) alongside USS Ticonderoga (DDG-47), circa December 28 1967 to 17 August 1968) Photo by Jerry Beasley USS Ticonderoga
    Sacramento 121k Unofficial flag flown by USS Sacramento (AOE-1) while conducting UNREPS during her 1968 deployment. Reinhard Lindner BM3 USNR, USS Sacramento 1967-68
    Sacramento 75k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) with USS Fox (DLG-33) coming alongside while underway in the South China Sea in 1970. Photo taken from USS Bausell (DD-845) by Lee Noland STGC USN Ret. Lee Noland STGC USN Ret. USS Bausell
    Sacramento 183k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) conducting an underway replenishment at sea off the coast of Vietnam, circa 1970s. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Sacramento 213k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) moored pierside at Vancouver BC, 12 June 1977.
    City of Vancouver Archives, Photo No. AM1506-S3-1-: CVA 447-2903, by Walter E. Frost.    		 Mike Green
    Sacramento 194k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) moored at NAS North Island in the summer of 1978. Photo by Richard Stiles
    Sacramento
    09590103    		 36k USS Sacramento (AOE-1), center, conducts an underway replenishment (UNREP) with USS Wisconsin (BB-64), and USS Missouri (BB-63) during Operation Desert Shield, 14 January 1991.
    US Navy photos
    Bob Canchola
    Sacramento
    095901182    		 266k
    Sacramento 88k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) under way in the South China Sea as part of the Nimitz Battle Group, 25 September 1997.
    US Navy photo # 970925-N-4778W-153    		 Bill Gonyo
    FFG-54 Ford 202k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) and USS Ford (FFG-54) maneuver into formation while conducting operations with the George Washington and Nimitz battle groups, 6 January 1998. Sacramento and Ford were conducting operations in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.
    US Navy photo # 980106-N-2302H-001 by PH3 Joseph Hendricks.    		 Bill Gonyo
    CVN-71 Theodore Roosevelt 92k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) replenishes USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) as the guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) approaches her station alongside Sacramento, during "Operation Enduring Freedom", 24 November 2001. Note a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, assigned to Sacramento, also carrying supplies to Theodore Roosevelt.
    US Navy photo # 011124-N-5526M-002 by PH2 Bobby McRill.    		 Alex Tatchin
    CVN-70 Carl Vinson 140k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) steams side-by-side with USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) during a routine replenishment at sea at sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Oct. 12, 2001.
    US Navy photo # 011012-N-5884W-001. Photo by PH3 Carol Warden.    		 US Navy
    Sacramento 71k USS Carl Vinson(CVN-70) breaks away from USS Sacramento (AOE-01) after completing underway replenishment while USS Lassen (DDG-82) continues to receive fuel off Sacramento's starboard side while underway in the Southern Pacific Ocean, 27 January 2003.
    US Navy Photo # 030127-N-3241H-008 by PHAN Dustin Howell    		 Bernard A. Cardali USS LST-306
    CVN-70 Carl Vinson 115k

    USS Ingraham (FFG-61) takes on fuel from the starboard side of USS Sacramento (AOE-1) while USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) receives cargo via Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) during a Replenishment at Sea (RAS), Western Pacific Ocean.
    US Navy photo # 030210-N-3241H-122 by PHAN Dustin Howell, 10 February 2003.

    		 US Navy Newsstand
    FFG-63 USS Ingraham 178k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) conducts an underway replenishment (UNREP) with USS Ingraham (FFG-61), 10 February 2003. The ships were part of the Carl Vinson Battle Group conducting training in the Pacific Ocean in preparation for their next scheduled deployment.
    US Navy photo # 030210-N-0233J-161 by PH3 Ryan Jackson)    		 Bill Gonyo
    Sacramento 314k USS Sacramento (AOE-01) comes alongside the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in the Sea of Japan, 18 March 2003. The guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG-82) sails in the distance. The ships are part of the Carl Vinson Battle Group currently on deployment in the western Pacific Ocean.
    US Navy photo # 030318-N-3241H-009 by PHAN Dustin Howell.    		 Robert Hurst
    FFG-63 USS Ingraham 46k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) with USS Ingraham (FFG-61) alongside during an underway replenishment in the Philippine Sea, 20 June 2003.
    US Navy photo    		 Fred Weiss
    Sacramento 62k USS Sacramento (AOE-01) conducting a vertrep while underway with USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), 25 June 2003, location unknown. Photo by Thomas Hess
    CVN-74 John C. Stennis 112k Pacific Ocean, March 20, 2004 — The nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) performs an underway replenishment (UNREP) with USS Sacramento (AOE-1). John C. Stennis spent over nine hours alongside Sacramento transferring over 900 pallets of ordnance and supplies. U.S. Navy photo by PH3 Joshua Word (# 040320-N-4768W-068).

    		 US Navy Newsstand
    Sacramento 83k USS Sacramento (AOE-01) conducting a vertical replenishment (VERTREP) with a Ticonderoga Class Cruiser, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Sacramento 78k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) conducting an underway replenishment, date and location unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Sacramento 100k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) standing out to sea as she passes Point Loma at the entrance to San Diego Bay, date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Sacramento
    095901187    		 205k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) standing out to sea as she passes Point Loma at the entrance to San Diego Bay, date unknown.
    ©Geroge Barber    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Sacramento
    095901188    		 208k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) standing out to sea as she passes Point Loma at the entrance to San Diego Bay, date unknown.
    ©Geroge Barber    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Sacramento
    095901189    		 229k USS Sacramento (AOE-1) underway, date and location unknown. Nicholas Tiberio
    Sacramento 90k USS Sacramento (AOE-01) plaque. Tommy Trampp
    Sacramento 246k Ex-USS Sacramento (AOE-01) at ESCO Marine awaiting scrapping. Ex-USS Camden (AOE-2), also awaiting the scrappers torch, is moored forward of ex-Sacramento. Photo by © Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX. TJ Tropea
    Sacramento 1086k Ex-USS Sacramento (AOE-01) at ESCO Marine awaiting scrapping. Ex-USS Camden (AOE-2), moored forward of Sacramento, has a fire on board while being cut up by the scrappers torches. Photo by © Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX. TJ Tropea
    Sacramento 724k Ex-USS Sacramento (AOE-01) at ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., while being scrapped, 4 December 2007. Photo by © Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX. TJ Tropea

    For more photos and information about USS Sacramento, see;
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • AE/AOE Sailors Association
  • Reinhard Lindner and John Rouse USS Sacramento (AOE-1) photo collections
  • Decommissioning Booklet
  • Postal Covers related to the ship
    • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Gantar, Mark Martin14 March 1964 - 27 July 1965
    02CAPT. Shear, Harold Edson, USN (USNA 1942) :ADM24 July 1965 - 1 October 1966
    03CAPT. Collier, James Richard1 October 1966 - 27 January 1968
    04CAPT. O'Neil, Warren Harold :RADM27 January 1968 - 6 February 1969
    05CAPT. Fortson, Thomas Edward6 February 1969 - 15 July 1970
    06CAPT. Scott, Wiley Anthony15 July 1970 - 4 September 1971
    07CAPT. Deham, John G.4 September 1971 - 22 September 1973
    08CAPT. Service, James Edward (Snake), USN :VADM22 September 1973 - 4 April 1975
    09CAPT. Aitcheson Jr., George A., USN (USNA 1954) :RADM4 April 1975 - 24 July 1976
    10CAPT. Stein, Norman Floyd, USN (USNA 1952)24 July 1976 - 29 July 1978
    11CAPT. Tomion, Jack Walter29 July 1978 - 25 June 1980
    12CAPT. Coffey, Robert Carlin25 June 1980 - 21 December 1981
    13CAPT. Davis Jr., Walter Jackson :VADM21 December 1981 - 2 September 1983
    14CAPT. Schroeder Jr., Raymond C.2 September 1983 - 27 February 1985
    15CAPT. Dvornick, Eugene Steven27 February 1985 - 24 April 1987
    16CAPT. Millis Jr., Archibald Edward, USN24 April 1987 - 3 May 1989
    17CAPT. Payne, John Scott, USN (USNA 1967)3 May 1989 - 2 October 1990
    18CAPT. Irelan, Dennis Wayne, USN (USNA 1968)2 October 1990 - 30 April 1992
    19CAPT. Roe, John (Skip) 30 April 1992 - 5 October 1993
    20CAPT. Hinson, Steven R.5 October 1993 - 1 October 1995
    21CAPT. Kelly, James Dean (Jamie), USN (USNA 1973) :RADM1 October 1995 - 21 February 1997
    22CAPT. O'Hanlon, Richard John (Spanky) :RADM21 February 1997 - 22 January 1999
    23CAPT. Myers, Allen Garver, USN (USAFA 1978) :VADM22 January 1999 - 20 April 2000
    24CAPT. Buss, David Howley :VADM20 April 2000 - 26 October 2001
    25CAPT. Cloyd, James Daniel, USN (USNA 1979) :RADM26 October 2001 - 19 January 2003
    26CAPT. Manazir, Michael Charles, USN (USNA 1981) :RADM19 January 2003 - 15 July 2004
    27CDR. Bush, Ronald Samuel15 July 2004 - 1 October 2004
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves Photos courtesy Bill Gonyo
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 15 December 2023