USS Tawakoni
 USS Tawakoni (ATF-114), date and location unknown.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Tawakoni |
| Builder | United Engineering Company, San Francisco, California |
| Launched | 23 October 1943 |
| Commissioned | 16 September 1944 |
| Stricken | 1 June 1978 |
| Motto | "Salvage, Towing, Diving" |
| Honors and awards | 2 battle stars (World War II); 3 battle stars (Korean War); 4 campaign stars (Vietnam War) |
| Fate | Sold to Taiwan, 1 June 1978 |
 Taiwan | |
| Name |
|
| Acquired | 1 June 1978 |
| Decommissioned | 1 November 2020 |
| Identification | ATF-553 |
| Fate | Sunk as a target ship, 15 August 2023[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Abnaki-class fleet ocean tug |
| Displacement | 1,330 long tons standard |
| Length | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Beam | 38.5 ft (11.7 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Propulsion | Diesel-electric, single screw |
| Speed | 16.5 kn (19.0 mph; 30.6 km/h) |
| Complement | 8 officers, 68 enlisted |
| Armament |
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USS Tawakoni (ATF-114) was an
U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1978, seeing action in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. After thirty-four years of service, she was sold to the Republic of China Navy (Taiwan), where she served until November 2020.[2]
History
Tawakoni was named after a
Wichita group that lived in Texas on the banks of the middle Brazos and Trinity Rivers during the 18th and 19th centuries. She began her naval career in the Pacific theater, joining the U.S. 5th fleet just in time for the invasion of Iwo Jima, which took place in February 1945. During this battle Tawakoni assisted the destroyer minesweeper USS Gamble, which had been hit by two 250-pound bombs on 18 February. She also assisted in retraction, towing and salvage operations off Iwo Jima until the latter part of March, when she returned to Ulithi
for repairs to minor damage suffered during the battle.
On 6 April 1945, Tawakoni was involved in the
V-J day
found her.
Korean War
Following the Second World War Tawakoni generally operated in the Pacific area, performing towing and other services and visiting ports from the United States to Asia. In November 1950, she joined Task Force 90, Amphibious Force, Far East, operating in support of
United States 7th Fleet
during her Korean service.
Operation Castle
In March 1954, Tawakoni was one of the ships tasked to support
nuclear tests by Navy Joint Task Force SEVEN (JTF-7) at Bikini Atoll
. The highest level of contamination recorded aboard the ship during this operation was 0.2 mr/hr.
Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, Tawakoni would see service in three campaigns: Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VI (1968–69), Tet 69 Counteroffensive (1969), and Winter-Spring 1970. During Phase VI, she participated in the surveillance of
electronic intelligence trawlers monitoring U.S. operations in the Gulf of Tonkin. She also assisted in towing, recovery and similar operations during her time in Vietnam. May 1967 she rescued SS Minot Victory
.
In June 1978, Tawakoni was decommissioned and sold to
Taiwan under the Security Assistance Program, where she was recommissioned in the ROC Navy as ROCS Da Han (ATF-553). She served with this force until November 2020.[3]
-
Decommissioning ceremony of Da Han on 17 November 2020
.jpg)
Awards
Tawakoni was awarded the appropriate
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
, among other awards.
Sources
- ^ 呂, 炯昌 (9 August 2023). "除役艦艇當靶艦 海空精準實彈射擊15日展開". NOWnews今日新聞. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ 涂, 鉅旻 (1 November 2020). "參與三大戰役傳奇艦 海軍「大漢」救難艦今除役". Liberty Times News. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ Yu, Matt; Yeh, Joseph (2 November 2020). "Taiwan decommissions WWII Navy tugboat after 76 years in service". Central News Agency. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
- USS Tawakoni (ATF-114). Contains basic info on the Tawakoni.
- Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, "USS Tawakoni". Contains history of the Tawakoni.
- History of USS Tawakoni (ATF-114) During Operation Castle 1954. Gives details of Tawakoni's activities during this nuclear test operation.
External links
- Viet Cong Commandos Sank an American Aircraft Carrier Story of the salvage of the USS Card in Vietnam.
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