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

USS Iuka (ATA-123)
ex
 USS ATA-123 (1944 - 1948)
 USS ATR-45 (1943 - 1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Alpha - Mike
 NZAM
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal
Sotoyomo Class Auxiliary Fleet Tug:
  • Planned and approved as Fleet Tug AT-123
  • Reclassified Rescue Tug ATR-45
  • Laid down, 21 November 1942, at Levingston Shipbuilding Co., Orange, TX.
  • Launched, 20 December 1942
  • Commissioned, USS ATR-45, 30 June 1943, LTjg. John L. Hostinsky, USN in command
  • Reclassified Auxiliary Fleet Tug ATA-123, 15 May 1944
  • During World War II USS ATA-123 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
  • Decommissioned, 26 November 1947, at San Pedro, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Columbia River Group
  • Named Iuka (ATA-123), 16 July 1948
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia WA, September 1962
  • Merchant Service
    Acquired for commercial service by Erato Shipping & Trading Corp. S.A., Panama, 13 April 1976, renamed Deka Exi (J.S.Latsis, Piraeus)
    Owners name changed to Maritime & Commercial Co. Argonaftis S.A., Panama
    Arrived in tow at Aliaga for demolition by Seltas A.S., 2 December 1996
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in 1996
    Specifications:
    Displacement 835 t.(fl)
    Length 143'
    Beam 33' 10" (extreme)
    Draft 13' 2" (limiting)
    Speed 13 kts. (trial)
    Complement
    5 Officers
    40 Enlisted
    Largest Boom Capacity 4 t.
    Armament one 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    Propulsion
    one General Motors Diesel-electric model 12-278A
    single Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gear
    Ship's service generators
    one Diesel-drive 60Kw, 120V D.C.
    one Diesel-drive 30Kw, 120V D. C.
    single propeller
    Fuel Capacity, 1300 Bbls Diesel oil
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS ATR-45/ATA-123/Iuka (ATA-123)
    Iuka
    093812302    		 1182k ATR-45 underway, circa 1943 off Orange TX., during builder triais.
    US Navy photo         		Eric Gonzalez for his Grandfather who served in Iuka
    Merchant Service
    Iuka 50k Ex-USS Iuka (ATA-123) in commercial service as the tug Deka Exi moored pierside, at Aliaga, Turkey, awaiting scrapping. Alan Chapman
    USS ATR-45 / USS ATA-123 / USS Iuka (ATA-123)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Hostinsky, John Louis, USN30 June 1943 - 31 May 1945ATR-45 / ATA-123
    02LT. Honegger, Otto Louis, USN31 May 1945 - ?ATA-123
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler
    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 Rescue Tug (ATR) Photo Index Back To the Auxiliary Fleet Tug (ATA) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 9 January 2026