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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Utina (ATF-163)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Quebec - Golf - Golf NQGG

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Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (2-Cuba) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba)

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USS Utina (ATF-163) was transferred to Venezuela, renamed ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21)

Final Disposition, fate unknown

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Specifications:
Displacement 1,205 t.(lt) 1,589 t.(fl)
Length 206'
Beam 38' 6"
Draft 17' (max)
Speed 16.5 kts.
Complement 85

Armament

one single 3"/50 gun mount

two single 40mm AA gun mounts

four single 20mm AA gun mounts

Propulsion Diesel-electric, four General Motors 12-278A Diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines, single screw, 3,600shp

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Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
USS Utina ATF-163
093916306	27k	USS Utina (ATF-163) underway for sea trials in January 1946. US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives		Robert Hurst and 093916306-Alan Owens, 09391630p-Robert Hurst
093916309	29k
	42k	USS Utina (ATF-163) underway, date and location unknown.		Submitted by Harry Jaeger to NAFTS National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
	506k	USS Utina (ATF-163) underway, circa 1955, location unknown.		Alan Owens
	55k	USS Utina (ATF-163) in Narragansett Bay, 20 November 1965.		© Richard Leonhardt
	109k	USS Utina (ATF-163) underway, circa 1950s-60s, location unknown. US Naval History and Heritage Command photo (UA-64), number unknown, courtesy Shipscribe.com.		Mike Green
ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21)
	104k	Ex-Utina (ATF-163) in Venezuelan service as ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21), at Barcelona, Spain, 7 August 1983. Note the inscription "Guardacostas" (Coast Guard) on her side.		Photo by Fabio Peńa
	84k	ARBV Felipe Larrazábal (R-21), at Barcelona, Spain, 7 August 1983. Note the inscription "Guardacostas" (Coast Guard) on her side.		Photo by Fabio Peńa

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USS Utina (ATF-163)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

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Commanding Officers
01	LT. Vetro, Amande John, USN	30 January 1946 - 30 June 1946
02	LT. Nelson, George Irwin, USN	30 June 1946 - 20 December 1946
03	LT. Marshall, Joseph, USN	20 December 1946 - 3 October 1947
04	LT. Hazelbaker, Bill, USN	3 October 1947 - 1949
05	LT. Ashman, Richard Clemens, USN	1951 - 1953
06	LT. Calvin, Luther Louis, USN	1953 - 1955
07	LT/LCDR. Brown, Robert J. USN	1955 - 7 February 1958
08	LT/LCDR. Birch Jr., Stanley Wadsworth, USN	7 February 1958 - 7 August 1959
09	LT/LCDR. Knutson Sr., Donald Wayne, USN (USNA 1951)	7 August 1959 - 7 August 1961
10	LT/LCDR. Bekkedahl, Clifford Lewis, USN	7 August 1961 - 23 June 1963
11	LT. Cannon, James Rowland, USN (USNA 1956)	23 June 1963 - 12 April 1965
12	LT/LCDR. Lester, William Edward, USN	12 April 1965 - April 1967
13	LT. Hensley, Hershal Wayne, USN	April 1967 - 13 March 1969
14	LT. Callaway, Linnaeus Thomas, USN	13 March 1969 - 15 April 1971
15	LT. Malone, Robert Neely, USN	15 April 1971 - 23 August 1971
16	LTjg. Fritz, John C.	23 August 1971 - 3 September 1971

Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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Last Updated 14 March 2025