# USS Ruchamkin

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Crosley-class high-speed transport

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USS Ruchamkin ca. 1965 History United States Name USS Ruchamkin Namesake Seymour D. Ruchamkin Builder Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia Duane Shipbuilding Corporation Laid down 14 February 1944 as Rudderow-class destroyer escort Launched 15 June 1944 Sponsored by Mrs. Mary Ruchamkin Identification DE-228 Commissioned 16 September 1945 Decommissioned 27 February 1946 Reclassified APD-89, 17 July 1944 Recommissioned 9 March 1951 Decommissioned 13 August 1957 Recommissioned 18 November 1961 Reclassified LPR-89, 1 January 1969 Decommissioned 24 November 1969 Stricken 31 October 1977 Honors and awards Navy Unit Commendation for 1965 Dominican crisis Fate Transferred to Colombia, 24 November 1969 Colombia Name ARC Córdoba Acquired 24 November 1969 Stricken 1980 Identification DT-15 Status Museum ship at Jaime Duque Park General characteristics Class & type Crosley-class high speed transport Displacement 2,130 long tons (2,164 t) full Length 306 ft (93 m) Beam 37 ft (11 m) Draft 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m) Speed 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) Troops 162 Complement 204 Armament 1 × 5-inch/38 caliber gun (127 mm) 6 × 40 mm guns 6 × 20 mm guns 2 × depth charge tracks Notes 2 mark 37 torpedo tubes

**USS *Ruchamkin* (APD-89)**, ex-**DE-228**, later **LPR-89**, was a [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) [high-speed transport](/source/High_speed_transport) in commission from 1945 to 1946, from 1951 to 1957, and from 1961 to 1969. She subsequently served as **ARC *Córdoba* (DT 15)** in the [Colombian Navy](/source/Colombian_Navy), until 1980; although [scrapped](/source/Ship_breaking), her [hull](/source/Hull_(watercraft)) and [superstructure](/source/Superstructure) were re-erected in a leisure park near [Bogotá](/source/Bogot%C3%A1).

## Namesake

Seymour David Ruchamkin was born on 8 March 1912 in [New York City](/source/New_York_City). He graduated from UCLA in 1940 and shortly thereafter, on 13 July 1940, [enlisted](/source/Enlisted_man) in the [United States Naval Reserve](/source/United_States_Naval_Reserve). Appointed [midshipman](/source/Midshipman#United_States_Naval_and_Merchant_Marine_Academies) on 16 September 1940, he attended the [United States Naval Reserve Midshipman School](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_Naval_Reserve_Midshipman_School&action=edit&redlink=1) at [Northwestern University](/source/Northwestern_University) in [Evanston](/source/Evanston%2C_Illinois), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), and reported to the [destroyer](/source/Destroyer) [USS *Cushing*](/source/USS_Cushing_(DD-376)) on 24 January 1941.

On 13 November 1942, [Lieutenant, junior grade](/source/Lieutenant%2C_junior_grade), Ruchamkin was [killed in action](/source/Killed_in_action) against [Imperial Japanese Navy](/source/Imperial_Japanese_Navy) forces in [Ironbottom Sound](/source/Ironbottom_Sound) off [Savo Island](/source/Savo_Island) in the [Solomon Islands](/source/Solomon_Islands) during the [Naval Battle of Guadalcanal](/source/Naval_Battle_of_Guadalcanal). He was posthumously awarded the [Navy Cross](/source/Navy_Cross).

## Construction and commissioning

*Ruchamkin* was laid down as the [*Rudderow*-class](/source/Rudderow-class_destroyer_escort) [destroyer escort](/source/Destroyer_escort) USS *Ruchamkin* (DE-228) on 14 February 1944 by the [Philadelphia Navy Yard](/source/Philadelphia_Navy_Yard) at [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), and was [launched](/source/Ship_naming_and_launching) on 15 June 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Mary Ruchamkin. The ship was reclassified as a [*Crosley*-class](/source/Crosley-class_high-speed_transport) [high-speed transport](/source/High-speed_transport) and redesignated APD-89 on 17 July 1944. After conversion to her new role by the [Duane Shipbuilding Corporation](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Duane_Shipbuilding_Corporation&action=edit&redlink=1), she was [commissioned](/source/Ship_commissioning) on 16 September 1945.

## First period in commission, 1945–1946

After [shakedown](/source/Shakedown_cruise), *Ruchamkin* engaged in training exercises off the [United States East Coast](/source/United_States_East_Coast) and in the [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean). She was [decommissioned](/source/Ship_decommissioning) at [Green Cove Springs](/source/Green_Cove_Springs%2C_Florida), [Florida](/source/Florida), on 27 February 1946 and placed in [reserve](/source/Reserve_fleet) there on the [St. Johns River](/source/St._Johns_River) in the Florida Group of the [Atlantic Reserve Fleet](/source/Atlantic_Reserve_Fleet).

## Second period in commission, 1951–1957

After five years of inactivity, *Ruchamkin* was recommissioned on 9 March 1951. Based at [Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek](/source/Naval_Amphibious_Base_Little_Creek) in [Virginia Beach](/source/Virginia_Beach%2C_Virginia), [Virginia](/source/Virginia), she participated in [amphibious warfare](/source/Amphibious_warfare) training operations off [Puerto Rico](/source/Puerto_Rico) during the summer and autumn of 1951, then, in January 1952, departed [Norfolk](/source/Norfolk%2C_Virginia), Virginia, for her first [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean) deployment with the [United States Sixth Fleet](/source/United_States_Sixth_Fleet).

Damage to *Ruchamkin* after her 14 November 1952 collision with the [merchant](/source/Merchant_ship) [tanker](/source/Tanker_(ship)) *Washington*.

Further amphibious exercises off the U.S. East Coast followed her return from Sixth Fleet duty, and, in August 1952, she conducted her first [midshipman](/source/Midshipman#United_States_Naval_and_Merchant_Marine_Academies) training cruise. Three months later, on 14 November 1952, while involved in fleet exercises off the [Virginia Capes](/source/Virginia_Capes), she collided with the [merchant](/source/Merchant_ship) [tanker](/source/Tanker_(ship)) *Washington*. Hit [portside](/source/Port_(nautical)) in the troop compartment area, *Ruchamkin* lost seven of the troops embarked for the exercise.

After repairs at Norfolk and refresher training off [Cuba](/source/Cuba) during April 1953, *Ruchamkin* resumed amphibious training duties. For the next year, she trained with [United States Marines](/source/United_States_Marines) off the Virginia Capes and the [Carolina](/source/The_Carolinas) capes and off [Puerto Rico](/source/Puerto_Rico). In July 1954, she conducted another [Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps](/source/Naval_Reserve_Officer_Training_Corps) midshipman training cruise.

*Ruchamkin* departed Norfolk on 5 January 1955 bound for the [United States West Coast](/source/United_States_West_Coast). She transited the [Panama Canal](/source/Panama_Canal) and on 23 January 1955 arrived at [San Diego](/source/San_Diego%2C_California), [California](/source/California). For the next three months she participated in amphibious training exercises with units of the [United States Pacific Fleet](/source/United_States_Pacific_Fleet).

In early May 1955, *Ruchamkin* retransited the Panama Canal and steamed for her new [home port](/source/Home_port), [Boston](/source/Boston), Massachusetts. She arrived there on 27 May 1955, assumed duties as a [United States Naval Reserve](/source/United_States_Naval_Reserve) [training ship](/source/Training_ship), and for two years trained naval reservists of the [1st Naval District](/source/1st_Naval_District) in port and at sea on weekend, two-week, and month-long cruises.

Designated for inactivation in the spring of 1957, *Ruchamkin* was decommissioned on 13 August 1957 and berthed at Boston in reserve.

## Third period in commission, 1961–1969

*Ruchamkin* was ordered reactivated in August 1961 to increase the U.S. Navy's troop lift capacity during the [Berlin Crisis of 1961](/source/Berlin_Crisis_of_1961). Recommissioned on 18 November 1961 and assigned to Amphibious [Squadron](/source/Squadron_(naval)) 10, she completed shakedown and repairs and in April 1962 participated in a demonstration landing for [President](/source/President_of_the_United_States) [John F. Kennedy](/source/John_F._Kennedy) and subsequent [antisubmarine warfare](/source/Antisubmarine_warfare) and amphibious exercises in Puerto Rican waters.

Based again at Little Creek, *Ruchamkin* returned to a schedule of U.S. East Coast and Caribbean exercises, the latter usually of two to three months' duration.

In November 1963, *Ruchamkin*'s schedule was interrupted for [Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM)](/source/Fleet_Rehabilitation_and_Modernization) at the [Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company](/source/Norfolk_Shipbuilding_and_Drydock_Company). The [FRAM II](/source/Fleet_Rehabilitation_and_Modernization#FRAM_II) [overhaul](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/overhaul) was completed in June 1964, and she resumed her duties as primary control vessel in ship-to-shore amphibious movements, [transport](/source/Transport_(ship)) for [underwater demolition teams](/source/Underwater_demolition_team) and beach [reconnaissance](/source/Reconnaissance) personnel, and antisubmarine warfare screening unit.

In October 1964, *Ruchamkin* moved east to the coast of Spain, where she controlled the major portion of ship-to-shore movement during [Operation Steel Pike I](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Steel_Pike_I&action=edit&redlink=1), the largest amphibious exercise since [World War II](/source/World_War_II). In November 1964 she returned to Little Creek and resumed amphibious and antisubmarine warfare exercises along the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean.

In late April and early May 1965, *Ruchamkin* was called on to assist in the [evacuation](/source/Emergency_evacuation) of civilians from the strife-torn Dominican Republic to [San Juan](/source/San_Juan%2C_Puerto_Rico), [Puerto Rico](/source/Puerto_Rico). She then returned to the western coast of [Hispaniola](/source/Hispaniola) for patrol and [hydrographic survey](/source/Hydrographic_survey) duties. For her work during the [Dominican Crisis](/source/1965_United_States_occupation_of_the_Dominican_Republic), she was awarded the [Navy Unit Commendation](/source/Navy_Unit_Commendation).

During the summer of 1965, *Ruchamkin* returned to a more normal schedule of exercises, but, from February to April 1966, interrupted those operations to act as primary support ship for four [fleet ballistic missile submarines](/source/Fleet_ballistic_missile_submarine) which were test firing [Polaris](/source/UGM-27_Polaris) [submarine-launched ballistic missiles](/source/Submarine-launched_ballistic_missile) off the Florida coast.

In October 1966, [Hurricane Inez](/source/Hurricane_Inez) interrupted Caribbean exercises and *Ruchamkin*, assigned to relief operations, distributed food supplies to survivors in [Haiti](/source/Haiti).

During 1967 and into 1968, *Ruchamkin* continued her operations in the western [Atlantic Ocean](/source/Atlantic_Ocean). Then on 27 July 1968, she headed east for a four-month deployment in the Mediterranean. There until the end of November 1968, she conducted hydrographic surveys along the coasts of [southern Europe](/source/Southern_Europe) and [North Africa](/source/North_Africa). She was reassigned to Amphibious Squadron 6 while deployed to the Mediterranean.

*Ruchamkin* was reclassified as an "amphibious transport, small", and redesignated LPR-89 on 1 January 1969. After Caribbean exercises in February and March 1969, *Ruchamkin* was assigned to support search operations being conducted by [auxiliary repair dock](/source/Auxiliary_repair_dock) [USS *White Sands*](/source/USS_White_Sands), [fleet ocean tug](/source/Fleet_ocean_tug) [USS *Apache*](/source/USS_Apache_(ATF-67)), and the deep-diving [bathyscaphe](/source/Bathyscaphe) [*Trieste II*](/source/Trieste_II_(bathyscaphe)) off the [Azores](/source/Azores) for the sunken [nuclear submarine](/source/Nuclear_submarine) [USS *Scorpion*](/source/USS_Scorpion_(SSN-589)). In late August 1969, she moved north, conducted hydrographic survey operations in the [North Sea](/source/North_Sea) until 20 October 1969, then headed back to Little Creek.

ARC *Córdoba*, ex USS *Ruchamkin* on exhibition in [Jaime Duque Park](/source/Jaime_Duque_Park), Tocancipá, Colombia

## Final decommissioning and disposal

*Ruchamkin* was decommissioned at Little Creek on 24 November 1969 for immediate foreign transfer. She eventually was stricken from the [Naval Vessel Register](/source/Naval_Vessel_Register) on 31 October 1977.

## Colombian Navy service

*Ruchamkin* was turned over to Colombia under the terms of the [Military Assistance Program](/source/Military_Assistance_Program) on 24 November 1969, the day of her final U.S. Navy decommissioning. She was commissioned in the [Colombian Navy](/source/Colombian_Navy) the same day as ARC *Córdoba* (DT-15) and served until retirement in 1980. She subsequently was scrapped, although *Córdoba*'s [hull](/source/Hull_(watercraft)) and [superstructure](/source/Superstructure_(ship)) were saved and re-erected at the [Jaime Duque amusement park](/source/Jaime_Duque_Park) at [Tocancipá](/source/Tocancip%C3%A1), near [Bogotá](/source/Bogot%C3%A1).

## References

- *This article incorporates text from the [public domain](/source/Public_domain)*[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships)*. The entry can be found [here](http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/r9/ruchamkin.htm).*

- [Photo gallery](http://www.navsource.net/archives/10/04/04089.htm) of USS *Ruchamkin* at NavSource Naval History

v t e Rudderow-class destroyer escorts Completed Rudderow Day Chaffee Hodges Riley Leslie L.B. Knox McNulty Metivier George A. Johnson Charles J. Kimmel Daniel A. Joy Lough Thomas F. Nickel Peiffer Tinsman DeLong Coates Eugene E. Elmore Holt Jobb Parle Converted to Crosley-class high-speed transports Crosley Cread Ruchamkin Kirwin Kinzer Register Brock John Q. Roberts William M. Hobby Ray K. Edwards Arthur L. Bristol Truxtun Upham Ringness Knudson Rednour Tollberg William J. Pattison Myers Walter B. Cobb Earle B. Hall Harry L. Corl Belet Julius A. Raven Walsh Hunter Marshall Earheart Walter S. Gorka Rogers Blood Francovich Joseph M. Auman Kline Raymon W. Herndon Scribner Alex Diachenko / Diachenko Horace A. Bass Wantuck Bray Gosselin Begor Cavallaro Donald W. Wolf Cook Walter X. Young (DE-715) Balduck Burdo Kleinsmith Weiss Carpellotti Don O. Woods Beverly W. Reid Canceled Vogelgesang Weeks Sutton William M. Wood William R. Rush DE-289 (Unnamed) Williams DE-291 — DE-300 (Unnamed) DE-607 — DE-632 (Unnamed) DE-645 — DE-664 (Unnamed) Walter X. Young (DE-723) DE-724 — DE-738 (Unnamed) DE-905 — DE-1005 (Unnamed) Post-World War II operators Republic of China Navy Tai Yuan (ex-Riley) Tien Shan (ex-Kleinsmith) Yu Shan (ex-Kinzer) Hua Shan (ex-Donald W. Wolf) Fu Shan (ex-Truxtun) Shou Shan (ex-Kline) Tai Shan (ex-Register) Heng Shan (ex-Raymon W. Herndon) Unnamed (ex-Walter B. Cobb sank during transfer) Colombian National Navy Almirante Padilla (ex-Tollberg) Córdoba (ex-Ruchamkin) Republic of Korea Navy Chung Nam (ex-Holt) Gyeongnam (ex-Cavallaro) Asan (ex-Harry L. Corl) Ungpo (ex-Julius A. Raven) Jeju (ex-William M. Hobby) Mexican Navy California (ex-Belet) Papaloapan (ex-Earheart) Tehuantupec (ex-Joseph M. Auman) Usumacinta / Miguel Hidalgo (ex-Don O. Woods) Chihuahua / José María Morelos y Pavón (ex-Rednour) Preceded by: Edsall class Followed by: John C. Butler class List of destroyer escorts of the United States Navy

v t e Crosley-class high speed transports Crosley Cread Ruchamkin Kirwin Kinzer Register Brock John Q. Roberts William M. Hobby Ray K. Edwards Arthur L. Bristol Truxtun Upham Ringness Knudson Rednour Tollberg William J. Pattison Myers Walter B. Cobb Earle B. Hall Harry L. Corl Belet Julius A. Raven Walsh Hunter Marshall Earheart Walter S. Gorka Rogers Blood Francovich Joseph M. Auman Don O. Woods Beverly W. Reid Kline Raymon W. Herndon Scribner Alex Diachenko / Diachenko Horace A. Bass Wantuck Gosselin Begor Cavallaro Donald W. Wolf Cook Walter X. Young Balduck Burdo Kleinsmith Weiss Carpellotti DeLongX CoatesX Bray X Planned conversion to high speed transport cancelled Other operators Republic of China Navy Tien Shan (ex-Kleinsmith) Yu Shan (ex-Kinzer) Hua Shan (ex-Donald W. Wolf) Fu Shan (ex-Truxtun) Shou Shan (ex-Kline) Tai Shan (ex-Register) Heng Shan (ex-Raymon W. Herndon) Unnamed (ex-Walter B. Cobb sank during transfer) Colombian National Navy Almirante Padilla (ex-Tollberg) Córdoba (ex-Ruchamkin) Republic of Korea Navy Gyeongnam (ex-Cavallaro) Asan (ex-Harry L. Corl) Ungpo (ex-Julius A. Raven) Jeju (ex-William M. Hobby) Mexican Navy California (ex-Belet) Papaloapan (ex-Earheart) Tehuantupec (ex-Joseph M. Auman) Usumacinta / Miguel Hidalgo (ex-Don O. Woods) Chihuahua / José María Morelos y Pavón (ex-Rednour) Preceded by: Charles Lawrence class Followed by: None List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships

[4°56′57″N 73°57′49″W / 4.949041°N 73.963528°W / 4.949041; -73.963528](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=USS_Ruchamkin&params=4.949041_N_73.963528_W_)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [USS Ruchamkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ruchamkin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ruchamkin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.