Contributed by Charlie Greene

AFS-3 Niagara Falls

Call sign: November - Echo - Kilo - Juliet

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (17 January 1991 to 28 February 1991) - Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (5) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (3-Iran/Indian Ocean)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (10) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Korea, 4-Persian Gulf, 2-Op. Restore Hope Somalia)
Fourth Row - Southwest Asia Campaign Medal - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (14) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Mars Class Combat Stores Ship:

Laid down, 22 May 1965, at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, CA.
Launched, 26 March 1966
Commissioned, USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3), 29 April 1967
Decommissioned, September 1994
Assigned to the Military Sealift Command and placed in service, 23 September 1994 as USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3), assigned to the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (PM1) MSC Far East

Specifications:
Displacement 9,200 tons (lt) 15,900-18,663 tons (fl)
Length 581'
Beam 79'
Draft 27' (max.)
Speed 20 knots.
Propulsion three 580 psi Babcock and Wilcox boilers, one De Laval Turbine, single propeller.

As USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)
Complement 44 Officers, 445 Enlisted.
Aircraft two CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters.
Armament two twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts.

As USNS Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3)
Complement 28 Navy, 115 civilian merchant mariners.
Aircraft two MH-60S Knight Hawk, multipurpose helicopters.
Armament none.

Images Image Description Contributed
By

Niagara Falls (AFS-3) during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968 Photo by John Jazdzewski

Niagara Falls (AFS-3) during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968 Photo by John Jazdzewski

Niagara Falls (AFS-3) during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968 Photo by John Jazdzewski

Edson (DD-946) and Niagara Falls (AFS-3) during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968. Photo by John Jazdzewski

One of HC-3 Niagara Falls Det, helicopters during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968 Photo by John Jazdzewski

One of HC-3 Niagara Falls Det, Helicopters over Boston's bow during VERTREP, on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968 Photo by John Jazdzewski

Niagara Falls (AFS-3) moored at India Basin, Naval Station, Sasebo, Japan in 1969 Photo by William P. Jones, MD
Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls (AFS-3) in support of Marine Amphibious operations near the DMZ in Vietnam, 1969. Photo from the Repose (AH-16). Photo by William P. Jones, MD
Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls (AFS-3) moored at India Basin, Naval Station, Sasebo, Japan circa 1970. In the foreground is Hanson (DD-832). Photo by William P. Jones, MD
Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls (AFS-3) on station, South China Sea, 1970 Photo by William P. Jones, MD
Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls (AFS-3) moored to a buoy at Kaoshuing, Taiwan in 1970. Photo by William P. Jones, MD
Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls (AFS-3), date and place unknown.
US Navy photo CWO3 Kenneth J Seaman USN Ret

Niagara Falls (AFS-3), date and place unknown.
US Navy photo American Federation
of Scientists Web Site

Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3) at sea in the Middle East, 29 April 2003 to support multiple strike forces deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. US Navy photo # 030429-N-4441P-020 by PH2 Michael J. Pusnik, Jr. US Navy News Stand

Images	Image Description	Contributed By
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3) during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3) during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3) during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	Edson (DD-946) and Niagara Falls (AFS-3) during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968.	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	One of HC-3 Niagara Falls Det, helicopters during VERTREP of Boston (CAG-1), on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	One of HC-3 Niagara Falls Det, Helicopters over *Boston's* bow during VERTREP, on station off the coast of Vietnam, South China Sea, 1968	Photo by John Jazdzewski
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3) moored at India Basin, Naval Station, Sasebo, Japan in 1969	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3) in support of Marine Amphibious operations near the DMZ in Vietnam, 1969. Photo from the Repose (AH-16).	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3) moored at India Basin, Naval Station, Sasebo, Japan circa 1970. In the foreground is Hanson (DD-832).	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3) on station, South China Sea, 1970	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3) moored to a buoy at Kaoshuing, Taiwan in 1970.	Photo by William P. Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3), date and place unknown. US Navy photo	CWO3 Kenneth J Seaman USN Ret
	Niagara Falls (AFS-3), date and place unknown. US Navy photo	American Federation of Scientists Web Site
	Niagara Falls (T-AFS-3) at sea in the Middle East, 29 April 2003 to support multiple strike forces deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. US Navy photo # 030429-N-4441P-020 by PH2 Michael J. Pusnik, Jr.	US Navy News Stand