USNS Navajo (T-ATF-169)

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USNS Navajo (T-ATF-169).jpg
USNS Navajo off Southern California on 10 September 1997.
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameUSNS Navajo (T-ATF-169)
NamesakeThe Navajo people of the southwestern United States
BuilderMarinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wisconsin
Laid down14 December 1977
Launched20 December 1979
Acquired13 June 1980
In service1980
Out of service1 October 2016
Identification
FateDeactivated to Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility
StatusDeactivated
Badge USNS Navajo T-ATF-169 Crest.png
General characteristics
Class and type Powhatan-class tugboat
Displacement2,260 long tons (2,296 t) full load
Length226 ft (69 m)
Beam42 ft (13 m)
Draft15 ft (4.6 m)
Installed power5.73 megawatts (4,280 horsepower) sustained
Propulsion2 × General Motors EMD 20-645F7B diesel engines, two shafts; bow thruster, 300 hp (224 kW)
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement16 civilians plus 4 U.S. Navy personnel (communications unit)

USNS Navajo (T-ATF-169) was a United States Navy Powhatan-class tugboat operated by the Military Sealift Command which was in service from 1980 to 2016. She spent the bulk of her career in the Pacific and is currently moored in Pearl Harbor, awaiting disposal.

Contents

Construction and characteristics

The contract for the first four Powhatan-class tugs was awarded to Marinette Marine Co. on 12 September 1975. The contract price for the four ships was $30.5 million. [1] Navajo was the fourth ship built under this initial contract award. The ship was laid down on 14 December 1977 at the company's Marinette, Wisconsin shipyard. Navajo was launched on 20 December 1979, and delivered to the Navy on 13 June 1980. [2]

Her hull was built of welded steel plates. She was 225 feet 11 inches (68.86 m) long at the waterline and 240 feet 1 inch (73.18 m) overall, with a beam of 42 feet (13 m), and a draft of 15 feet (4.6 m). She displaced 2,260 tons fully loaded. [3]

As originally built, Navajo had two controllable-pitch Kort-nozzle propellers for propulsion. She had two 20-cylinder Diesel engines, GM EMD 20-645F7B, [4] which provided 4,500 shaft horsepower. These would drive the ships at 15 knots. She also had a 300-horsepower bow thruster to improve maneuverability. [3] [5]

Electrical power aboard the ship was provided by three 400 Kw generators. These were powered by four Detroit Diesel 8v-71 engines. [4]

Powhatan-class tugs had global range in order to support the U.S. fleet across oceans. Navajo's tankage was consequently large. She could carry 206,714 U.S. gallons (782,500 L) of Diesel oil, 6,100 U.S. gallons (23,000 L) of lube oil, and 6,000 U.S. gallons (23,000 L) of drinking water. [4] Her unrefueled range at 13 knots was 10,000 miles (16,000 km) [3]

Navajo's aft deck was largely open to accommodate a number of different roles. It had 4,000 square feet (370 m2) of working space. [6] One of the missions of a fleet tug was to tow damaged warships back to port. She was equipped with a SMATCO 66 DTS-200 towing winch for service as a towboat. [4] The towing system could accommodate either wire rope or synthetic-fiber hawsers and produce as much as 90 short tons of bollard pull. [7] [8] [6] She had a 10-ton capacity crane for moving loads on the aft deck. [5] There were connections to bolt down shipping containers and other equipment.

Like all MSC ships, Navajo was crewed by civilian mariners. At launch, her complement was 16 civilian crew and a 4-person military detachment of communications specialists. The ships could accommodate an additional 16 people aboard for transient, mission-specific roles. [3] [5]

All the ships of the Powhatan-class were named after Native American tribes. [8] Navajo was named after the Navajo people, of the United States southwest.

Service history

Navajo tows ex-Belleau Wood from Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC 2006 USNS Navajo tows ex-Belleau Wood from Pearl Harbor.png
Navajo tows ex-Belleau Wood from Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC 2006

An engine room fire disabled USNS Taluga northwest of San Diego in April 1981. Navajo was dispatched to bring her back to port. [9] On 10 June 1981, Navajo, took USNS Hudson under tow. She was dead in the water off San Nicholas Island at the time. [10]

The large, open aft deck of the Powhatan-class tugs, combined with the 10-ton crane made them capable platforms for salvage missions. Navajo was called upon several times in this role. In July 1988 she assisted in the recovery of a MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter which crashed off San Francisco. [11] In 2016 she assisted USNS Salvor in recovering the wreckage of two MH-53E helicopters that crashed off Hawaii. [12]

On 1 September 1992, Navajo towed USS White Plains into deeper water after the ship broke her moorings and went aground in Apra Harbor, Guam during Typhoon Omar. [13]

Unexploded ordnance from World War II was discovered off Hilo Bay, Hawaii. Navajo served as a dive platform for Navy crews collecting and detonating the rounds in September 2000. [14]

In September 2008 Navajo exercised with the Chilean Navy's submarine CS Simpson with the Navy's new submarine rescue diving and recompression system. [15]

Navajo was used as a dive platform in a joint US Navy/Indian Navy salvage exercise, SALVEX 2009, in November 2009. [16]

In December 2010 and January 2011, the Navy's deep-ocean recovery system CURV-21 was embarked on Navajo. She was able to determine that a deep water sensor was not stuck on its anchor on the sea bottom at more than 16,000 feet (4,900 m) deep. In a second mission, she was unable to locate an Air Force asset. [17]

In 2003 Navajo towed the Navy's Floating Instrument Platform into San Diego Harbor. [18]

On 28 July 2012 the ship was conducting training near the entrance to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii when a parted mooring line caused the ship to dump 8,000 pounds of expensive anchor, chain, and heavy rope on the ocean floor 150 feet below. The equipment was recovered on 9 August 2012. [19]

In May 2016, Navajo towed the missile tracking barge Mobile Area Targeting Support System (IX524) into Pearl Harbor. [20]

Decommissioned ship tows

Vessels which are retired from Navy service are often towed to various inactive ship maintenance facilities where they are held in reserve. Ultimately, they are towed on to their final fate. These decommissioned ships do not have full crews and cannot sail under their own power. Navajo was frequently employed to tow decommissioned ships.

TowFromToDateNotes
ex-New Jersey Bremerton, Washington Long Beach August 1981The battleship was reactivated. [21] Navajo was accompanied by USNS Sioux on this tow. [22]
Arthur M. Huddel Guam Panama Canal 14 December 1982The tow was expected to take between 40 and 50 days and was one of the longest ever achieved by a fleet tug at the time. [23]
ex-New JerseyLong BeachBremerton, WashingtonApril 1991Towed to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, accompanied by USNS Narragansett. [24]
ex-Missouri Long BeachBremerton, WashingtonApril 1992USNS Narragansett towed the ship, with Navajo accompanying. [25]
ex-Duncan Pearl HarborJanuary 1995 [26]
ex-Mississippi Panama CanalBremerton, Washington1998 USNS Mohawk towed the ship from Norfolk to the Panama Canal. [27]
ex-Narwhal Panama CanalSan Diego2001Navajo was accompanied by USNS Sioux on this tow. [28]
ex-Leahy Suisun Bay Panama Canal2004Leahy was taken in tow on the Atlantic side of the canal by USNS Mohawk to reach the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Beaumont, Texas. [29]
ex-New Orleans Suisun BayPearl Harbor19 October 2006Sunk in RIMPAC 2010 [30]
ex-Jouett Suisun BayPearl HarborJanuary 2007Sunk in fleet exercise Valiant Shield 2007 [31]
ex-Knox Pearl HarborGuam2007Sunk in fleet exercise Valiant Shield 2007 [32]
ex-Fresno Pearl HarborGuam2014Sunk in fleet exercise Valiant Shield [33]
ex-Gary San DiegoPearl Harbor16 September 2015The frigate was ultimately transferred to the Republic of China Navy. [34]

RIMPAC participation

"Rim of the Pacific" (RIMPAC) is a multinational naval exercise hosted every two years in Hawaiian waters. It typically includes a live-fire exercise during which a decommissioned ship is sunk. Navajo towed several of these vessels on their final voyage, and has participated in other RIMPAC exercises as well.

RIMPAC 2006: Navajo towed ex-Belleau Wood from Pearl Harbor to be sunk. [35]

RIMPAC 2008: Navajo towed ex-Horne from Suisun Bay, California to waters off Hawaii where she was sunk. [36]

RIMPAC 2010: She towed ex-Monticello and ex-Anchorage [37] from Pearl Harbor to where they were sunk.

RIMPAC 2012: She towed ex-Kilauea from San Francisco to Hawaiian waters where she was sunk. She also served as a dive platform for Royal Australian Navy divers. [38]

RIMPAC 2014. Participated [39]

RIMPAC 2016: Navajo towed ex-Thatch from Pearl Harbor to be sunk in the exercise. [40]

Awards and honors

Navajo and her crew earned both the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and the U.S. Coast Guard Unit Commendation. [41]

Deactivation

USNS Navajo was deactivated and stricken from the naval vessel register on 1 October 2016. [2] After deactivation Navajo was moored at Pearl Harbor pending final disposition. [42]

Related Research Articles

The Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) is the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise. RIMPAC is held biennially during June and July of even-numbered years from Honolulu, Hawaii, with the exception of 2020 where it was held in August. It is hosted and administered by the United States Navy's Indo-Pacific Command, headquartered at Pearl Harbor, in conjunction with the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and Hawaii National Guard forces under the control of the Governor of Hawaii.

USNS <i>Salvor</i> Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship

USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52) is a Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship, the second United States Navy ship of that name.

USS <i>Cree</i> Tugboat of the United States Navy

USS Cree (AT/ATF-84), a Cherokee-class fleet tug, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the Cree, an indigenous people of North America whose people range from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.

USNS <i>Catawba</i> Tugboat of the United States Navy

USNS Catawba is a Powhatan-class tugboat operated by the Military Sealift Command for the United States Navy. It is currently based in Manama, Bahrain. It was launched in 1979 and is the last ship of its class still in service. In December 2020, the Navy announced its intention to retire Catawba during fiscal year 2023.

USS <i>Navajo</i> (AT-64) Tugboat of the United States Navy

USS Navajo (AT-64) was an oceangoing tugboat in the United States Navy, and the lead ship of her class. She was named for the Navajo people. Originally called the Navajo-class of fleet tugs, they were later renamed the Cherokee-class after loss of the first two ships of the class.

The second USS Bluebird (ASR-19) was a Penguin-class submarine rescue ship in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Lipan</i> Tugboat of the United States Navy

USS Lipan (AT-85) was a Navajo-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned." She served in the Pacific Ocean during World War II and the Korean War. She was awarded two battle stars for World War II and four battle stars for the Korean War.

USS <i>Narragansett</i> (AT-88) Tugboat of the United States Navy

USS Narragansett (AT-88) was a Navajo-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned." She served in the Atlantic Ocean and, at war’s end, returned home with three battle stars to her credit.

USS <i>Yuma</i> (AT-94) Cherokee-class fleet tug

USS Yuma (AT-94/ATF-94/T-ATF-94) was a Navajo-class fleet tugboat constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She was the second U.S. Navy ship named for the Yuma tribe of Arizona.

USNS <i>Apache</i> Tugboat of the United States Navy

USNS Apache (T-ATF-172) was a U.S. Navy Powhatan-class fleet ocean tugboat that was operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC) from 1981 to 2022. She spent the bulk of her career in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

USNS <i>Mohawk</i> Tugboat of the United States Navy

USNS Mohawk (T-ATF-170) was a United States Navy Powhatan-class tugboat operated by the Military Sealift Command from 1980 to 2005.

USS Arapaho (AT-68/ATF-68) was a Navajo-class fleet ocean tug which served the U.S. Navy during World War II with her towing services. She was assigned initially to support the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and was eventually assigned to support Allied forces in the war zones of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in her crew returning home after the war with four battle stars to their credit.

USNS <i>Narragansett</i>

USNS Narragansett (T-ATF-167) is a Powhatan-class fleet ocean tugboat of the US Navy. She was launched in 1979 and inactivated in 1999, but has since been employed in a number of roles. She is still in service as of 2023 as a training support vessel for Carrier Strike Group 4.

USNS <i>Powhatan</i> Tugboat of the United States Navy

USNS Powhatan (T-ATF-166) was the lead ship of the United States Navy Powhatan-class fleet ocean tugboats. She was in service with the U.S. Navy from 1979 to 1999, and then was leased to a private towing and salvage company. At the end of the lease in 2008, the ship was sold to the Turkish Navy which recommissioned her as TCG Inebolu.

USNS <i>Sioux</i> US Navy Tugboat

USNS Sioux (T-ATF-171) was a United States Navy Powhatan-class tugboat operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). She was in service from 1981 to 2021 and spent the bulk of this time supporting the Pacific Fleet.

<i>Powhatan</i>-class tugboat U.S. Navy tugboat class

The Powhatan class of fleet ocean tugs consists of seven ships built for the United States Navy, and operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). The lead ship of the class was launched in 1978 and the last ship in MSC service will be deactivated in 2023. During their service life, the Powhatan's were the most powerful tugs owned by the Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type V ship</span> MARCOM tugboat class

The Type V ship is a United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) designation for World War II tugboats. Type V was used in World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Type V ships were used to move ships and barges. Type V tugboats were made of either steel or wood hulls. There were four types of tugboats ordered for World War II. The largest type V design was the sea worthy 186-foot (57 m) long steel hull, V4-M-A1. The V4-M-A1 design was used by a number of manufacturers; a total of 49 were built. A smaller steel hull tugboat was the 94-foot (29 m) V2-ME-A1; 26 were built. The largest wooden hull was the 148-foot (45 m) V3-S-AH2, of which 14 were built. The smaller wooden hull was the 58-foot (18 m) V2-M-AL1, which 35 were built. Most V2-M-AL1 tugboats were sent to the United Kingdom for the war efforts under the lend-lease act. The Type V tugs served across the globe during World War II including: Pacific War, European theatre, and in the United States. SS Farallon, and other Type V tugs, were used to help built Normandy ports, including Mulberry harbour, on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and made nine round trips to Normandy to deliver Phoenix breakwaters.

USS <i>Hitchiti</i> Abnaki-class tugboat

USS Hitchiti (ATF-103) was Abnaki-class tugboat during the World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The ship was later sold to Mexico as ARM Chac (R-55). Her namesake is a tribe of Creek Indians who lived in Florida and Georgia. The word "Hitchiti" means "to look up the stream."

USS <i>Wenatchee</i> (ATF-118) Abnaki-class tugboat

USS Wenatchee (ATF-118) was an Abnaki-class tugboat during the World War II. Her namesake was a tribe of Indians of the Salishan language group, who lived in the area that is now central Washington state, principally around Lake Chelan.

USS <i>Resourceful</i> AFDM-3-class dry dock of the United States Navy

USS Resourceful (AFDM-5),, was a AFDM-3-class floating dry dock built in 1943 and operated by the United States Navy.

References

  1. ↑ "Tug Contract Firm's Biggest". Milwaukee Sentinel. 17 September 1975. p. 23.
  2. 1 2 "NAVAJO (ATF-169)". Naval Vessel Register.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Polmar, Norman (1997). Ships and Aircraft of the United States Fleet (16th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. p. 252. ISBN   1-55750-686-8.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "T-ATF-169 'USNS Navajo'". TugboatInformation.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  5. 1 2 3 Ships, Aircraft, and Weapons of the United States Navy. United States Navy Department, Office of Information. 1980.
  6. 1 2 Paulus, Chris (2020). USNS NAVAJO (T-ATS 6) Class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship (PDF).
  7. ↑ "USNS Navajo (T-ATF 169)". www.navysite.de. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  8. 1 2 Granger, Louis R. (January 1979). "USNS Powhatan Leads Way For New Class of Tugs". Military Sea Transportation Service Magazine. XXIX (1).
  9. ↑ Nussbaum, Paul (4 April 1981). "2 Hurt in Fire That Cripples Navy Tanker". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
  10. ↑ HISTORY OF USS OGDEN (LPD-5) FOR THE YEAR 1981 (PDF). 1982.
  11. ↑ "Memorial Held For Servicemen". Camarillo Star. 23 July 1988. p. 2.
  12. ↑ "Remains found at site of help crash in Hawaii". Tampa Bay Times. 4 February 2016. pp. S13.
  13. ↑ "National Archives NextGen Catalog". catalog.archives.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  14. ↑ Clark, Hugh (9 September 2000). "Hilo Bay survey shows more artillery rounds". Honolulu Advertiser. p. 10.
  15. ↑ "DSU Tests New Submarine Rescue System with Chilean Submarine". MarineLink. 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  16. ↑ "US Navy 091112-N-1183D-046 Navy divers participate in Indian Salvex 2009".
  17. ↑ SUPSALV Deep Ocean Systems Get Winter Workout (PDF). 2011.
  18. ↑ "Fleet Tug (ATF)". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  19. ↑ Cole, William, "Navy Ship Recovers Wayward Anchor", Honolulu Star-Advertiser , 17 August 2012, p. 19
  20. ↑ "US WARSHIP Vessel photos for hishopgirl - vesseltracker.com". www.vesseltracker.com. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  21. ↑ "USN 1177797 USS NAVAJO (T-ATF-169)". Naval History and Heritage Command. 2 August 1981.
  22. ↑ "National Archives NextGen Catalog". catalog.archives.gov. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  23. ↑ "Adios, Arthur Huddel". Pacific Daily News. 15 December 1982. p. 8.
  24. ↑ "New Jersey's Coming". Kitsap Sun. 25 April 1991. p. 9.
  25. ↑ Swanson, Jack (14 April 1992). "Mighty Mo makes history on possible final voyage home". Kitsap Sun. p. 1.
  26. ↑ 1995 COMMAND HISTORY (PDF). US Navy. 1996.
  27. ↑ "Mississippi IV (CGN-40)". NHHC. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  28. ↑ "Sioux rescues stranded couple from sinking ship". United States Transportation Command. 30 May 2001.
  29. ↑ "The disposal of all nine "true" Leahy Class ships went like this" (PDF).
  30. ↑ "Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter)Photo Index LPH-11 New Orleans". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  31. ↑ "USS Jouett DLG/CG-29 Final Voyage". www.ussjouett.com. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  32. ↑ "Destroyer Escort Photo Index DE-1052 USS KNOX". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  33. ↑ "Tank Landing Ship LST-1182 Fresno". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  34. ↑ "USNS Navajo TATF169 & USS Gary FFG51 - IMO 8834926". www.shipspotting.com. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  35. ↑ "Military Sealift Command". July 10, 2006.
  36. ↑ "USS Horne CG-30 Suisun Bay". usshorne.net. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  37. ↑ Fleet, Commander, U. S. Third (2009-10-23), 100715-N-8539M-468 , retrieved 2023-05-09{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. ↑ "Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC)". DVIDS. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  39. ↑ Praveen (2014-07-07). "RIMPAC 2014: participating vessels by country". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  40. ↑ "USNS Navajo departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Rim of the Pacific 2016". DVIDS. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  41. ↑ "Naval Vessel Historical Evaluation" (PDF). 13 December 2022.
  42. ↑ NAVSEA INACTIVE FLEET INVENTORY (PDF).
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