After commissioning, Apache spent the next six weeks training out of Portsmouth, Virginia, and Key West, Florida. In February 1943, she departed Norfolk, Virginia, bound for San Diego, California, where she spent two months engaged in towing operations before departing on 8 May 1943 for New Caledonia. Apache reached Nouméa, New Caledonia, in mid-June 1943 and worked from Nouméa through mid-October 1943, towing and salvaging vessels at Nouméa, Funafuti, and Espiritu Santo.
Between December 1943 and March 1944, Apache operated throughout the Solomon Islands area. On 17 March 1944, she joined Task Group 31.2 for an assault on Emirau Island in the Bismarck Archipelago and, after completing that assignment, arrived at Guadalcanal on 4 April 1944.
On 15 May 1944, Apache was reclassified as a fleet ocean tug and redesignated ATF-67.
Apache joined Task Group 53.1 on 4 June 1944 to assist in the invasion of Saipan. The force reached the staging area near Kwajalein on 8 June 1944 and departed for the Mariana Islands on 12 June 1944. The invasion of Guam was postponed due to the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and Task Group 53.1 returned to Eniwetok on 28 June 1944. In mid-July 1944, Apache headed back to the Marianas and took part in the preinvasion bombardment of Guam and, after the landings, helped to clear amphibious warfare vessels from the beach. On 21 July 1944, Apache screened the transport area off Guam.
Apache left Guam on 3 August 1944 and served in the Tulagi area for two weeks before beginning repairs alongside a repair ship at Nouméa on 20 August 1944. She operated out of Nouméa through late September 1944 and departed for Auckland, New Zealand, on 23 October 1944. After a brief rest and recreation period at Auckland, Apache returned to Nouméa on 8 November 1944 and operated there for more than a month. On 12 December 1944, she got underway for Hollandia, New Guinea. After two days in port there, she departed for Leyte in the Philippine Islands, and operated there through the end of 1944.
Apache rendezvoused with Task Group 77.6 on 2 January 1945 to take part in the invasion of Lingayen Gulf on Luzon and, for the next few days, she worked under frequent Japanese air attacks. On 5 January 1945, she was attacked by numerous Japanese planes and claimed to have shot down four. One of the planes crashed into Apache's radar mast and exploded off her portbow. Three of her crewmen were wounded, and Apache herself sustained minor material damage, but remained in operation with the task group. On 13 January 1945, she steamed to the aid of escort aircraft carrierUSS Salamaua (CVE-96), which had been damaged by a Japanese kamikaze suicide plane, and shepherded Salamaua to Leyte. From there, Apache proceeded to Seeadler Harbor at Manus Island in the Admiralty Islands for repairs.
Apache got underway once again on 24 February 1945, bound for Ulithi Atoll and, for the next two months, operated from Ulithi. On 7 May 1945, Apache took two ships in tow and returned to Leyte. On 21 May 1945, she pushed on toward the Admiralty Islands and departed Manus on 24 May 1945, bound for Hawaii. Apache reached Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, on 16 June 1945. On 17 June 1945, she departed Pearl Harbor on an independent voyage to San Francisco, California. Upon her arrival, she proceeded to the United Engineering Company at Alameda, California, for repairs.
Her repairs complete, Apache began refresher training at San Pedro, California, on 13 August 1945. On 15 August 1945, the surrender of Japan brought World War II to an end.
Postwar
In September 1945, Apache reported to San Diego for duty. Until November 1946, she operated along the U.S. West Coast.
Apache also received a Navy Unit Commendation for her service with the Salvage, Fire Fighting, and Rescue Unit, Service Force, United States Seventh Fleet in Philippine Islands area, 6 January to 15 February 1945.
Second period in commission, 1951–1974
Recommissioning and early duties
Due to the need to expand the fleet caused by 25 June 1950 outbreak of the Korean War, Apache was recommissioned on 20 July 1951. Following a few months of operations on the U.S. West Coast, she was ordered to the Far East and arrived in Sasebo, Japan, in early December 1951.
Korean War service
On 17 December 1951, Apache sailed to Wonsan, Korea, where she relieved fleet ocean tug USS Yuma (ATF-94) as the area salvage and rescue vessel. Apache also laid buoys in the harbors of Wonsan and Hungnam, Korea, before returning to Sasebo on 4 January 1952.
Apache's next mission began on 18 January 1952, when she took station as a patrol ship off Cho Do and Sok To, Korea. She returned to Yokosuka, Japan, on 19 February 1952 for upkeep but was back in Wonsan harbor on 20 March 1952. She took part in several shore-bombardment missions besides serving as a salvage and rescue vessel. On 12 April 1952, she put in at Sasebo briefly for repairs. During the next four weeks, she made several salvage runs to Cheju Do, Korea, before arriving at Sasebo on 12 May 1952 for repairs.
Apache returned to action at Wonsan on 16 June 1952 and served there until returning to Sasebo on 28 June 1952, ending her Korean War service.
Korean War honors and awards
Apache received two battle stars for her Korean War service, for:
Second Korean Winter: 19 December 1951 to 4 January 1952; 19 January to 18 February 1952; 20 March to 13 April 1952; and 26 to 28 April 1952
Korean Defense Summer-Fall 1952: 9 to 12 May 1952; 16 to 28 June 1952
Peacetime service, 1953–1965
Apache departed Japan on 2 July 1952 and headed for Pearl Harbor. But for a tow to Kwajalein and one to Midway Atoll, Apache remained in Hawaiian waters until 4 May 1953, when she departed for Seattle, Washington, where she picked up a tow. She then proceeded to San Diego. She worked along the California coast until mid-July 1953, when she headed for the Western Pacific. She served there through the end of 1954, performing various missions at Guam, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Bikini Atoll, and the Philippines.
In January 1955, Apache returned to the U.S. West Coast, reaching San Francisco on 14 January 1955. However, she got underway for the Far East on 17 March 1955, reached Yokosuka on 21 May 1955, and began operations with Naval Forces, Far East. Although her home port was changed to San Diego in January 1956, she remained in the Western Pacific through early 1960, serving as a tow ship and occasionally taking part in search and rescue missions.
Early in 1960, Apache returned to San Diego for a six-month overhaul. Then, in December 1960, after several months of service at San Diego, she headed back toward the Western Pacific. She paused at Pearl Harbor and Guam before reaching Sasebo in February 1961. Shortly thereafter, she shifted to Subic Bay at Luzon in the Philippines, and operated from that base into April 1961, when she departed for Kwajalein and Pearl Harbor. On 11 May 1961, she left Hawaii and proceeded to San Diego. Through the rest of 1961 and early 1962, Apache once again conducted coastal towing operations along the U.S. West Coast.
On 7 May 1962, Apache entered the Campbell Machine Companyshipyard at San Diego for overhaul and remained there until 18 July 1962, when she commenced refresher training. In early September 1962, she got underway for the Far East. During her tour there, she served in the Philippines, at Okinawa, at Hong Kong, and in Japan before departing Sasebo on 6 January 1963 and setting a course for Pearl Harbor. She proceeded from there to San Diego and spent the next few months in post-deployment standdown and local operations.
Apache continued her pattern of U.S. West Coast operations and Western Pacific deployments during 1964 and 1965.
After brief service at Da Nang, South Vietnam, Apache proceeded to Hong Kong and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, for rest and recreation. She next carried out one more tow from Subic Bay to Da Nang before leaving Vietnam on 4 March 1966 and heading home. The tug stopped en route at Pearl Harbor before reaching San Diego on 1 April 1966.
Vietnam War honors and awards
Apache received one campaign star for her Vietnam War service, for:
Vietnamese Counteroffensive: 4 January to 6 February 1966 and 3 to 5 March 1966
Support to bathyscaphe Trieste II and other duties, 1966–1974
Apache operated along the California coast through the rest of 1966 and the first eight months of 1967. In September 1967, she was reassigned to SubmarineFlotilla 1 to support the operations of the bathyscapheTrieste II. Apache's new role involved towing the bathyscaphe whenever required.
On 23 October 1967, Apache began a series of tests and trials off San Clemente Island, California, in conjunction with Trieste II.Apache devoted January and February 1968 to providing services for Fleet Training Group, San Diego, but in early March 1968 she resumed her duties with Trieste II.
On 3 February 1969, Apache got underway from San Diego towing the auxiliary repair dockUSS White Sands (ARD-20), which was carrying Trieste II, bound for the Atlantic to employ Trieste II in investigating the 1968 loss of the nuclear submarineUSS Scorpion (SSN-589). They reached the Azores on 21 May 1969, where they were joined by the high-speed transportUSS Ruchamkin (APD-89), which had been assigned to support them. From 2 June 1969 until 2 August 1969, Apache, White Sands, and Ruchamkin maintained station near Trieste II while the bathyscaphe investigated the remains of Scorpion.
On 7 August 1969, Apache took White Sands, again carrying Trieste II, under tow and, parting company with Ruchamkin, began the long voyage back to San Diego, which they reached on 7 October 1969. Upon her return, Apache began preparations for an extensive overhaul, and she entered the yards at San Diego on 15 December 1969.
After this work was completed in mid-April 1970, Apache held refresher training until late June 1970 and then carried out local operations through 25 September 1970, when she got underway for Panama to escort the submarine USS Dolphin (AGSS-55) back to San Diego. In January 1971, Apache resumed operations with Trieste II.
Apache left San Diego on 5 October 1971 for a series of special operations in the Pearl Harbor area which continued until early May 1972. On 23 May 1972, Apache arrived back at San Diego.
Apache Tuesday 13 December 1972 The Apache celebrated its 30 Birthday. There was a party at the EL Cortez Hotel in San Diego, CA.
Apache got underway once again in June 1972 and alternated salvage operations with towing services for Trieste II. She continued this routine through March 1973 when she began a repair period at San Diego. Several material casualties prolonged the work, and Apache did not leave the shipyard until 21 May 1973, when she sailed with Trieste II for waters off the coast of San Francisco to take part in Operation Teleprobe. However, bad weather postponed the operation, and Apache sustained further damage which forced her to return to San Diego on 23 June 1973 for three weeks of repair work.
Apache arrived in San Francisco on 18 July 1973 and, on 20 July 1973, got underway for Hawaiian waters to resume Operation Teleprobe. The operation was successfully completed on 30 July 1973, and Apache arrived back in San Diego on 8 August 1973 for more local operations.
Apache made her last tow as an active U.S. Navy ship on 31 January 1974, when she delivered the frigateUSS Sterett (DLG-31) to Long Beach, California.
USS Abnaki (ATF-96) was the lead ship of the Abnaki class of fleet ocean tugs in the service of the United States Navy, named after the Abenaki tribe of Native Americans. She was laid down on 28 November 1942 at Charleston, South Carolina by Charleston Shipbuilding & Drydock, launched on 22 April 1943, sponsored by Mrs. James Mayon Jones, and commissioned at the Charleston Navy Yard on 25 November 1943. Abnaki earned three battle stars for service during the Korean War and 10 battle stars during the Vietnam War.
USS Blackfin (SS-322), a Balao-class submarine in commission from 1944 to 1948 and from 1951 to 1972, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the blackfin cisco, a food fish of the Great Lakes.
USS Pakana (AT–108) was an Abnaki-class fleet ocean tug. It was named after the Pakana, a Native American tribe of Texas. This ship saw service in the Pacific theater of World War II, and was later transferred to the United States Bureau of Mines for use in Alaska before being deliberately sunk in 1975.
USS Arikara (AT-98) was an Abnaki-class of fleet ocean tug. It was named after the Arikara, a loose confederacy of sub-tribes of American Indians related to the Pawnee. The Arikara inhabited villages in the Missouri River valley.
USS Sperry (AS-12) was a Fulton-class submarine tender in the United States Navy. She was named for Elmer Sperry.
USS Quapaw (ATF–110/AT-110) was a Abnaki-class fleet ocean tug in the United States Navy. She was named after the Quapaw.
The first USS Bridge (AF-1) was a stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1917 to 1946. Following a short commercial service, she was scrapped in 1953.
USS Butternut (AN-9/YN-4/ANL-9/YAG-60) was laid down as a yard net tender on 11 March 1941 at Houghton, Washington, by the Lake Washington Shipyard; launched on 10 May 1941; and placed in service at the Puget Sound Navy Yard on 3 September 1941.
USS Keosanqua (ATA-198) was a Maricopa-class auxiliary fleet tug of the United States Navy. The ship was authorized as Rescue Ocean Tug ATR-125, and redesignated Auxiliary Fleet Tug USS ATA-198 on 15 May 1944. The ship was laid down at Levingston Shipbuilding Co., Orange, Texas, launched on 17 January 1945, and commissioned on 19 March 1945. She was named Keosanqua (ATA-198) on 16 July 1948.
USS Tekesta (AT-93) was Navajo-class fleet tug built during World War II for the United States Navy. Shortly after being built, it was crewed by trained Navy personnel and sent into the Pacific Ocean to provide tug service to damaged ships in battle areas. For successfully performing this dangerous work, she was awarded four battle stars by the war's end.
USS Chickasaw (AT-83/ATF-83) was a Navajo-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean in World War II and the Korean War, and was awarded six battle stars for World War II and two battle stars during the Korean War.
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 Mataco (AT-86/ATF-86) 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 and was awarded five battle stars for World War II, four battle stars for the Korean War, and seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service.
USS Tawasa (AT-92) was a Cherokee-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 and had a very successful career marked by the winning of three battle stars during World War II, two during the Korean War, and seven campaign stars during the Vietnam crisis.
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.
USS Silverstein (DE-534) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1958. She was sold for scrapping in 1973.
USS Wantuck (APD-125) was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1944 to 1957.
USS White Sands (ARD-20), ex-USS ARD-20, ex-USS ARD(BS)-20, later AGDS-1, was a United States Navy auxiliary repair dock in service from 1944 to 1947 and from 1966 to 1974 and an Auxiliary floating drydock.
ARA Suboficial Castillo (A-6) was an Abnaki-class tug/patrol boat of the Argentine Navy. She previously served in the United States Navy as USS Takelma(ATF-113) from 1944 to 1992. The ship was acquired by Argentina in 1993 and was in service until the 2020s. In 2022, the ship was put up for sale. Suboficial Castillo was used as support ship for both the Argentine Submarine Force and during the summer campaigns in Antarctica in the Patrulla Antártica Naval Combinada with the Chilean Navy to guarantee safety to all touristic and scientific ships that are in transit within the Antarctic Peninsula.
USS Moctobi (ATF-105) was an Abnaki-class of fleet ocean tug. She served in World War II, Vietnam, and Korea, the last two of which she received battle stars. She was scrapped in 2012.
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