Page 47: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2024)

US NAVY

USS Tawakoni (ATF 114) was an ocean-going ? eet tug that served in World War II, Korea and

Vietnam. I(t was decommissioned in 1978 after 34 years of service in the U.S. Navy, and was transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan), and served there until 2020, for a total of 76 years of active service.

Source: U.S. Navy National Archives

Builders of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., between 1985 and 1986. Two of those ships—

USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51) and USNS Sal- vor (T-ARS 52)--remain in service today.

Seven Navajo-class of T-ATFs were built between 1976 and 1981, based on commercial ocean-going tug design and intended to be operated with a civilian crew from the beginning. Just one,

USNS Catawba (T-ATF 168) continues to serve in the ? eet tug role. One ship of the class, USNS Narragansett has been redesignated as a training support ves- sel (TSV-4), serving as a target towing vessel for at Joint Expeditionary Base

Little Creek/Fort Story in Virginia.

Three Edenton-class consisted of three towing and rescue ships, where they were brought into service in the 1970s. The lead ship in the class was converted for

Coast Service as the USCGC Alex Haley (WMEC39), and serves today as a me- dium endurance cutter based in Kodiak,

Alaska. Two of the ships were transferred to the Republic of Korea Navy.

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