USS Paiute (ATF-159)

USS Paiute (ATF-159) was an Abnaki-class tug of the United States Navy during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War. She served a total of 44 years before being scrapped.

USS Paiute (ATF-159)
Paiute in July 1965
History
United States
Name: USS Paiute
Namesake: The Corn Creek Indian tribe of Southwestern Utah
Builder: Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.
Laid down: 27 February 1945
Decommissioned: 7 August 1992
Nickname(s): Pukey P [1]
Fate: Scrapped, 2003
General characteristics
Class and type: Abnaki-class tug
Displacement: 4,200 tons
Length: 205 Feet
Beam: 39 Feet
Draft: 17 Feet
Propulsion: four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators
Speed: 16 Knots
Complement: 8 Officers, 68 Enlisted
Armament: one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount, two twin 40mm AA gun mounts, two single 20mm AA gun mounts
Aircraft carried: None
Aviation facilities: None

Ship History

After her commissioning in August 1945, Paiute was assigned salvage, towing and logistics duties throughout the North Atlantic Ocean, and operated from her home port at Norfolk, Virginia into 1953. In 1948, she towed USS Texas (BB-35) to Galveston, Texas. In September 1953, Paiute's home port was changed to Balboa, Canal Zone, where she carried out salvage operations and provided services to the fleet under the operational control of Commander Panama Sector, Caribbean Sea Frontier. Here she also operated the Diving School for second class divers at the Rodman Naval Station, Canal Zone. She became the only ship of her class to display a Golden "E" on her gun mount for five consecutive years of outstanding accuracy. Paiute underwent a Line-crossing ceremony on 11 November 1955.[2]

Vietnam War

During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Paiute carried out patrol assignments, and following the isolation of the Guantanamo naval base by the Castro Government, she supplied much needed water by towing water barges from the States, until a desalinization plant was installed and operational.

In 1965, she delivered fuel barges to the Dominican Republic during the hot political crisis there. She was on Prime Recovery Station One during the Gemini 6 and 7 manned space flights, and for Gemini 8 in 1966. Paiute moved to the New England area to provide services through 1967, returning to Guantanamo at the year's end. On 19 November, Paiute underwent another Line-crossing ceremony During 1968, she participated in several major salvage operations and fleet exercises. In the fall, she was again on recovery station for the Apollo 7 space shot. During February 1969, Paiute was awaiting splashdown of Apollo 9.[3]

Post-War

In 1982, Pauite towed the USS Iowa from the Philadelphia Navy Yard to Avondale Shipyard for her reactivation into naval service. On 23 August 1985, Paiute was decommissioned at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. She was later recommissioned on 30 September 1988. [4]

International radio call sign of
USS Paiute (ATF-159)
November Zulu November Golf
Paiute at Washington Naval Yard, 1981. Note the removal of the fore 76mm gun.

Fate

On 7 August 1992, Paiute was decommissioned for the second and final time following the end of the Persian Gulf War. She was struck from the Naval Register on 14 February 1995, and transferred to the Maritime Administration on 29 December 1997, for disposal. Paiute was scrapped in 2003.

Ship Awards

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Battle Effectiveness Award (2) Navy Expeditionary Medal with star American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal with 2 service stars Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with star

References
  1. https://ruraliowegian.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/a-long-time-ago-a-veteran-was-made/
  2. http://www.hullnumber.com/ATF-159
  3. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/ATF/atf159.html
  4. http://www.hullnumber.com/ATF-159

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

  • , NavSourceOnline: ATF-159
  • National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors: ATF-159
  • ATF-159 Crew Roster
  • U.S.S. PAIUTE Ship Cap
  • VetFriends, PAIUTE ATF-159
  • NavyBuddies.com, U.S.S. PAIUTE
  • TogetherWeServed, U.S.S. PAIUTE (ATF-159)
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