Owner United States Navy Laid down 14 December 1977 Launched 22 September 1979 Builder Marinette Marine | Awarded 12 September 1975 Construction started 14 December 1977 Length 69 m | |
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Name USNS Catawba (T-ATF-168) Namesake The Catawba, a Native American people of the southeast United States Operator Military Sealift Command |
USNS Catawba is a Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug operated by the Military Sealift Command for the United States Navy. Currently home ported in Manama, Bahrain.
Ship history
USNS Catawba was deployed to the Northern Persian Gulf during the second Gulf War (Feb-Mar 2003). Her divers provided critical assistance in recovering the bodies of aircrew from two 849 Naval Air Squadron Sea King ASaC.7 helicopters which had collided on 22 March 2003 off the Al-Faw Peninsula, while operating from HMS Ark Royal.
Catawba provided MV Faina with food, water, and medical supplies after that ship was released by Somali pirates.
References
USNS Catawba (T-ATF-168) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA