Name USNS Sioux Acquired 1 May 1981 Identification T-ATF-171 Launched 15 November 1980 Builder Marinette Marine | Laid down 22 March 1979 In service 1981 Construction started 22 March 1979 Length 69 m | |
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Namesake The Sioux, a Native American people | ||
USNS Sioux (T-ATF-171) is a United States Navy Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug in service since 1981.
Sioux was laid down on 22 March 1979 by the Marinette Marine Corporation at Marinette, Wisconsin. Launched on 15 November 1980 and delivered to the U.S. Navy on 1 May 1981, Sioux was assigned to the Pacific Fleet of Military Sealift Command (MSC), and placed in non-commissioned service as USNS Sioux (T-ATF-171) in 1981. Although stationed primarily at San Diego, California, Sioux frequently operates from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, San Francisco, California and Bremerton, Washington.
Sioux is in active service.
Service history
In 2014, Sioux came to the aid of the damaged Royal Canadian Navy vessel HMCS Protecteur which had caught fire off Hawaii. After receiving aid from USN vessels Michael Murphy and Chosin, Sioux arrived to take the vessel under tow. The tug brought the damaged ship into Pearl Harbor safely. For that mission, Sioux was awarded a Canadian Forces Unit Commendation in June 2015.