Name USS Nashawena Length 47 m | Laid down 1944 Construction started 1944 | |
Namesake An island off the coast of Massachusetts Builder Seattle Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Corporation, Seattle, Washington Completed as USASPB Col. William. A. Glassford a wooden-hulled self-propelled barge (BSP) Acquired from the U.S. Army, 20 June 1947 | ||
USS Nashawena (AG-142/YAG-35) was a U.S. Navy cable layer. She was constructed during World War II for the U.S. Army Signal Corps as USASPB Col. William. A. Glassford, a wooden-hulled self-propelled barge. She was transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1947 as a miscellaneous auxiliary and assigned to cable-laying duties for the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
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Constructed in Seattle, Washington
Nashawena, a cable ship built in 1944 by the Seattle Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Corp., Seattle, Washington, was operated by the U.S. Army as Col. Wm. A. Glassford until transferred to the U.S. Navy 20 June 1947; and commissioned as Nashawena (AG–142) the same day, Lt. William K. Bickenbach in command.
Cable service on the U.S. West Coast
Nashawena soon commenced cable laying and tending services in the 12th Naval District and in the 14th Naval District for the U.S. Naval Electronics Laboratory. Reclassified YAG–35, 9 September 1947, she continued to provide communications maintenance until decommissioned at Mare Island, her homeport 17 August 1953.
In-service at Treasure Island
She was then turned over to the Naval Station, Treasure Island, California, where she operated briefly with the status “in service” before entering the Pacific Reserve Fleet at the end of the year.
Nashawena was sold to Anthony Zahardis, 1 June 1960, towed from Treasure Island, 3 July, and subsequently struck from the Naval Register. She was renamed Omega and was used by the U.S. Undersea Cable Corporation for cable laying work.