Navajo (AT-64) Class

Quick Links Menu.

USS Seneca (ATF-91) on 22 May 1945
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        NAVAJO (AT-64)
Design        Navy AT-64
Displacement (tons):        1,091 light, 1,675 max.
Dimensions (feet):        205.0' oa, 195.0' wl x 38.5' e x 15.3' max.
Original Armament:        1-3"/50 (AT 64-66)
Later armaments:        1-3"/50 3-20mm (1942-3: AT-64, 66); 1-3"/50 4-20mm (1942-4: AT 66-76, 81- 98);
1-3"/50 2-40mmS 2-20mmS (1944-45: ATF 66-67, 69-76, 81-82, 84-88, 90-94, 96-98); 1-3"/50 2-40mmS 2-20mmT (1945-55: 12 units upgraded); 1-3"/50 2- 40mmS (1952-63: 23 units);
1-3"/50 (1958-63: 13 units); 1-3"/50 2-20mmS (1961-3: ATF 104, 108, 118, 151, 154)
Complement        89 (1944)
Speed (kts.):        16.5
Propulsion (HP):        3,000
Machinery:        1 screw, G.M. or Busch-Sulzer diesel-electric (4 diesel generators)

Construction:

AT	Name	Ord.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
64	NAVAJO	15 Aug 38	Bethlehem Steel, Staten Is.	12 Dec 38	17 Aug 39	26 Jan 40
65	SEMINOLE	15 Aug 38	Bethlehem Steel, Staten Is.	16 Dec 38	15 Sep 39	8 Mar 40
66	CHEROKEE	15 Aug 38	Bethlehem Steel, Staten Is.	23 Dec 38	10 Nov 39	26 Apr 40
67	APACHE	1 Apr 41	Charleston SB & DD	8 Nov 41	6 May 42	12 Dec 42
68	ARAPAHO	1 Apr 41	Charleston SB & DD	8 Nov 41	22 Jun 42	20 Jan 43
69	CHIPPEWA	1 Apr 41	Charleston SB & DD	28 Jan 42	25 Jul 42	14 Feb 43
70	CHOCTAW	1 Apr 41	Charleston SB & DD	4 Apr 42	18 Oct 42	21 Apr 43
71	HOPI	1 Apr 41	Charleston SB & DD	6 May 42	7 Sep 42	31 Mar 43
72	KIOWA	1 Apr 41	Charleston SB & DD	22 Jun 42	5 Nov 42	7 Jun 43
73	MENOMINEE	1 Apr 41	United Engineering	27 Sep 41	14 Feb 42	25 Sep 42
74	PAWNEE	1 Apr 41	United Engineering	23 Oct 41	31 Mar 42	7 Nov 42
75	SIOUX	1 Apr 41	United Engineering	14 Feb 42	27 May 42	6 Dec 42
76	UTE	1 Apr 41	United Engineering	27 Feb 42	25 Jun 42	31 Dec 42
81	BANNOCK	25 Aug 41	Charleston SB & DD	4 Aug 42	7 Jan 43	28 Jun 43
82	CARIB	25 Aug 41	Charleston SB & DD	7 Sep 42	7 Feb 43	24 Jul 43
83	CHICKASAW	20 Aug 41	United Engineering	14 Feb 42	23 Jul 42	4 Feb 43
84	CREE	20 Aug 41	United Engineering	31 Mar 42	17 Aug 42	28 Mar 43
85	LIPAN	20 Aug 41	United Engineering	30 May 42	17 Sep 42	29 Apr 43
86	MATACO	20 Aug 41	United Engineering	27 Jun 42	14 Oct 42	29 May 43
87	MORENO	20 Sep 41	Cramp SB	26 Jan 42	9 Jul 42	30 Nov 42
88	NARRAGANSETT	20 Sep 41	Cramp SB	31 Jan 42	8 Aug 42	15 Jan 43
89	NAUSET	20 Sep 41	Cramp SB	10 Jul 42	7 Sep 42	2 Mar 43
90	PINTO	20 Sep 41	Cramp SB	10 Aug 42	5 Jan 43	1 Apr 43
91	SENECA	20 Sep 41	Cramp SB	7 Sep 42	2 Feb 43	30 Apr 43
92	TAWASA	20 Sep 41	Commercial IW	22 Jun 42	22 Feb 43	17 Jul 43
93	TEKESTA	20 Sep 41	Commercial IW	7 Sep 42	20 Mar 43	16 Aug 43
94	YUMA	20 Sep 41	Commercial IW	13 Feb 43	17 Jul 43	31 Aug 43
95	ZUNI	20 Sep 41	Commercial IW	8 Mar 43	31 Jul 43	9 Oct 43

Disposition:

AT	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
64	NAVAJO	--	28 Sep 43	12 Sep 43	Lost	--
65	SEMINOLE	--	2 Nov 42	25 Oct 42	Lost	--
66	CHEROKEE	29 Jun 46	19 Jul 46	29 Jun 46	Trf.	--
67	APACHE	27 Feb 74	30 Mar 74	30 Jun 74	Trf.	--
68	ARAPAHO	15 Jan 47	1 Jul 61	1 Jul 61	Trf.	--
69	CHIPPEWA	26 Feb 47	1 Sep 61	17 Aug 89	Hulk	--
70	CHOCTAW	11 Mar 47	31 Oct 77	Dec 60	Trf.	--
71	HOPI	9 Dec 55	1 Jul 63	11 Jun 86	Hulk	--
72	KIOWA	16 Aug 72	5 Jun 92	16 Oct 72	Trf.	--
73	MENOMINEE	15 Nov 46	1 Nov 59	26 Jan 61	Trf.	--
74	PAWNEE	10 Oct 46	1 Sep 62	1 Sep 62	MA	9 Nov 71
75	SIOUX	30 Oct 72	15 Aug 73	30 Oct 72	Trf.	--
76	UTE	30 Sep 80	23 Jan 89	30 Sep 80	Trf.	--
81	BANNOCK	25 Nov 55	1 Dec 77	3 Oct 62	Trf.	--
82	CARIB	24 Jan 47	1 Jul 63	15 Mar 79	Trf.	--
83	CHICKASAW	30 Jun 65	15 Apr 76	Jan 66	Trf.	--
84	CREE	21 Apr 78	21 Apr 78	27 Aug 78	Tgt.	--
85	LIPAN	1980	23 Jan 89	30 Sep 80	Trf.	--
86	MATACO	1 Oct 77	1 Oct 77	1 Apr 79	Sold	--
87	MORENO	13 Aug 46	1 Sep 61	15 Dec 87	Hulk	--
88	NARRAGANSETT	21 Dec 46	1 Sep 61	1 Sep 62	MA	20 Jun 91
89	NAUSET	--	28 Sep 43	9 Sep 43	Lost	--
90	PINTO	7 Nov 46	17 May 74	Dec 60	Trf.	---
91	SENECA	2 Jul 71	31 Oct 85	21 Nov 85	Hulk	--
92	TAWASA	1 Apr 75	1 Apr 75	12 Aug 76	Sold	--
93	TEKESTA	ca. 1960	25 Jun 92	May 60	Trf.	--
94	YUMA	11 Nov 55	25 Mar 59	25 Mar 59	Trf.	--
95	ZUNI	29 Jun 46	19 Jul 46	29 Jun 46	Trf.	--

Class Notes:
Fiscal year 1939 (AT 64-66), 1941 (AT 67-76), 1942 (AT 81-95). The AT-96 and AT-148 (q.v.) classes are variants of this class. The characteristics of all three groups of this class were virtually identical, although different types of smokestacks gave each of the three groups its own distinctive appearance.

By 1934 the need for replacement auxiliary vessels, including minesweepers and fleet tugs, was painfully evident within the Navy, and the beginning of significant construction programs for combatant ships in 1933 and 1934 suggested that auxiliary vessel construction might soon follow. On 2 Jun 34 the Commanding Officer of USS TERN (AM-31) wrote a letter to his superior officer, Commander Base Force, describing the desirable characteristics of minesweepers and fleet tugs. He treated them separately and made no effort to combine the two types, as was sometimes done, stating that while the tugs could be fitted for minesweeping or minelaying, such service should be incidental to their primary purpose. He noted that the minesweepers and fleet tugs of the Base Force were 14 to 16 years old and that the oldest of the tugs, SONOMA (AT-12) had been in service for 22 years. He said that a fleet tug should have good sea-keeping qualities, as well as a powerful engine, large rudder, clear sides, blunt nose, a stout hull, and deep draft. Except for out-of-date steam machinery he felt that the SONOMA type seemed well adapted for this use. He recommended the use of diesel-electric main propulsion machinery because it would permit the vessels to be ready for instant service without having to keep up steam while in standby conditions and because it would permit a reduction in the engineering personnel by about a third. He recommended twin screws and a speed of 15 or 16 knots. Between minesweepers and fleet tugs he felt that the more urgent present need was for fleet tugs, and that a sufficient number of these needed to be built to provide for target towing and service in the Fleet Train. Commander Base Force enthusiastically forwarded this letter to CNO, who on 26 Jun 34 forwarded it to the General Board. On 9 Jul 34 CNO forwarded it to the Bureau of Construction and Repair (BuC&R) and the Bureau of Engineering (BuEng), stating that he felt that the characteristics of mine sweepers and tugs were so different that each type should be designed without regard to the other, although the designs could then be examined to find ways for them to serve in the other function in case of emergency. He also stated that a systematic replacement program for mine sweepers and fleet tugs would necessarily have to be initiated in the near future.

On 11 Jan 36 BuC&R wrote CNO noting that a CNO letter of 14 Oct 35 proposing a building program for auxiliary vessels in the 1937 program that included two mine sweepers, while the proposed 1938 program included one fleet tug. The Bureau noted that it had not received characteristics for these two types and requested that they be provided to the Bureau. The Secretary of the Navy forwarded this request to the General Board on 15 Jan 36. The General Board provided three general parameters to the Bureau and asked it to develop a sketch design. The parameters were a single screw as in SONOMA and her sister ONTARIO, a deep draft of hull capable of swinging a large diameter propeller suited to ocean towing (which made her unsuitable for mine sweeping except in an emergency), and a desired sustained sea speed of 15 knots full load. The Bureau on 19 Mar 37 sent to the Board rough plans for a steam-propelled tug of 1,500 tons full load displacement, dimensions of 190' wl x 36' x 15', and a trial speed of 16.25 knots and sustained sea speed of 15.5 knots. It noted that it had included a large clear deck space aft of the deck house, usable for holding a seaplane or fitting mine tracks if desired. The design also included sheer legs amidships with a boom 50 feet in length designed for a working load of 20 tons (a conspicuous feature of the ships as built). The topsides of the ship were designed with nearly vertical surfaces for the attachment of fenders, while the sides amidships and below water were sloped to avoid the need to fit fenders below the waterline. The General Board issued final characteristics for Fleet Tugs on 6 Apr 37 that generally matched this sketch design, including an armament of 1-3"/50 gun and 2-.50 cal. AA machine guns, the 20-ton boom, and a towing engine, and SecNav approved these characteristics on 19 Apr 37.

On 18 Jan 38 BuC&R circulated to CNO and the other bureaus a general arrangement plan for Fleet Tug AT-64 whose features closely resembled the 1937 sketch and characteristics. The Bureau stated that it intended to advertise for bids for the vessel under conditions requiring the successful bidder to prepare the detail specifications and the contract plans, in part to allow the contractor to use the best merchant design practices. A few days later the Bureau sent the plan to forces afloat, stating that it needed responses promptly as the type was included in the Auxiliary Construction Bill. On 31 Jan 38 Commander Base Force sent a long list of useful refinements based on experience with tugs like SONOMA, none of which however affected the main characteristics of the vessel. In early March the circular requirements to be sent to bidders were modified at the request of the Bureau of Engineering to include the diesel electric option, previous documents having apparently defaulted to the steam option. On 30 Mar 38 BuC&R circulated a revised general arrangement plan that incorporated most of the suggestions made by the Base Force and the other Bureaus. On 14 Jul 38 BuC&R forwarded to BuEng plans drafted by the bidder, the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Staten Island Works, for the variant of the tug with diesel electric drive. BuEng was to review them and then forward them to the Secretary of the Navy for signature.

Construction of the first new fleet tug slipped from FY 1938 to FY 1939, but when SecNav directed the construction of the ships in the FY 1939 program on 20 Jul 38 the list included three tugs, AT 64-66, instead of one. (Bu C&R on 14 Jul 38 asked SecNav for names for AT 65-66 so that they could appear on the title page of the specifications along with NAVAJO.) The construction contract for these three tugs was awarded to Bethlehem on 15 Aug 38. The class went into series production in 1941 when construction of ten more, AT 67-76, was directed in ca. February 1941 as part of the 400 Patrol and District Craft program (4th group). (This program also funded 86 PC, 78 SC, 56 PT, 50 AM, 50 AMc, and 90 YMS under directives of Dec 40, Jan 41, and Jun 41.) On 12 Jun 41 the Ship Movements Division of CNO's staff recommended the construction of another 15 units (AT 81-95), and on 14 July 41 the Auxiliary Vessels Board, after studying the Navy's requirements for seagoing tugs and concurred that 15 more were urgently required and recommended that BuShips be directed to have them built.

The specifications for this class were revisited by the Navy in mid-1942 based on early wartime experience. On 4 Jun 42 BuShips informed CNO that the General Board had included a 20-ton boom on the tugs primarily for the purpose of salvaging large seaplanes. However the maximum weight of large seaplanes had since then increased well beyond 20 tons and the length of a 20 ton boom was insufficient to prevent damage to a large seaplane while being salvaged. The Bureau noted that in the small seaplane tenders of the BARNEGAT (AVP-10) class the 20 ton crane had been replaced by a 10-ton crane, which was sufficient for handling ship-based seaplanes. The Bureau therefore proposed to fit tugs then under construction with a lighter tripod mast and a 10-ton boom. The General Board concurred and issued revised specifications for the class on 16 Jun 42. Ultimately AT 66-73, 81-82, 87, and probably 64-5 and 88 had 20-ton booms while the rest received 10-ton booms.

Ship Notes:

AT	Name	Notes
64	NAVAJO	Torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-39 off New Hebrides Is. while towing YOG-42 from Pago Pago to Espiritu Santo.
65	SEMINOLE	Sunk by Japanese destroyers off Guadalcanal while carrying a cargo of gasoline for U.S. forces there.
66	CHEROKEE	To ATF-66 15 May 44. To USCG 1946 as CHEROKEE. Decom. by USCG 30 Jan 90, to NDRF 25 Jun 91, back to Navy as target 6 Oct 93.
67	APACHE	To ATF-67 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-51 (completed inactivation 3 Dec 46). To Taiwan 1974 as TA WAN, still listed 2009.
68	ARAPAHO	To ATF-68 15 May 44. Ex CATAWBA 5 Aug 41. In USN reserve 1946-61. To Argentina 1961 as COMANDANTE GENERAL ZAPIOLA, wrecked 1971.
69	CHIPPEWA	To ATF-69 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-60, to NDRF 15 Nov 60, title to MA 1 Sep 62. From MA to Navy 17 Aug 89 for use as an underwater explosives testing/training platform.
70	CHOCTAW	To ATF-70 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-60. Loaned to Colombia 1960 as PEDRO DE HEREDIA, sold to Colombia 31 Mar 78. Scrapped 1999.
71	HOPI	To ATF-71 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1955-62, to NDRF 27 Mar 62, title to MA 1 Jul 63. From MA to Navy 11 Jun 86 for use as target off Norfolk, Va.
72	KIOWA	To ATF-72 15 May 44. Loaned to Dominican Republic 1972 as MACORIX. Stricken in error 15 Sep 79, strike rescinded 23 Sep 80. Returned by Dominican Republic 5 Jun 92, sold by Navy 12 Jan 94 for scrapping in Dominican Republic.
73	MENOMINEE	To ATF-73 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-59. To Indonesia 1961 as RAKATA, deleted ca. 2008.
74	PAWNEE	To ATF-74 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-61, to NDRF 13 Apr 61, title to MA 1 Sep 62. To buyer 22 Nov 71.
75	SIOUX	To ATF-75 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-52 (decomm. 23 Apr 47, recomm. 18 Nov 52 to replace SARSI (ATF-111), lost off Korea). Loaned to Turkey 1972 as GAZAL, sold to Turkey 15 Aug 73, still in service 2010.
76	UTE	To ATF-76 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-51 (completed inactivation 13 Jul 46). Decom. and to MSTS 30 Aug 74, designated T-ATF-76. To USCG 30 Sep 80. Returned by Coast Guard 26 May 88 and to MA. Back to Navy Feb. 1990 for use as target, expended as missile target 4 Aug 91.
81	BANNOCK	To ATF-81 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-51 (completed inactivation 21 Feb 47, recomm. 11 Sep 51) and 1955-62. Loaned to Italy 1962 as civilian oceanographic research ship BANNOCK. Sold to Italy May 1979, discarded.
82	CARIB	To ATF-82 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-62, to NDRF 27 Sep 62, title to MA 1 Jul 63. To Navy 15 Mar 79 and to Colombia same date as SEBASTIAN DE BELALCALZAR. Used as patrol ship, deleted 2000.
83	CHICKASAW	To ATF-83 15 May 44. Loaned to Taiwan 1966 as TA TUNG, sold to Taiwan May 1976, stricken 16 Jul 99.
84	CREE	To ATF-84 15 May 44. Accidentally bombed by U.S. Army aircraft 18 Jan 78 near San Diego, Cal., the damage led to her disposal.
85	LIPAN	To ATF-85 15 May 44. Decom. and to MSTS 31 Jul 73, designated T-ATF-85. To USCG 30 Sep 80 as LIPAN. Returned by USCG 9 Jun 88 and to MA. Back to Navy Jun. 1990 and expended as target.
86	MATACO	To ATF-86 15 May 44. Sold for scrapping 1 Apr 79 but resold by buyer as the "party" boat PACIFIC CLIPPER at Acapulco, Mexico, eventually laid up there at a buoy and after 12 years of neglect sank at the buoy in 60 feet of water, still there.
87	MORENO	To ATF-87 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-60, to NDRF 15 Dec 60, title to MA 1 Sep 62. Back to Navy 15 Dec 87 and expended as target for Penguin missiles Oct. 1988.
88	NARRAGANSETT	To ATF-88 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-61 (out of commission in reserve 21 Dec 46), to NDRF 1 Feb 61. Purchased by Taiwan from MA 20 Jun 91 (date withdrawn from NDRF) as TA FENG, still listed 2009.
89	NAUSET	Sunk by German aircraft off Salerno.
90	PINTO	To ATF-90 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1946-60. Loaned to Peru 1960 as GUARDIAN RIOS, sold to Peru May 1974. Still listed 2009.
91	SENECA	To ATF-91 15 May 44. To NDRF 18 Nov 71, title to MA 1 Jul 73. From MA to Navy and to the David Taylor Model Basin, Annapolis, Md., 21 Nov 85 for use as a floating machinery systems laboratory. To NDRF 22 Nov 97, back to Navy 11 Sep 02, sunk as target 2003.
92	TAWASA	To ATF-92 15 May 44. Scrapped 1978.
93	TEKESTA	To ATF-93 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1950-58. In service 24 Jan 58, out of service ca. 1960. Loaned to Chile 16 May 60 as YELCHO, to Chile under grant aid 30 Sep 92. Decom. by Chile 30 Aug 96, sunk as target 8 Jul 99.
94	YUMA	To ATF-94 15 May 44. In USN reserve 1955-58. To Pakistan 1959 as MADADGAR, stricken 1995.
95	ZUNI	To ATF-95 15 May 44. To USCG 1946 as TAMAROA (substitute for ARS-33). Transferred 28 Feb 94 to the INTREPID Air-Space Museum, New York, there until 1997, then at the Hudson River Park Conservancy until 2000. Sold at GSA at auction 2001, donated 16 Mar 02 to the ZUNI Maritime Foundation, moved from Baltimore, Md. to Newport News, Va., in 2007 and later to South Norfolk, Va.