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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Paiute (ATF-159)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - November - Golf
 NZNG
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Second Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (2-Cuba) - American Campaign Medal
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba, 1-Dominican Republic)
Abnaki Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 27 February 1945, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C.
  • Launched, 4 June 1945
  • Commissioned USS Paiute (ATF-159), 27 August 1945, LT. Stanley J. Lewandowski in command
  • Decommissioned in 1985 at Mayport, FL.
  • Recommissioned in 1987
  • Decommissioned in 1992
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 14 February 1995
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration, 29 December 1997, for disposal
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown I served aboard Paiute from ’90 to ’91. She was decommissioned in Mayport some time in ’85, recommissioned in ’87 and decommissioned for the final time in ‘92
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,205 t.(lt) 1,646 t.(fl)
    Length 205'
    Beam 39'
    Draft 17' (max)
    Speed 16 kts.
    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
    Propulsion diesel-electric, four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines, single screw, 3,600shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Paiute 386k USS Paiute (ATF-159) commissioning crew photo taken, 27 August 1945, at Charleston Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston, S.C. (Burton H. Idol S2/c sixth from left, front row.) Henry Idol for his father Burton H. Idol S2/c USS Paiute.
    Paiute 70k USS Paiute (ATF-159) preparing to get underway, date and location unknown. Margaret Rutledge for her father Charlie Rutledge EM, USS Paiute.
    Paiute 99k USS Paiute (ATF-159) underway, date and location unknown. Donal J Holland SKC USN Ret.
    USS Paiute April 1963 to July 1965
    Paiute 75k USS Paiute (ATF-159) underway, date and location unknown. Donal J Holland SKC USN Ret.
    USS Paiute April 1963 to July 1965
    Paiute 37k USS Paiute (ATF-159) underway in the Chesapeake Bay, date unknown. Submitted by Duane Greninger
    to NAFTS
    (National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors)
    Paiute 97k USS Paiute (ATF-159) underway, location unknown. Photo taken from USS Garcia (DE-1040) in 1971 Photo by Steve Singlar
    Paiute 21k USS Paiute (ATF-159) at Washington, DC, 1 May 1981 NAFTS
    National Association
    of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Paiute 97k USS Paiute (ATF-159), Papago (ATF-160) and USS Recovery (ARS-43) in storage near Portsmouth, VA., 18 October 1994. In the back of the basin are two patrol missile hydrofoil patrol boats of the Pegasus class, three ocean minesweepers, USS Fortify (MSO-446) and two others. DVIC Photo DNSC9501404 Don S. Montgomery, Defense Visual Information Center
    View the Photo Collection of Charlie Rutledge USS Paiute 1945-46
    View the USS Paiute (ATF-159)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Fleet Ocean Tug (ATF) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 2 May 2008