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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

T-ATF-168 Catawba

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Charlie - Delta - Sierra
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 - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Iran/Indian Ocean) - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (7) - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Powhatan Class Fleet Ocean Tug:
  • Laid down, 14 December 1977, at Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, WI.
  • Launched, 22 September 1979
  • Delivered to the Navy, 28 May 1980
  • Assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC), and placed in service as USNS Catawba (T-ATF-168)
  • Catawba is assigned to the MSC Pacific Support Force
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,387 t.(lt), 2,000 t.(fl)
    Length 226'
    Beam 42'
    Draft 15' (max)
    Speed 14.5 kts.
    Complement 16 civilians, 4 navy (communications unit)
    Armament two chain guns, two .50 cal machine guns
    Propulsion two GM EMD 20-645F7B diesels (5.73 MW sustained), two shafts, kort nozzles, cp props, bow thruster, 300hp (224KW)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Catawba 100k Catawba (T-ATF-168) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 MSC web site
    Catawba 76k Catawba (T-ATF-168) towing Grayback (LPSS-574) out of Subic Bay, P.I. for a SINKEX, 13 August 1986.
    US Navy photo    		 Darryl Baker
    Catawba 115k Catawba (T-ATF-168) at anchor in the Arabian Gulf, 20 June 2003. Catawba is forward deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
    US Navy photo # 030620-N-5362A-003 by PH1 Arlo K. Abrahamson.    		 Navy Newsstand web site
    Catawba 56k Catawba (T-ATF-168) steams through the waters of the Arabian Gulf. 20 June 2003. Catawba is forward deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
    US Navy photo # 030618-N-5362A-501 by PH1 Arlo K. Abrahamson.    		 Navy Newsstand web site
    Catawba 106k Catawba (T-ATF-168) with Cole (DDG 67) under tow as they depart Aden, Yemen, 29 October 2000. Cole was placed aboard the Norwegian heavy transport ship M/V Blue Marlin and transported back to the United States for repair.
    DoD photo # 001629-M-0557M-011 by Sgt. Don L. Maes, USMC    		 Defense Link web site
    There is no DANFS History currently available for Catawba (T-ATF-168) at Navsource
    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
    US Navy Fact File - Fleet Ocean Tugs - T-ATF
    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.