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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Patch at left contributed by Tom Lanagan

YFU-79
US Army Craft Skilak
IX-514 Helicopter Landing Trainer (HLT)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Lima - Tango
 NHLT
YFU-79 Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (2-NSA DaNang) - National Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (2-NSA DaNang) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Helicopter Landing Trainer (HLT):
  • Laid down, 28 December 1967, at Pacific Coast Engineering Co., Alameda, CA.
  • Launched, 29 May 1968
  • Acquired by the US Navy in 1968 and placed in service as YFU-79
  • Assigned to 3rd Boat Group, Lighterage Division, NSA DaNang during her Vietnam service
  • Transferred to the US Army 329th Heavy Boat Co. at Da Nang, South Vietnam circa May-June 1970
  • Evacuated to Guam circa 1974-75
  • Returned to US Navy control circa mid-1980s
  • Converted to a landing ship for training helicopter pilots at Bender Shipyard, Mobile AL. in 1986
  • Placed in service, 31 March 1986 as Miscellaneous Unclassified IX-514
  • IX-514 is homeported at NAS Pensacola, FL.
    (YFU-79) Specifications:
    Displacement220 t.(lt)
    Length 125'
    Beam 36'
    Draft 6'
    Speed 9 kts. (max)
    Complement 1 CPO, 11 enlisted
    Armament 3-50.cal machine guns
    (IX-514) Specifications:
    Displacement497.8 t.(fl)
    Length 125'
    Beam 36'
    Draft 4.66'
    Speed 9 kts. (max)
    Complement 1 officer, 22 enlisted
    Propulsion 2 Detroit Diesel 471 Series, 115Kw 185A generators, twin shafts
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    YFU-79
    YFU-79 76k YFU-79 with a load of retrograde Army and Marine equipment at Tan My (just down river from Hue) late in 1969, I-CORPS Vietnam. YFU-79 would haul this type of cargo back to DaNang and usually pick up ammo to deliver back up north. Photo by Thomas Lanagan YFU-79
    YFU-79 72k YFU-79 loading ammo in the DaNang anchorage, September 1969. Photo by Thomas Lanagan YFU-79
    YFU-79 104k YFU-79 going into Tan My (entrance to Perfume River for a run up to Hue in South Vietnam. Note the grenade blast off the starboard bow, September 1969. Photo by Thomas Lanagan YFU-79
    YFU-79 97k YFU-79 delivering ammunition on a river run to Dong Ha, which was about 10 miles south of the DMZ and about a dozen miles inland, September 1969. Photo by Thomas Lanagan YFU-79
    YFU-79 36k YFU-79 loading M-60 tanks at Dong Ha, Vietnam, November 1969. Photo by Thomas Lanagan YFU-79
    YFU-79 73k YFU-79 off-loading M113s APCs (armored personnel carriers) of unites of the US Army 5th Mechanized Brigade at Dong Ha, Vietnam, November 1969. Thomas Lanagan YFU-79
    IX-514
    IX-514 44k IX-514 underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Boston Det, web site
    IX-514 74k IX-514 underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    IX-514 56k IX-514 underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    IX-514 56k IX-514 moored pierside at NAS Pensacola with YP-696 and YP-702 moored astern of her.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    IX-514 283k IX-514 in Pensacola Bay, 25 August 2006 as a TH-57 training helicopter from Helicopter Training Squadron Eight at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, flown by student pilot Navy LTjg David Dostal and instructor Navy LT. Teresa Ferry lands on the Navy Helicopter Landing Trainer (HLT), marking the 100,000th consecutive accident-free landing aboard HLT IX-514.
    US Navy photo # 060825-N-5328N-745 by Gary Nichols.    		 Bill Gonyo
    IX-514 218k IX-514 in Pensacola Bay, 25 August 2006 as a TH-57 training helicopter from Helicopter Training Squadron Eight at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, flown by student pilot Navy LTjg David Dostal and instructor Navy LT. Teresa Ferry lands on the Navy Helicopter Landing Trainer (HLT), marking the 100,000th consecutive accident-free landing aboard HLT IX-514.
    US Navy photo # 060825-N-5328N-761 by Gary Nichols.    		 Lee Wahler
    IX-514 k IX-514 in Pensacola Bay, 25 August 2006 as a TH-57 training helicopter from Helicopter Training Squadron Eight at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, flown by student pilot Navy LTjg David Dostal and instructor Navy LT. Teresa Ferry lands on the Navy Helicopter Landing Trainer (HLT), marking the 100,000th consecutive accident-free landing aboard HLT IX-514.
    US Navy photo # 060825-N-5328N-745 by Gary Nichols.    		 Lee Wahler
    There is no DANFS history available for IX-514 at NavSource
    View the "The Saga of the YFU-79 and the U-Boat Sailors of I-Corp." by Tom Lanagan YFU-79
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    IX-514
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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 15 February 2008