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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

YTB-798 Opelika

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Delta - Zulu
 NBDZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal
Natick Class District Harbor Tug:
  • Laid down, 23 February 1968, at Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, WI.
  • Launched, 21 August 1968
  • Delivered to the Navy in 30 January 1969
  • Placed in service as Opelika (YTB-798) at Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I.
  • Reassigned to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY) with the disestablishment of Naval Station Subic, Bay in 1992
  • Current Disposition, active in service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 283 t.(lt) 356 t.(fl)
    Length 109'
    Beam 31'
    Draft 14'
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement 12
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion diesel, single screw
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Opelika 79k Opelika (YTB 798) stands by as crew members man the ground tackle on the forecastle of the hospital ship Mercy (T-AH 19) as preparations are made to drop anchor in Subic Bay, P.I., 1 March 1987
    DVIC photo # DNST8705706 by PHC Chet King, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 100k Opelika (YTB 798) is alongside of the combat stores ship Spica (T-AFS-9) as she departs Naval Base Subic Bay, P.I. for a dependent's day cruise in the South China Sea, 1 December 1989. One hundred and fifty dependents and guests spent the day on the ship.
    DVIC photo # DNSN9004885 by PHC Carolyn E. Harris, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 64k Opelika (YTB 798) assists the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweeper support ship Hayase (MST-462) across the bay as the ship arrives at Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 4 May 1991. Three Japanese minesweepers and two support ships are stopping in the Philippines while en route to Kuwait to assist in the multinational effort to clear Iraqi mines from the Persian Gulf following Operation Desert Storm.
    DVIC photo # DNST9110095by PHC Chet King, USN, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 245k BM1 Wemppy pilots the Opelika (YTB-798) behind Kittanning (YTB-787) as Kittanning pulls away from the Lassen (DDG-82) after guiding her out of Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a scheduled underway period.
    US Navy photo # 070215-N-1251W-002 Yokosuka Japan (Feb. 15, 2007) by MCSN Matthew R. White.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 219k A band plays on the pier as the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweeper support ship Hayase (MST-462) is assisted into her berth by Opelika (YTB 798) at Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 4 May 1991. Three Japanese minesweepers and two support ships are stopping in the Philippines while en route to Kuwait to assist in the multinational effort to clear Iraqi mines from the Persian Gulf following Operation Desert Storm.
    DVIC photo # DNST9110096by PHC Chet King, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 103k Opelika (YTB 798) nudges the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweeper support ship Hayase (MST-462) alongside the pier at Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 4 May 1991. Three Japanese minesweepers and two support ships are stopping in the Philippines while en route to Kuwait to assist in the multinational effort to clear Iraqi mines from the Persian Gulf following Operation Desert Storm.
    DVIC photo # DNST9110097by PHC Chet King, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 100k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser Sterett (CG-31) from Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 10 May 1991, as the cruiser departs for her new homeport at Naval Station, San Diego, CA.
    DVIC photo # DNST9110585 by PH1 Ted Salois, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 68k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser Sterett (CG-31) from Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 10 May 1991, as the cruiser departs for her new homeport at Naval Station, San Diego, CA.
    DVIC photo # DNST9110588 by PH1 Ted Salois, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 105k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser Sterett (CG-31) from Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 10 May 1991, as the cruiser departs for her new homeport at Naval Station, San Diego, CA.
    DVIC photo # DNST9110589 by PH1 Ted Salois, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 94k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser Sterett (CG-31) from Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 10 May 1991, as the cruiser departs for her new homeport at Naval Station, San Diego, CA.
    DVIC photo # DNST9110590 by PH1 Ted Salois, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 79k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser Sterett (CG-31) from Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 10 May 1991, as the cruiser departs for her new homeport at Naval Station, San Diego, CA.
    DVIC photo # DNST9110591 by PH1 Ted Salois, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 135k Opelika (YTB 798) pulls up along the starboard side of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Haddock (SSN-621) before towing the submarine into Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 28 August 1991.
    DVIC photo # DNST8201666 by PHC Larry Foster, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 124k Opelika (YTB 798) pulls up along the starboard side of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Haddock (SSN-621) before towing the submarine into Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 28 August 1991.
    DVIC photo # DNST8201666 by PHC Larry Foster, USN.    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Opelika 108k Opelika (YTB-798) moored at the service craft boat pool pier, Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., 1 January 1993. Mandan (YTB-794) is nested with another YTB in the background.
    DVIC photo # DNST9301076    		 Defense Visual Information Center
    Blue Ridge 64k Opelika (YTB-798) assists Blue Ridge (LCC-19) into her berth upon returning to her homeport, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY), 16 March 2004, after a scheduled deployment in the Western Pacific. Blue Ridge is the command and control ship of the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet and is forward deployed to Yokosuka.
    US Navy photo # 040316-N-2101W-002 by PH1 Alan Warner.     		Navy Newsstand
    Opelika 85k Opelika (YTB-798) assists amphibious command and control ship Blue Ridge (LCC-19) to her berth, 16 March 2004, after a scheduled deployment in the Western Pacific. Blue Ridge is the command and control ship of the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet and is forward deployed at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY).
    US Navy photo # 040316-N-2101W-005 by PH1 Alan Warner.    		 Navy Newsstand
    Opelika 93k Opelika (YTB-798) gets underway to assist in ship movements at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY), 19 July 2004.
    US Navy photo # 040719-N-2101W-010 by PH1 Alan Warner.    		 Navy Newsstand
    Opelika 99k Opelika (YTB-798) assists Blue Ridge (LCC-19) in returning to port at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY), 14 October 2004, following recent sea trials. Blue Ridge is the command and control ship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet and is forward deployed to Yokosuka.
    US Navy photo # 041014-N-1246H-002 by PHAA Kevin Hardin.    		 Navy Newsstand
    Opelika 76k Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Zhixian Zhong wraps the mooring line around the capstan during an evolution aboard Opelika (YTB-798) at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY), 21 June 2006.
    US Navy photo # 060621-N-5686B-003 by PH1 Crystal Brooks.    		 Navy Newsstand
    Opelika 112k Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Adam Melancon maneuvers Opelika (YTB-798) as she approaches the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine Buffalo (SSN-715), as the sub enters port at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY), 21 June 2006.
    US Navy photo # 060621-N-5686B-001 by PH1 Crystal Brooks.    		 Navy Newsstand
    Opelika 869k Opelika (YTB-798) underway to assist in the departure of the Frank Cable (AS-40) from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY), 14 August 2006.
    US Navy photo # 060814-N-2716P-053 (Aug. 14, 2006) by MC1 Paul J. Phelps, USN., a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Opelika 233k Crew members of Opelika (YTB-798) look on as line handlers aboard the guided-missile cruiser Shiloh (CG-67) moor the ship to the pier at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY), 17 April 2007.
    US Navy photo # 070417-N-2638R-004 by MCSN Bryan Reckard, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the Defense Visual Information Center.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Kittanning 77k Opelika (YTB 798) and Kittanning (YTB-787) at the bow of Kitty Hawk (CV-63) while assisting the Aircraft Carrier in getting underway to conduct sea trials after completing her Selective Restricted Availability (SRA), 4 May 2007.
    US Navy photo # 070504-N-0483B-001 YOKOSUKA, Japan (May 4, 2007) by MCSN Kari R. Bergman.    		 Chet Morris
    View the Opelika (YTB-798)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
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    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    US Navy Harbor Tug Boats
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    Last Updated 24 January 2008