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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Opelika (YTB-798)

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

National Defense Service Medal - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Natick Class District Harbor Tug:
  • Built by Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, WI
  • Laid down, 23 February 1968
  • Launched, 21 August 1968
  • Delivered to the Navy, 30 January 1969
  • Placed in service as Opelika (YTB-798) at Naval Station Subic Bay, PI
  • Reassigned to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY) with the disestablishment of Naval Station Subic Bay, 1993
  • Struck from Naval Register, 02 February 2015
  • Current disposition, awaiting disposal at Yokosuka
    Specifications:
    Displacement 283 tons(lt) 356 tons (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
    140979823    		 60k Opelika (YTB-798) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from the collections of the US Navy Memorial.    		 Stan Svec
    Opelika
    140979824    		 734k Opelika (YTB-798) maneuvering the aft section of Frank E. Evans (DD-754) to dockside at Subic Bay, 09 June 1969 after the wreck was towed there following her collision with HMAS Melbourne six days earlier.
    Photo taken by John Hoffman    		 Frank Jablonski
    Opelika
    140979702    		 155k Tamaqua (YTB-797) and Opelika (YTB-798) assisting USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) while getting underway at Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., circa June-July 1979. Photo by Richard Stiles
    Opelika
    140979704    		 141k Tamaqua (YTB-797) and Opelika (YTB-798) (far right) after disengaging from USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) at Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I., circa June-July 1979. Photo by Richard Stiles
    Opelika
    140979817    		 79k Opelika (YTB 798) stands by as crew members man the ground tackle on the forecastle of the hospital ship USNS 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
    140979816    		 100k Opelika (YTB 798) is alongside of the combat stores ship USNS 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
    140979813    		 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
    140979814    		 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
    140979815    		 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
    140979807    		 100k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser USS 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
    140979809    		 68k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser USS 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
    140979810    		 105k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser USS 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
    140979811    		 94k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser USS 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
    140979812    		 79k Opelika (YTB-798) and Wauwatosa (YTB-775) escort the guided missile cruiser USS 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
    140979808    		 135k Opelika (YTB 798) pulls up along the starboard side of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS 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
    140979818    		 124k Opelika (YTB 798) pulls up along the starboard side of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS 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
    140979806    		 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
    10011914    		 64k Opelika (YTB-798) assists USS 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
    140979805    		 85k Opelika (YTB-798) assists amphibious command and control ship USS 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
    140979804    		 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
    140979803    		 99k Opelika (YTB-798) assists USS 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
    140979802    		 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
    140979801    		 112k Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Adam Melancon maneuvers Opelika (YTB-798) as she approaches the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS 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
    140979819    		 869k Opelika (YTB-798) underway to assist in the departure of the USS 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
    140979821    		 245k BM1 Wemppy pilots the Opelika (YTB-798) behind Kittanning (YTB-787) as Kittanning pulls away from the USS 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
    140979822    		 560k Opelika (YTB-798) assists the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89) as she gets under way from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY), 19 March 2007.
    US Navy photo # 070319-N-2638R-002 YOKOSUKA (19 March 2007) by MCSN Bryan Reckard.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Kittanning
    140978708    		 485k Opelika (YTB-798) and Kittanning (YTB 787) assist the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) away from the pier at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY).
    US Navy photo # 070319-N-0483B-001 YOKOSUKA (19 March 2007) by MCSA Kari R. Bergman.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Opelika
    140979820    		 233k Crew members of Opelika (YTB-798) look on as line handlers aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS 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
    140978702    		 77k Opelika (YTB 798) and Kittanning (YTB-787) at the bow of USS 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
    Blue Ridge
    10011966    		 515k The commercial harbor tug Noshiro assist USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) as she returns to her berth at Fleet Activities Yokosuka after a scheduled underway period. In the foreground are the tugs Manistee (YTB-782); Massapequa (YTB-807); and Opelika (YTB-798) and in the background is USS George Washington (CVN-73) along with various yard craft.
    US Navy photo # 090324-N-9520G-113 YOKOSUKA, Japan (March 24, 2009) by MC2 Nardelito Geravcio.    		 Bill Gonyo
    Opelika (YTB-798)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command website
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors

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    Last Updated 09 October 2020