From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

An American Indian tribe that inhabited the southwestern portion of the United States.

(ATF.-.172: dp. 2,000 (f.); l. 218'; b. 42'; dr. 15'; s. 15 k.; cpl. 21; cl. Powhatan)

The fifth Apache (ATF-172) was laid down on 22March 1979 at Marinette, Wis., by the Marinette Marine Corp.; launched on 28 March 1981; sponsored by Mrs. John R. Young; and delivered to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) on 23 July 1981. Manned by a civil service crew, the fleet tug then began service with the MSC in the Atlantic. Among her early assignments was a mission in September 1982 towing Iowa (BB-61) from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to Westwego, La., where the battleship began modernization work preparatory to her return to active. As of the spring of 1987, Apache continued to serve with MSC in the Atlantic.

Transcribed by Yves HUBERT (hubertypc@aol.com)