View source for USNS Apache

{{short description|Tugboat of the United States Navy}}
{{other ships|USS Apache}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = USNS Apache.png
| Ship caption = USNS ''Apache'' berthed at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|1981}}
| Ship name = USNS ''Apache''
| Ship namesake = The Apache people of the American southwest
| Ship owner = 
| Ship operator = Military Sealift Command
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| Ship builder = Marinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wisconsin
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| Ship laid down = 22 March 1979
| Ship launched = 28 March 1981
| Ship sponsor = Mrs. John R. Young
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| Ship maiden voyage = 
| Ship in service = 23 July 1981
| Ship out of service = 26 August 2022
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| Ship struck = 30 September 2022
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| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|8832693}}
* {{MMSI Number|367848000}}
* [[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NIGP
| Ship motto = "First in Tow and Salvage"
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| Ship status = Stricken, awaiting disposal
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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| Ship class = {{sclass|Powhatan|tugboat}}
| Ship tonnage = 
| Ship displacement = {{convert|2260|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} fully loaded
| Ship length = {{convert|226|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|42|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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| Ship draught = {{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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| Ship propulsion = Two GM EMD 20-645F7B Diesel engines, {{convert|3600|hp|abbr=on}} each; two controllable pitch propellers
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| Ship speed = 15 knots
| Ship range = 10,000 nautical miles (18,520 kilometers)
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| Ship complement = 16 civilians, 4 Navy enlisted
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'''USNS ''Apache''''' ('''T-ATF-172''') was a [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] [[Powhatan-class tugboat|''Powhatan''-class]] fleet ocean tugboat that was operated by the [[Military Sealift Command]] (MSC) from 1981 to 2022.  She spent the bulk of her career in the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]].

==Construction and characteristics==
The contract for the first four ''Powhatan''-class tugs was awarded to [[Fincantieri Marinette Marine|Marinette Marine Co.]] on 12 September 1975.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 September 1975 |title=Tug Contract Firm's Biggest |pages=23 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A119BAA7547AD9B50%40GB3NEWS-16FAA862080F8C6B%402442673-16FAA6F922E78710%4022-16FAA6F922E78710%40?h=1&fname=&mname=&lname=&rgfromDate=1975&rgtoDate=1975&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&kwinc=Marinette%20Tug%20contract&kwexc=&sid=kwkxgdugxvqeycgmsmcssfloyuqznodl_wma-gateway001_1682281831646}}</ref>  The Navy exercised its option to buy an additional three ships under this contract on 27 February 1978.<ref name=":02" />  ''Apache'' was the last ship delivered under this contract.

''Apache'' was laid down on 22 March 1979 at the company's [[Marinette, Wisconsin|Marinette]], [[Wisconsin]], shipyard.  She was launched on 28 March 1981.  ''Apache'' was christened by Mrs. John R. Young.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Directory of the Fleet Ocean Tugs - ATF |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/3423859/tugs-of-the-fleet-ocean-tugs-atf-towinglinecom |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=yumpu.com |page=118 |language=en}}</ref>  At the time of the launch, Commander Young was on the staff of Vice Admiral Clarence R. Bryan who, as commander of [[Naval Sea Systems Command]], was in charge of buying ships for the Navy and dealt directly with Marinette Marine on the ''Powhatan''-class tug contract.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ireland |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnYehGp9MXcC&dq=%22John+R.+Young%22+Marinette&pg=PA86 |title=A Fight for Honor: The Charles Kerkman Story |date=2012 |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |isbn=978-1-4797-1741-5 |pages=86 |language=en}}</ref>  The ship was delivered to the Navy on 23 July 1981.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=APACHE (ATF 172) |url=https://www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_ATF_172.HTML |website=Naval Vessel Register}}</ref>

Her hull was built of welded steel plates.  She was {{Convert|225|ft|11|in|m}} long at the waterline and {{Convert|240|ft|1|in|m}} overall, with a beam of {{Convert|42|ft|m}}, and a draft of {{Convert|15|ft|m}}.  She displaced 2,260 tons fully loaded.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Polmar |first=Norman |title=Ships and Aircraft of the United States Fleet |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1997 |isbn=1-55750-686-8 |edition=16th |location=Annapolis, Maryland |pages=252}}</ref>

As originally built, ''Apache'' had two [[Variable-pitch propeller (marine)|controllable-pitch]] [[Ducted propeller|Kort-nozzle]] propellers for propulsion.  She had two 20-cylinder [[Diesel engine]]s, [[Electro-Motive Diesel|GM EMD]] 20-645F7B,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=ATF-172 "APACHE" |url=https://www.tugboatinformation.com/tug.cfm?id=12503 |website=Tugboat Information.com}}</ref> which provided 7,200 [[Horsepower|shaft horsepower]].  These would drive the ship at 15 knots.  She also had a 300-horsepower [[Maneuvering thruster|bow thruster]] to improve maneuverability.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VCf-FVkP90gC&dq=Powhatan-class+contract&pg=PA15 |title=Ships, Aircraft, and Weapons of the United States Navy |date=1980 |publisher=United States Navy Department, Office of Information |language=en}}</ref>

Electrical power aboard the ship was provided by three 400 Kw generators.  These were powered by four [[Detroit Diesel]] 8v-71 engines.<ref name=":6" />

''Powhatan''-class tugs had global range in order to support the U.S. fleet across oceans.  ''Apache's'' tankage was consequently large.  She could carry {{Convert|206,714|U.S.gal|l}} of Diesel oil, {{Convert|6100|U.S.gal|l}} of lube oil, and {{Convert|6000|U.S.gal|l}} of drinking water.<ref name=":6" />  Her unrefueled range at 13 knots was {{Convert|10,000|mi|km}}<ref name=":02" />

''Apache's'' aft deck was largely open to accommodate a number of different roles.  It had {{Convert|4000|sqft|m2}} of working space.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Paulus |first=Chris |url=https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Portals/103/Documents/Exhibits/SNA2020/SNA2020-USNS_Navajo-ChrisPaulus.pdf?ver=2020-01-15-154401-857 |title=USNS NAVAJO (T-ATS 6) Class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship |year=2020}}</ref>   The towing system could produce as much as 90 short tons of [[bollard pull]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Granger |first=Louis R. |date=January 1979 |title=USNS Powhatan Leads Way For New Class of Tugs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kSUqCmbkve0C&q=marinette |journal=Military Sea Transportation Service Magazine |volume=XXIX |issue=1 |pages=}}</ref><ref name=":5" />  She had a 10-ton capacity crane for moving loads on the aft deck.<ref name=":12" />  There were connections to bolt down shipping containers and other equipment.

Like all MSC ships, ''Apache'' was crewed by civilian mariners.  At launch, her complement was 16 civilian crew and a 4-person military detachment of communications specialists.  The ship could accommodate an additional 16 people aboard for transient, mission-specific roles.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":12" />

All the ships of the ''Powhatan''-class were named after [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes.<ref name=":4" />  ''Apache'' was named after the [[Apache|''Apache'' people]] of the southwest United States.[[Image:USS Barry (DD-933) towed by USNS Apache (T-ATF-172).jpg|thumb|300px|left|''Apache'' towing the decommissioned [[destroyer]] ex-{{USS|Barry|DD-933}} on the [[Anacostia River]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], on 18 November 1983. ]]

=== Towing equipment ===
One of the primary missions of fleet tugs was to tow damaged or disabled capital ships.  For this mission, ''Apache'' could employ one of two [[winch]]es. The main towing winch for large, long distance tows was a single drum, closed-loop SMATCO 66 DTS-200 electro-hydraulic drive winch.  With a mechanically, pneumatically, or hydraulically actuated band brake and an air-actuated dog brake this was capable of holding 500,000 [[pound-force|lbf]] of tension. The winch had {{convert|2500|ft|m}} of {{frac|2|1|4}}-inch IWRC 6×37 [[wire rope]] with a poured end fitting and a breaking strain of 424,000&nbsp;lbf (1.89 [[meganewton|MN]]). The cable weighed approximately 8.5&nbsp;lb per foot (12.6&nbsp;kg/m), making the weight of the wire approximately 21,500&nbsp;lb (10.75 [[short ton]]s) excluding the weight of any chain bridle used on the ship being towed.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 1982 |title=USNS Apache Tows USS Iowa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FmyxQM2jRyYC&dq=%22USNS+apache%22+%222500+feet%22+towing&pg=PA18 |journal=Translog |volume=XIII |issue=12 |pages=18}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=U.S. Navy Towing Manual |date=1 July 2002 |publisher=Naval Sea Systems Command}}</ref>

The second winch was a Lake Shore traction machine capable of handling up to {{convert|15|in|mm|adj=on}} synthetic [[hawser]]s used for smaller, shorter distance tows. The traction machine was capable of line pulls of up to {{convert|200000|lbf|kN|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":1" />

The stern employed a tow-pin box capable of capturing either the wire or synthetic towing lines, as well as Norman pins at the quarters.<ref name=":6" />

==Service history==
[[File:USNS Apache towing ex-Iowa.jpg|thumb|''Apache'' tows ex-''Iowa'' on her way to reactivation in 1982]]
On 22 May 1984, MSC held its first observance of [[United States National Maritime Day|National Maritime Day]] aboard ''Apache'' to commemorate the merchant seamen who were killed during America's wars.  MSC commander [[William H. Rowden|Vice Admiral William H. Rowden]], MSC vice-commander Rear Admiral Warren C. Hamm, Jr. and the retired commander of the [[Military Sealift Command|Military Sea Transportation Service]], [[William M. Callaghan|Vice Admiral William M. Callaghan]] were aboard for the ceremony.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=August 1984 |title=MSC Commemorates National Maritime Day |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44119409 |journal=Defense Transportation Journal |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=51 |jstor=44119409 |issn=0011-7625}}</ref>

In the summer of 1987, ''Apache'' was deployed on a 3-week research mission to study the current state of the sunken [[American Civil War|Civil War]] ship [[USS Monitor|USS ''Monitor'']].  The tug hosted 24 [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]] scientists and technicians who examined the wreck with an unmanned submersible called "[[Deep Drone]]".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Casey Jr. |first=Joseph J. |date=17 July 1987 |title=Apache probes the USS Monitor |pages=19 |work=Jersey Journal |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1243C89DEE4DC187%40GB3NEWS-170C8EB37AD51D8D%402446994-170A5E865DFA16A0%4018-170A5E865DFA16A0%40?h=2&fname=&mname=&lname=&rgfromDate=1979&rgtoDate=2000&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&kwinc=%22USNS%20Apache%22&kwexc=&sid=qrhiwavzyjwekfddpiakqktvbtgxyitj_wma-gateway020_1684513861126}}</ref>

In August 1991, [[SS Antares|USNS ''Antares'']] was crossing the Atlantic with equipment for the [[24th Infantry Division (United States)|24th Infantry Division]] in [[Saudi Arabia]] when she suffered disabling leaks in her boilers.  ''Apache'' towed the ship to [[Rota, Andalusia|Rota, Spain]] for repair.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1991 |title=Ship Falters and a Navy Officer Makes a Career Decision |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44119231 |journal=Defense Transportation Journal |volume=47 |issue=2 |pages=11–12 |jstor=44119231 |issn=0011-7625}}</ref>

In the fall of 1994, ''Apache'' was dispatched to [[Haiti]] to support [[Operation Uphold Democracy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=USNS APACHE (T-ATF-172) rests its crew in the port at Cap Haitien in support of Operation Uphold Democracy |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6503350 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=National Archives NextGen Catalog}}</ref>

On 1 December 1996, ''Apache'' arrived in [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] with [[USS Gonzalez|USS ''Gonzalez'']] in tow.  The guided-missile destroyer had damage both propellers grounding on a coral reef and required a tow to the shipyard for repairs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USS GONZALEZ |url=http://www.uscarriers.net/ddg66history.htm}}</ref>

The ship was crossing the Atlantic to begin a deployment in the Mediterranean with the [[United States Sixth Fleet|Sixth Fleet]] in November 2001 when she rescued four people from a sinking 80-foot sailboat approximately 1,400 miles southwest of the [[Azores]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 November 2001 |title=MSC Tug rescues four in Mid-Atlantic |url=https://www.ustranscom.mil/cmd/panewsreader.cfm?ID=2888E9DD-5056-A127-59EA62D82BFE6AC2&yr=2001 |website=United States Transportation Command}}</ref>

In December 2002, ''Apache'' and an embarked detachment from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 trained [[Croatian Navy]] divers off [[Split, Croatia|Split]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baxter |first=Edward |orig-date=3 December 2002 |title=Apache completes dive exercise off Croatia |publisher=United States Transportation Command |url=https://www.ustranscom.mil/cmd/panewsreader.cfm?ID=28893411-5056-A127-59910858B52603C5&yr=2002}}</ref>
[[File:USNS Apache (T-ATF-172) and Tahoma Reefer.jpg|thumb|''Apache'' fights fire on ''Tahoma Reefer'' in Monrovia in 2006]]
While on a six-month deployment with the Sixth Fleet in 2006, ''Apache,'' with an embarked detachment of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, held joint diving and salvage exercises with similar units of the French, Croatian, Albanian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Israeli, and Ghanaian<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 September 2006 |title=U.S. Navy Conducts Exercise with Ghanaian Navy |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/U-S-Navy-Conducts-Exercise-with-Ghanaian-Navy-110205 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}</ref> navies.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |title=2006 In Review - Military Sealift Command - The US Navy |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/5719050/2006-in-review-military-sealift-command-the-us-navy |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=yumpu.com |language=en}}</ref>  Her visit to Haifa, Israel was cut short when she sailed on 13 July 2006 as a precautionary measure due to fighting in the area.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 July 2006 |title=Norfolk-based ship leaves Israel |pages=A7 |work=Daily Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/270082707/?terms=%22USNS%20Apache%22&match=1}}</ref>  During this same deployment, ''Apache'' arrived in [[Monrovia]] on 9 August 2006 as part of a United States effort to strengthen relations with [[Liberia]].  She and her embarked detachment of divers were asked to survey wrecks in the harbor and assist in the repair of the port's commercial pier.  During this visit, she rescued seven fishermen whose vessel had capsized.  She also evacuated the crew and fought a fire aboard the cargo ship ''Tahoma Reefer.''<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 August 2006 |title=USNS Apache (T-ATF 172) fights fire on freighter |pages=56 |work=Pensacola News Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/271008236/?terms=%22USNS%20Apache%22&match=1}}</ref>

While deployed with the Sixth Fleet, in August 2022, ''Apache'' embarked the Navy's Cable-operated Unmanned Recovery Vehicle (CURV) 21 to locate and salvage an [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A 18E Super Hornet]] which had blown off the deck of [[USS Harry S. Truman|USS ''Harry S. Truman'']].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-08 |title=Navy Recovers F/A-18E Super Hornet Blown off Deck of USS Harry S. Truman |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/08/08/navy-recovers-f-a-18e-super-hornet-blown-off-deck-of-uss-harry-s-truman |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=USNI News |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== ''El Faro'' search ===
On 1 October 2015 the American-flagged containership ''[[SS El Faro|El Faro]]'' sank in high winds and seas near the eye wall of [[Hurricane Joaquin]] east of the [[The Bahamas|Bahamas]].  All thirty-three crew aboard died when the ship went down, the worst American maritime casualty of the century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Slade |first=Rachel |title=Into the Raging Sea: Thirty-Three Mariners, One Megastorm and the Sinking of the El Faro |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2018 |isbn=9780062699879 |location=New York}}</ref>  ''Apache'' played a prominent role in investigating the wreck, garnering more press coverage than perhaps any other mission she undertook.

On 19 October 2015 ''Apache'' fueled and sailed from Norfolk to search for the wreck.  For this mission she had embarked a [[side-scan sonar]] system called Orion, a [[voyage data recorder]] locator called the [[Towed pinger locator|Towed Pinger Locator 25]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search for El Faro |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/2250637/search-el-faro |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}</ref> the unmanned recovery vehicle CURV 21, and the specialists who could operate these tools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search for El Faro |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/2238942/search-el-faro |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:The US Navy's search for the El Faro - 151105-N-RZ218-032.jpg|thumb|Technicians aboard ''Apache'' ready Orion side-scan sonar for deployment during ''El Faro'' search]]
''Apache's'' first mission was to recover the voyage data recorder.  This was an immediate priority because the batteries in the black box were not expected to last more than 30 days.  Bad weather in the Atlantic forced ''Apache'' to divert from a direct course to the wreck site, so she had little more than four days to search before the expected end of the batteries.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dolan |first=Scott |date=20 October 2015 |title=El Faro search effort facing weather delays |pages=A8 |work=Portland Press Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/924337511/?terms=apache%20%22El%20Faro%22&match=1}}</ref>  ''Apache'' was unable to locate the voyage data recorder using the TPL-25 [[hydrophone]].  Assuming that the batteries had died, ''Apache'' next deployed the Orion side-scan sonar system.

The sonar found the bulk of a ship resting on the bottom in {{Convert|15000|ft|m}} of water on 31 October 2015.  Using the cameras on CURV 21, ''Apache'' was able to confirm the wreck as ''El Faro''.  On 11 November 2015 the bridge of the ship, which had been torn from the hull, was located about a mile away.  However, the voyage data recorder which was mounted on a bridge mast was no longer attached.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Noel K. |date=31 December 2015 |title='60 Minutes' to feature images of El Faro |pages=C8 |work=Morning Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/924326654/?terms=apache%20%22El%20Faro%22&match=1}}</ref>  ''Apache'' refueled in Puerto Rico, and returned to the scene of the sinking to search for the mast until the $1 million contract with the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] ran out.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Slade |first=Rachel |title=Into the Raging Sea: Thirty-Three Mariners, One Megastore, and the Sinking of El Faro |year=2018 |isbn=9780062699701}}</ref>

In Mid-April 2016 the voyage data recorder was located by [[RV Atlantis (AGOR-25)|RV ''Atlantis'']].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Video: El Faro data recorder located |url=https://www.workboat.com/bluewater/video-el-faro-voyage-data-recorder-located |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.workboat.com |language=en}}</ref>  On 5 August, with a new $500,000 contract between the Navy and NTSB in place, ''Apache'' was dispatched from [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]] with CURV 21 aboard. She recovered the device on 26 August 2016. She took the black box to [[Naval Station Mayport]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Faro data recorder recovered |url=https://www.workboat.com/bluewater/el-faro-data-recorder-recovered |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.workboat.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Decommissioned ship tows ===
Vessels which are retired from Navy service are often towed to various inactive ship maintenance facilities where they are held in reserve. Ultimately, they are towed on to their final fate. These decommissioned ships do not have full crews and cannot sail under their own power.  ''Apache'' was frequently employed to tow decommissioned ships.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Tow
!From
!To
!Date
!Notes
|-
|[[USS Iowa (BB-61)|ex-''Iowa'']]
|[[Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility|Philadelphia]]
|[[Westwego, Louisiana]]
|September 1982
|''Iowa'' was towed to a shipyard to begin work to recommission the ship<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 September 1982 |title=Battleship Bound For Avondale |pages=1 |work=Times-Picayune |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1223BCE5B718A166%40GB3NEWS-13229B2D33D97396%402445228-131D06D7DC18AAA0%400-131D06D7DC18AAA0%40?h=20&fname=&mname=&lname=&rgfromDate=1979&rgtoDate=2000&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&kwinc=%22USNS%20Apache%22&kwexc=&page=1&sid=qrhiwavzyjwekfddpiakqktvbtgxyitj_wma-gateway020_1684513861126}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Barry (DD-933)|ex-''Barry'']]
|Philadelphia
|[[Washington Navy Yard]]
|November 1983
|''Barry'' was moored as a museum ship<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 November 1983 |title=A port bow view of the decommissioned destroyer BARRY (DD 933) being towed to the Washington Navy Yard by the fleet tug USNS APACHE (T-ATF 172). |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6383682 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=National Archives NextGen Catalog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Barry III (DD-933) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/barry-dd-933-iii.html |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=NHHC |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|''Marin'' (YTB-753)
|[[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base|Naval Station Guantanamo Bay]]
|[[Portsmouth, Virginia]]
|June 1990
|<ref>{{Cite journal |last= |first= |date=27 June 1990 |title=The little tug that did |url=https://jstor.org/stable/community.32745095 |journal=Guantanamo Daily Gazette |language=English}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Charles F. Adams|ex-''Charles F. Adams'']]
|Naval Station Mayport
|Philadelphia
|August 1990
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 August 1990 |title=USS Adams is decommissioned |pages=3 |work=The Beaches Leader |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A174D690B611F7EDF%40GB3NEWS-177A975320F27C87%402448105-177A6481CCE2054A%402-177A6481CCE2054A%40?h=10&fname=&mname=&lname=&rgfromDate=1979&rgtoDate=2000&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&kwinc=%22USNS%20Apache%22&kwexc=&sid=qrhiwavzyjwekfddpiakqktvbtgxyitj_wma-gateway020_1684513861126}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Coral Sea (CV-43)|ex-''Coral Sea'']]
|Norfolk
|Philadelphia
|November 1990
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 November 1990 |title=Veteran aircraft carrier heads for mothballs in Philadelphia |pages=19 |work=Daily Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/237426203/?terms=%22Coral%20sea%22%20towed&match=1}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Groton (SSN-694)|ex-''Groton'']]
|[[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]]
|
|April 1998
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=USS Thomas S. Gates CG-51 Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser US Navy |url=https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/cg/CG-51-USS-Thomas-S-Gates.htm |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.seaforces.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=27 February 1998 |title=Kittery shipyard gets two-year deal |pages=15 |work=Portland Press Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/849355161/?terms=%22USS%20Groton%22&match=1}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Samuel Gompers|ex-''Samuel Gompers'']]
|[[Portsmouth, Virginia]]
|Off North Carolina
|July 2003
|Sunk in a live-fire exercise.
|-
|[[USS Detroit (AOE-4)|ex-''Detroit'']]
|[[Naval Weapons Station Earle]]
|Philadelphia
|February 2005
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 February 2005 |title=USS Detroit Leaves Earle |pages=5 |work=Asbury Park Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/145003479/?terms=%22USNS%20Apache%22&match=1}}</ref>
|-
|[[USNS Hayes (T-AGOR-16)|ex-''Hayes'']]
|[[Bayonne, New Jersey]]
|[[Panama Canal]]
|April 2007
|''Hayes'' was on her way to a major refit and conversion to an acoustic research ship at the [[Tacoma Boatbuilding Company|Tacoma Boatbuilding]] shipyard.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quintanilla |first=Blanca M. |date=24 April 1987 |title=USNS Hayes leaves terminal for conversion to new duties |pages=19 |work=Jersey Journal |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1243C89DEE4DC187%40GB3NEWS-1704A61F3B104309%402446910-1703B39B279BCEBB%4018-1703B39B279BCEBB%40?h=7&fname=&mname=&lname=&rgfromDate=1979&rgtoDate=2000&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&kwinc=%22USNS%20Apache%22&kwexc=&sid=qrhiwavzyjwekfddpiakqktvbtgxyitj_wma-gateway020_1684513861126}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Shreveport (LPD-12)|ex-''Shreveport'']]
|Norfolk
|Philadelphia
|October 2007
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shreveport II (LPD-12) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/shreveport-ii--lpd-12-.html |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=NHHC |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Forrestal|ex-''Forrestal'']]
|[[Naval Station Newport]]
|Philadelphia
|June 2010
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=100615-N-1256M-064: USS Forrestal (ATV-59), 2010 |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/ships-us/ships-usn-f/uss-forrestal-cva-59-cv-59-avt-59/100615-n-1256m-064.html |access-date=2023-05-21 |website=NHHC |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Miami (SSN-755)|ex-''Miami'']]
|Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
|[[San Diego]]
|June–July 2015
|Towed from San Diego to [[Bremerton, Washington]], by [[USNS Sioux|USNS ''Sioux'']] for recycling<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giant_Slor |date=2015-07-20 |title=USNS Apache (T-ATF 172) arrives in San Diego on July 13th with the former USS Miami (SSN-755) in tow after a 31-day transit from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. [4028x2312] |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/3dyuy8/usns_apache_tatf_172_arrives_in_san_diego_on_july/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=r/WarshipPorn}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Norfolk (SSN-714)|ex-''Norfolk'']]
|Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
|Panama Canal
|April–May 2016
|Towed from Panama to Bremerton, Washington by USNS Sioux for recycling.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USS NORFOLK |url=http://www.uscarriers.net/ssn714history.htm}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Fort McHenry|ex-''Fort McHenry'']]
|Naval Station Mayport
|Philadelphia
|April 2021
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSC's Tug Tows a Dead Ship to Philly |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6617853/mscs-tug-tows-dead-ship-philly |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[USS Whidbey Island|ex-''Whidbey Island'']]
|[[Joint Expeditionary Base–Little Creek|Little Creek, Virginia]]
|Philadelphia
|August 2022
|Incidentally, the main image on this page was taken just after delivery of ex-Whidbey Island to PNISMF. <ref>{{Cite web |title=USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) |url=https://ja-jp.facebook.com/USSWhidbeyIsland |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=ja-jp.facebook.com |language=ja}}</ref>
|}

=== Ship tours ===
''Apache'' was deployed for public relations and MSC recruiting purposes at a number of events where ship tours were offered.  These included:

* [[Albany, New York|Albany, New York's]] "Tall Ship's Weekend" festival in July 1986<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nearing |first=Brian |date=14 July 1986 |title=Crowds Flock To Port For Tall Ships Weekend |pages=13 |work=Schenectady Gazette |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A155ED738E91D8C9D%40GB3NEWS-17C38CAC659DF22B%402446626-17C35AD126CF4320%4012-17C35AD126CF4320%40?h=21&fname=&mname=&lname=&rgfromDate=1979&rgtoDate=2000&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&kwinc=%22USNS%20Apache%22&kwexc=&page=1&sid=qrhiwavzyjwekfddpiakqktvbtgxyitj_wma-gateway020_1684513861126}}</ref> 
* Albany's "Port Fest" celebration in July 1992.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 July 1992 |title=Albany's Port Fest '92 to offer, ship tours, music, food |pages=42 |work=Daily Gazette |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A155ED738E91D8C9D%40GB3NEWS-17C57A77F53D2DF2%402448813-17C5735645F794F8%4041-17C5735645F794F8%40?h=9&fname=&mname=&lname=&rgfromDate=1979&rgtoDate=2000&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&kwinc=%22USNS%20Apache%22&kwexc=&sid=qrhiwavzyjwekfddpiakqktvbtgxyitj_wma-gateway020_1684513861126}}</ref>  
* Norfolk, Virginia in September 1992.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 September 1992 |title=Ships Visit Norfolk |pages=79 |work=Daily Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/237439678/?terms=%22USNS%20Apache%22&match=1}}</ref>
* [[Rockland, Maine]] "Lobster Festival" in August 1995.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Maine Lobster Festival events |pages=59 |work=Sun-Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/831993142/?terms=%22lobster%20festival%22%20apache&match=1}}</ref>
* [[New Haven, Connecticut]]'s  "Fourth Fest" in July 1996.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 July 1996 |title=New Haven's first Fourth fest |pages=72 |work=Hartford Courant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/176935421/?terms=%22USNS%20Apache%22&match=1}}</ref>

== Inactivation ==
A ceremony was held for the inactivation of ''Apache'' at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia on 26 August 2022.<ref name=":3" />  [[Michael Wettlaufer|Rear Admiral Michael Wettlaufer]], commander of the Military Sealift Command spoke at the event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Military Sealift Command's Fleet Ocean Tug USNS Apache Inactivated |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7390419/military-sealift-commands-fleet-ocean-tug-usns-apache-inactivated |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}</ref>  The ship was stricken on 30 September 2022.<ref name=":2" />

== Honors and awards ==
Apache and her crew earned a number of awards and honors during her years of service.  These include:<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://historyhub.history.gov/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/61/opnav1650-good-copy.pdf |title=MASTER LIST OF UNIT AWARDS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS |date=March 2002 |publisher=Department of the Navy |location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Mesta |first=Bill |date=October 2022 |title=Military Sealift Command's Fleet Ocean Tug USNS Apache Inactivated |url=https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/Portals/43/Publications/Sealift/2022/10/Sealift-2022-10.pdf |journal=Sealift |pages=2}}</ref>

[[Meritorious Unit Commendation]]

[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]]: 1993 and 1994 for her service in [[Unified Task Force|Operation Restore Hope]], and 1996 for her service in Operation Uphold Democracy

[[Navy Unit Commendation]]: 1986

[[National Defense Service Medal]]

MSC Admiral of the Ocean Sea Mariner's Plaque: 2006 recognizing heroism in fighting the fire aboard ''Tahoma Reefer'' in Liberia<ref name=":0" />

Department of the Navy Safety Excellence Award: 2006 recognizing no lost-time accidents in {{frac|2|1|2}} years<ref name=":0" />

MSC Maritime Excellence "E" Award: 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=USNS Apache Wins "E" Award as MSC's Best Fleet Ocean Tug in 2020 |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6612769/usns-apache-wins-e-award-mscs-best-fleet-ocean-tug-2020 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=DVIDS |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/39/39172.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive USNS Apache (T-ATF-172)]

{{Marinette Marine|state=autocollapse}}
{{Powhatan class fleet ocean tug}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Apache (T-ATF-172)}}
[[Category:Tugs of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built by Marinette Marine]]
[[Category:1981 ships]]