USS Ute

USS Ute (AT-76) was a Navajo-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II.^[1] Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned." She served in the Pacific Ocean and after successful World War II her crew returned home with three battle stars. After being recommissioned in 1951, she saw action in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War earning two battle stars in Korea and nine campaign stars in Vietnam.

USCGC Ute underway, 2 June 1986, location unknown.
History
United States
Name	USS UTE (AT-76)
Namesake	Ute people
Builder	United Engineering Co.
Laid down	27 February 1942
Launched	24 June 1942
Commissioned	13 December 1942
Decommissioned	13 July 1946
Reclassified	Fleet ocean tug ATF-76, 15 May 1944
Honors and awards	3 x battle stars for World War II
Fate	Sunk as a target, 4 August 1991
Recommissioned	14 September 1951
Decommissioned	30 August 1974
Honors and awards	2 × battle stars for Korean War 9 × campaign stars for Vietnam War
Recommissioned	USCGC UTE (WMEC-76) 30 September 1980
Decommissioned	26 May 1988
Stricken	23 January 1989
Fate	Sunk as a target, 4 August 1991
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Navajo-class fleet tug
Displacement	1,646 long tons (1,672 t)
Length	205 ft (62 m)
Beam	38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
Draft	15 ft 3 in (4.65 m)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric four General Motors 12-278A diesel main engines driving four General Electric generators and three General Motors 3-268A auxiliary services engines single screw 3,600 shp (2,685 kW)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement	76
Armament	1 × 3 in (76 mm) caliber gun 2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts 2 × single 20 mm guns

Description

International radio call sign of USS Ute[1]
November	Uniform	Quebec	Echo

Ute was laid down 27 February 1942 by United Engineering Co., Alameda, California and launched on 24 June 1942. She was commissioned on 12 December 1942 sponsored by Miss Jean Kell; and commissioned on 29 April 1943.^[1]

Decommissioning

Ute was struck from the Naval Register on 23 January 1989 and sunk as a target on 4 August 1991.

Awards

Ute received three battle stars for World War II service, four battle stars for Korean service and nine campaign stars for Vietnam service.

References

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

1. "USS Ute". NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 21 July 2015.

External links

• Photo gallery of USS UTE (AT-76/ATF-76/T-AFT-76/WMEC-76) at NavSource Naval History