Atakapa




ATF-149

Displacement 1190

Length 205'

Beam 38'6"

Draw 15'4"

Speed 16.5 k

Complement 85

Armament 1 3"

Class Navajo




	Atakapa (ATF-149) was launched 11 July 1944 by Charleston 

Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Charleston S. C.; sponsored by Mrs. B. 

H. Wiggs; commissioned December 1944, Lieutenant G. I. Nelson in 

command; and reported to the 12th Naval District.




	Atakapa remained in the 12th Naval District until 27 April 1945 

when she sailed for Pearl Harbor. She operated from Pearl Harbor until 

the end of World War II towing targets, performing salvage work, and 

carrying out general tug duties. Atakapa arrived in Japan 13 September 

1945 and operated as a unit of the occupation force until 15 April 1946.




	Returning to the United States in May 1946 Atakapa proceeded to 

Orange, Tex., where she was placed out of commission in reserve 8 

November 1946.




	On 9 August 1951 Atakapa was recommissioned and joined Service 

Force, Atlantic, for duty. Since that time she has performed general tug 

services along the eastern seaboard and in the Caribbean area.




[Transcriber's note: many of the ATF classification of ships were 

transferred to MSC service in the '70s. "Jane's Fighting Ships" shows 

Atakapa active through '82 as a civilian manned USNS ship. After '82 

she was inactive at the James River Facility. I found one listing of 

ships at James River from '92, that shows her being held "pending sale 

to the state of Wisconsin." A similar listing from '95 no longer 

lists her.]