USNS Navajo (T-ATF-169)

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USNS Navajo (T-ATF-169) was a Powhatan-class fleet tug operated by the Military Sealift Command from 1980 to 2016. Named after the Navajo people of the southwestern United States, she was built by Marinette Marine Corporation in Wisconsin. Laid down in December 1977, she was launched in December 1979 and delivered to the Navy in June 1980.

Key facts
- Class/type: Powhatan-class fleet tug
- Length: about 226 ft (waterline), 240 ft overall
- Beam/draft: 42 ft; 15 ft
- Displacement: 2,260 tons full load
- Propulsion: two GM diesel engines, two shafts, bow thruster; top speed 15 knots
- Power: about 5.7 MW
- Crew: 16 civilian mariners plus 4 Navy personnel (plus room for mission staff)
- Deck: 4,000 sq ft of open working space; 10-ton crane; 90-ton bollard pull tow capability
- Capacity: large fuel, lube oil, and water reserves for long-range operations

What it did
- Primary role: tow damaged ships back to port, support salvage missions, and serve as a dive platform when needed
- Throughout its career, Navajo operated mainly in the Pacific

Notable service and missions
- 1981: Helped tow USNS Taluga after an engine fire; towed USNS Hudson after Taluga’s incident
- 1988: Assisted in recovering a MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter off San Francisco
- 1992: Towed USS White Plains to deeper water after it went aground during Typhoon Omar in Guam
- 2000: Served as a dive platform for ordnance detonation near Hilo Bay, Hawaii
- 2008: Exercised with Chilean Navy, including their submarine rescue system
- 2009: Participated in SALVEX 2009 salvage operations
- 2010–2011: CURV-21 deep-ocean recovery system embarked to locate and assess underwater assets
- 2012: An incident near Pearl Harbor involved a mooring-line failure and loss of gear; recovery followed
- 2016: Towed the missile-tracking barge IX524 into Pearl Harbor

RIMPAC exercises
- Navajo frequently supported RIMPAC by towing decommissioned ships to locations for sinking as part of the exercise:
- 2006: ex-Belleau Wood
- 2008: ex-Horne
- 2010: ex-Monticello and ex-Anchorage
- 2012: ex-Kilauea
- 2016: ex-Thatch
- She also served as a dive platform for divers from the Royal Australian Navy during these exercises

Awards
- Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
- U.S. Coast Guard Unit Commendation

Decommissioning and fate
- Navajo was deactivated and struck from the naval vessel register on 1 October 2016
- She was moored at Pearl Harbor after deactivation, awaiting final disposition

USNS Navajo spent most of her career in the Pacific, serving as a versatile tug, salvage platform, and support vessel for naval operations and exercises.