USS Cree (ATF-84)
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| History | |
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| Name: | USS Cree |
| Namesake: | Cree |
| Builder: | United Engineering Co., San Francisco, California |
| Laid down: | 31 March 1942 |
| Launched: | 17 August 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 28 March 1943 |
| Reclassified: | ATF-84, 15 May 1944 |
| Struck: | 21 April 1978 |
| Motto: | Ready |
| Honours and awards: |
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| Fate: | Sunk as a target, 27 August 1978 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Cherokee-class fleet tug |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Beam: | 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m) |
| Draft: | 15 ft 4 in (4.67 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
| Complement: | 85 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: |
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USS Cree (AT/ATF-84), a Cherokee-class fleet tug, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the Cree, an indigenous people of North America whose people range from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean.
Cree was one of 70 such vessels produced in this World War II-era class. Another well-known example (from 'Perfect Storm' fame) of this type is the USS Zuni (ATF-95) / USCGC Tamaroa (WMEC-166). Military Sealift Command currently uses Fleet Ocean Tugs from the Powhatan class to accomplish a similar mission today. The Cree participated in several classified missions such as Operation Wigwam
Cree (AT-84) was launched 17 August 1942 by United Engineering Co., San Francisco, California; sponsored by Mrs. T. Colburn; and commissioned 28 March 1943, Lieutenant P. Bond in command.
From 10 April to 9 May 1943 Cree sailed between San Francisco and San Diego towing target sleds and dry-dock sections. She cleared on 11 May for Seattle and Dutch Harbor, and operated out of Adak from 26 July 1943 to 15 August 1944. Cree screened transports to Kiska, had towing and salvage duties, and aided the distressed Soviet ship Valery Chkalov between 15 December and 23 December 1943. Cree was reclassified ATF-84, 15 May 1944.
Returning to San Francisco on 21 August 1944, Cree sailed on 1 October to serve as retriever tug for a convoy to Eniwetok, returning to Pearl Harbor on`14 November. She cleared on 7 December on another convoy trip to Eniwetok, then continued to Guam and Ulithi on towing duty. She joined the screen of the replenishment group of the 5th Fleet at Ulithi on 8 February 1945 and sortied for the invasion of Iwo Jima, during which she stood by for salvage assignments, until returning to Ulithi to replenish on 5 March. Cree arrived off Okinawa on 16 March for salvage operations on the beachheads until 1 July, when she sailed for overhaul at San Pedro Bay, Leyte.
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