USS Ute (AT-76)

USCGC Ute underway, 2 June 1986, location unknown.
History
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
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
Struck:	23 January 1989
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) gun 2 × twin 40 mm gun mounts 2 × single 20 mm guns

USS Ute (AT-76) was a Navajo-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. 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.

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 with Lt. William Francis Lewis in command.

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

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

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